Chinese Delegation to MIPTV 2004 Biggest Ever

The annual MIPTV television programming fair in Cannes, France, ended April 2 with a huge increase in Chinese participation. This year saw more than 60 companies from China participating in the events (an increase of more than four fold over last year) with more than 280 delegates from both state and private media organizations.

Organized by Reed Midem (represented in China by CMM-I) and SARFT, the China  Day activities on March 31 included the largest ever exhibition pavilion mounted by the Chinese TV industry outside the country, along with high level conferences, receptions and special publications.

The Chinese delegation was led by SARFT Vice-Minister Hu Zhanfan, who opened the China day conference by providing an overview of the Chinese television industry to MIPTV attendees, as well as outlining where it is headed. According to Mr. Hu, SARFT will focus on its continuing drive to develop management systems at broadcasters to "perfect [our] macro-regulation and control policy, develop investment channels, and lower market entry requirements."

Speeches were also given at the opening day conference by CITVC's Li Jian, Cheng Hong from CCTV, Beijing All Media Group President Ma Chaojun, SMEG President Ye Zhekang, and Sichuan Broadcasting and TV Group Head Zhong Xuzhao.

For a full text of the leaders' speeches, please contact CMM-I Research Director Kristian Kender at [email protected].

An afternoon session included an open panel moderated by Variety's Arthur Jones with MTV China's Li Yifei, Encore's Michele Sie Whitten, FRAPA's David Lyle and Frank Soloveicik, CEO Europe Images/M5 all discussing their views and experiences on operating in China.

MIPTV 2004 also saw an unprecedented number of deals between delegate members and their foreign counterparts.

CITVC alone sold more than US$1 million worth of programming to a number of broadcasters and distributors throughout south-east Asia and the rest of the world. CCTV-6, CCTV's movie channel, announced a deal with Warner Bros for the television rights to a slate of current and library feature films as well as made-for-television movies.

Co-production deals were out in heavy force with CITVC signing a deal with Japan's NHK to produce a new documentary about the silk road. The new documentary will be shot in HD with China supplying facilities and shooting personnel and classical violinist Yoyo Ma supervising the music. Sichuan Tv and French company Promoscope inked a deal to jointly produce a 50 episode series highlighting the similarities and differences between French and Chinese youth. According to Promoscope's Jean-Michel Vaguesly, the deal comes after one year of discussions.

Local independent distributors were increasingly visible with Beijing-based Lutz/Trier acquiring the mainland rights for a number of mini-series and films from Germany's Beta Film GMBH and China's Paravision renewing its agreement with E! Networks news magazine Coming Attraction.

Of prime importance to international companies targeting the Chinese market was a deal signed between Reed Midem and the Shanghai TV Festival (managed by SMEG), under which MIPTV and MIPCOM will become strategic partners with the STVF. According to the deal, STVF is a co-sponsor of the China Club in the China Pavilion at MIPTV while Reed Midem will sponsor a MIP China Club at this year's STVF coming up in June.