China Revealed as MIPCOM 2018 Country of Honour

MIPCOM has announced China as the 2018 Country of Honour, with conference panel discussions on the Chinese market during MIPJunior and MIPCOM, multiple showcases of the latest Chinese programs and a Chinese-themed opening night welcome reception.

The announcement comes on the heels of new industry data reporting that China is now the second largest television market in the world, overtaking the U.K. and behind the U.S.

“China has now emerged as a major producer and consumer of film and television. We have confidence and the capacity to play the leading role at MIPCOM, present to the world great Chinese stories and work with our colleagues around the globe to usher in a better future,” said Ma Li, director general of the International Cooperation Department of the National Radio and Television Administration for the People’s Republic of China.

Laurine Garaude, director of Reed MIDEM’s television division, commented: “The Chinese television and entertainment sector has a special place within the MIPCOM and MIPTV community going back to 2004 when MIPTV welcomed the largest-ever delegation of Chinese TV executives at an international television market. As MIPCOM 2018 Country of Honour, China will be showcasing its wide range of program genre destined for international television channels.”

Garaude added: “In recent years we have seen the growth in Chinese shows being presented at our events for sale to international broadcasters and an increase in cross-border partnerships between Chinese and international producers. We anticipate that the trend towards Chinese content being exported to international territories will speed up over the next two to three years and we are very keen for MIPCOM and MIPTV to be part of that process.”

She continued: “At MIPTV 2018 we showcased several Chinese formats, including National Treasure. And in the documentary sector, the agreement between Tencent and BBC to produce high-quality documentaries is an indication of the desire to develop bilateral production partnerships.”