MIPCOM: The Week in Factual

TV Real Weekly recaps the nonfiction highlights and deal-making from MIPCOM.

Factual plays less of a role at MIPCOM than at MIPTV and MIPDoc, but the trip to Cannes last week proved to be a fruitful one for factual distributors, with interest high across a number of categories. Many multi-genre distributors also saw nonscripted series shine particularly bright within their catalogues. Among them Beyond Distribution, which brought comedian Margaret Cho to France to promote her new stand-up special Cho Dependent.

The 83-minute special was filmed in Atlanta and sees the Asian-American comedienne opening up about variety of topics. "It’s my sixth [stand-up special]," Cho told TV Real Weekly in Cannes. "It introduces some of my music. It’s been a really fun tour."

The newly rebranded Cineflix Rights was on hand with a broad portfolio of new and returning shows to exhibit at its bigger booth.

"The name change emphasizes how we have been stepping up the company’s growth by exploiting our growing range of genres, increasing our deals in new territories and raising the amount of business we do with other producers," said Paul Heaney, the president and managing director, on the rebrand from Cineflix International Distribution.

While the company has been expanding its catalogue beyond factual and factual entertainment, its highlights at the market included Casino Confidential, "the first time a top Las Vegas casino has opened its doors," Heaney said; Driving Wars, "a very innovative but simple format;" the Sky Atlantic commission Design Dealers, plus My House Your Money and A Gypsy Life for Me.

Breakthrough Entertainment, which also has a varied catalogue, presented the new cooking show David Rocco’s Amalfi Getaway, from its collaboration with David Rocco’s Rockhead Entertainment. David Rocco’s Amalfi Getaway is set for the spring 2012 schedule of Cooking Channel, to be launched in late 2012 on Food Network Canada as well.

“David Rocco’s genius is being able to convey his recipes with authority and passion. His style is infectious and inspiring. And his meals are—well, let’s say there are definitely culinary advantages to being in business with this David’s culinary talents,” said Ira Levy, the executive producer and partner, and Nat Abraham, the VP of distribution for Breakthrough Entertainment.

Also in the way of cooking fare, FremantleMedia Enterprises (FME) scored a five-year deal with Fox International Channels that sees the recently launched Dutch channel 24Kitchen become the new home for Jamie Oliver shows, while a separate deal sees a package of titles featuring the celebrity chef airing on the new German free-to-air channel sixx.

Passion Distribution added to its food-based catalogue with The Maverick Chef, produced by Singapore’s Ochre Pictures and set for launch on Li (Life Inspired) in November. Each episode sees molecular gastronomist Alvin Leung heading to an Asian city to sample the country’s cuisine.

Passion Distribution’s CEO, Sally Miles, commented, “Our buyers will love the combination of food and culture that this series provides for their schedules.”

Passion presented original programming from the Oprah Winfrey Network (OWN) to the international market, showcasing more than 260 hours of the network’s original series. The London-based distributor also brought star power to Cannes, with Dynamo the magician, whose tricks and stunts are featured in the series Dynamo: Magician Impossible. The series scored a pan-European deal with Discovery Networks Europe, among other sales. Before even heading to the market, Passion made a raft of sales in Australia for Barefoot Contessa and Supersize Grime, among other series. Passion also represents programming on behalf of Scripps Networks International’s Food Network, HGTV and DIY Network.

Ahead of MIPCOM, Bob Baskerville, the general manager of Scripps Networks International, talked to TV Real Weekly about the company’s British success and its plans for further expanding the reach of its channels over the next year.

Baskerville said that topping his list of highlights for the year is "the mercurial rise of the Food Network in the U.K. In just about 18 months time, we have become one of the unquestionable leaders in lifestyle programming in the U.K."

He added, "Much like Europe, we’ve been gradually expanding carriage of our channels in parts of the Middle East, but clearly the most exciting news in this area has been the early success we’ve seen with the launch of Food Network in South Africa on MultiChoice."

At MIPCOM, Scripps Networks International announced a deal to take Food Network Asia to Indonesia and closed a new carriage agreement for the European feed in Portugal. This month, the channel is slated to roll out in HD on Indonesian DTH service aora. In Portugal, meanwhile, Food Network will be available in HD on Portugal’s ZON Multimedia as of October 10. In the country it is already available on Portugal Telecom and through Vodafone’s Casa IPTV channel.
 
On the Asian expansion, Hud Woodle, acting general manager for Food Network Asia, commented, "We’re extremely pleased with what Food Network Asia has achieved in little over a year. The deal represents the channel’s fifth launch in Asia, where it is already distributed in Singapore, the Philippines, Malaysia and Taiwan.”

Scripps is not the only company that has its eye on Asia. Electric Sky has opened a new office in Hong Kong, tapping former Endemol Asia sales and licensing manager Nuno I to lead the operation.

Electric Sky’s CEO, David Pounds, said: “This is the first of some planned initiatives to make Electric Sky more region-centric with a view to increasing sales and attracting regional content.”

Also in Asia, LI TV Holdings acquired the Sony Pictures Television series The Nate Berkus Show for its pay-TV channel Life Inspired (Li) to air in multiple territories starting in January 2012. Meanwhile, Fine Living Network bulked up its lineup, picking up nearly 500 additional hours. Among the titles were a handful from the Veria catalogue, including Feng Shui Living, hosted by Bree Pavey; Everyday Nose, with aromatherapy expert Noelle Katai; and Fed Up, starring natural food chef Andrea Beaman. Addition programming was culled from Scripps Networks’ U.S. channels. This includes House Hunters International, State of Style and Easy Entertaining with Michael Chiarello.

“As we program Fine Living Network internationally, we look for content that upholds the lifestyle brand’s integrity and appeals to the unique tastes of local audiences," said Nick Thorogood, the managing director of Fine Living EMEA.

Travel Channel picked up The Skinny Dip from Best Boy Entertainment to air across territories in Europe, Africa, the Middle East and Asia Pacific.

"We are thrilled to have secured The Skinny Dip for our global audience in partnership with Best Boy. This original and highly entertaining format broadens our appeal and stays true to our remit of broadcasting the most captivating and engaging travel-themed programming," said Steve Fright, the Travel Channel’s director of broadcasting.