Sabrina Ayala

VP, Sales & Marketing, CABLEready

What are some of your top properties for MIPTV?
Intersections (13 x 30 – HD) – Two men, two different missions, two very different machines. High-tech machines of precision engineering, pushed to their limits by elite individuals. On the surface they have very little in common, except they both make split second decisions, and one small glitch can mean disaster. Go inside this high performance world and examine the moments their lives and machines intersect.
Tony Awards (3-hour live event + 60-min. highlight special – HD) – This prestigious and star-studded award show recognizes achievement in live theater!  Broadway is bigger than ever thanks to stars like Hugh Jackman, Catherine Zeta-Jones, Daniel Craig, Scarlett Johansson, Sienna Miller, Jude Law, and Denzel Washington now gracing the stage. Unique star power and an iconic entertainment event, available live on June 14, 2010.
World Party (8 x 30 – HD) – Hosted by Guad Venegas, World Party gives viewers an inside guide to some of the world’s biggest festivals, parties, and events. From piloting a hot air balloon over the Rio Grande to lobbing overripe tomatoes at unsuspecting revelers, World Party introduces viewers to offbeat activities that may seem inaccessible to the average traveler — and shows them just how possible they are.
The Minimalist (13 x 30 – HD) – New York Times food writer, culinary expert and TV personality Mark Bittman teaches us how to prepare simple yet fabulous dishes from beginning to end!  Each episode features 3 to 4 different recipes. 
Spotlight (52 x 30 weekly series) – Movies, actors and special events can all be found in the spotlight each week as Spotlight presents material not available anywhere else — including extended interviews, trailers and clips, behind-the-scenes reporting, and news.

Why will these programs appeal to buyers?
The genres of our new factual titles include science/technology, entertainment, travel/adventure and food – all very much sought-after by programmers today.  With Intersections we are bringing together the high-risk worlds of auto racing, fighter jet flying and more, with the personal stories of those who make it happen and how.  There’s been a surge of interest in "how it works" type science and Intersections certainly hits that mark.  WIth World Party and The Minimalist we are satisfying what buyers tell us is a need for lifestyle programming, which has gained popularity thanks to a huge growth in niche networks along with lifestyle slots on historically gen-entertainment nets.  And who can deny the power of celebrities?  Spotlight feeds audiences’ hunger for the latest Hollywood news and gossip, reported straight from Hollywood and the Red Carpet, while the Tony Awards are bigger than ever now that world-famous actors are hitting the Broadway stage more and more.

What are your goals and expectations for MIPTV?
Aside from debuting these new titles to the international market, the primary goal is and has always been to have face time with our key clients, contacts and friends around the world.  So much can be achieved in business via e-mail and phone, but it’s that time together that is the driving force of our relationships with clients.  Due to the recessions suffered worldwide it’s important now more than ever to be proactive in seeing clients and working together toward a positive future, despite the financial losses we’ve all been feeling.  More than anything, MIP is the place to see and be seen if you are to be a player in international TV.  I haven’t missed one in 10 years and certainly do not plan on starting now!