Cristina Lowe

VP Scandinavia, Benelux, Central & Eastern Europe & Israel, Beyond Distribution

Have you seen signs of recovery in Central and Eastern Europe?

Yes, the signs are definitely visible across the region, although some territories are suffering more than others and taking longer to recover. However, there is an overall feeling that things are on the up.

Have you noticed your business in the region strengthen due to an increase in channels?

No, we are lucky to have very strong relationships and that has kept our business strong in the region. However, due to the recent economic circumstances the revenue from an increase in channels has not been significant, as the number of channels launched has not represented a huge increase in terms of revenue

How has your business been overall in Central and Eastern Europe (and what territories have been strong in particular)? As I’ve mentioned before, we’re lucky to have strong relationships and business has been good, especially in Russia, Hungary, Czech Republic and Poland.

What genres have been the strongest performers from your catalogue in the region?

The strongest performers have all been factual programmes with drama series also performing well.

What are some of the titles you’re highlighting for DISCOP and why do you think these will be particularly appealing for the buyers?

Titles we will be highlighting at DISCOP include Wild Animal Baby Explorers, a preschool series; MovieStar, focusing on the lives and careers of Hollywood stars; Stop.Rewind, looking at the technological changes of the last 30 years; Six Degrees of TV, which explores how celebrities are never separated by more than six stars; Highway Patrol, a series following a group of policemen tackling crime on the road and Love It or List It, a home makeover show with a twist. We are focusing on these titles as they are innovative, fresh, appeal to a large audience and travel well across countries.

Is there anything else that you can share about your plans in the region and/or focus for DISCOP?

Our aim is to continue to nurture the relationships we already have, developing new ones and bringing to the region high quality programming that appeals to large audiences.