Leopard International

September 24, 2009 World Screen

Sarah Diggins
Head, Sales

 
What are some of your top properties for MIPCOM?
Leopard International will be taking a raft of high quality, popular shows to the market across a range of genres including:
 
Missing, Hidden Potential, Missing Live and Cash In The Attic
 
Why will these programs appeal to buyers?
Missing Drama made its debut on BBC earlier this year, enjoying great success. A great cast is complemented by iconic locations making this a compelling drama. Hidden Potential has already proved a major success internationally, having been sold to around ten key territories across Asia, Europe, North America and Africa and we will be taking new episodes to the market.
  
Cash in the Attic continues to prove a global seller and a very relevant show during these financially straitened times.
 
Missing Live is an engaging and interactive which has proved a great success on BBC1, helping to solve several missing persons cases.
 
What are some of the trends you’re currently seeing in this market?
 
There is an increased caution in the market compared to recent years. However, buyers continue to be attracted to high quality, established brands which can form the backbone of channel schedules and deliver a loyal audience.
Programming with a feel good, positive and escapist theme is likely to prove popular in the market.
We are expecting to see the growth in popularity of factual entertainment formats continue—again reflecting the current climate.
 
What are your goals and expectations MIPCOM?
 
We are very positive about the market—we have a raft of different of different shows and formats which have already proved successful in their domestic markets but have a broader appeal to cross over into the international marketplace.
We are also taking some new shows to the market so we will be keen to showcase these new additions to our production slate to brand new territories.
 
Is there any other information you would like to share regarding your plans for MIPCOM?
 
Broadcast and Beyond is a new internal development department at Leopard that we are very excited about, set up to respond to the new era of multi-platform program making and strategic brand exploitation, enabling us to create relevant and exciting 360 commercial ventures around our TV shows. Debby Lee, our international head of commercial development, will be attending MIPCOM to communicate these exciting developments with our international partners.