L.A. Screenings Buyer Feedback: MediaCorp’s Joy Olby-Tan

SINGAPORE: Joy Olby-Tan, VP of network acquisitions at Singaporean free-to-air broadcaster MediaCorp’s Channel 5, found that the new dramas and comedies presented by the Hollywood studios were less U.S.-centric and more internationally appealing than those offered in previous years.

"The number of pilots this year was refreshingly copious," Olby-Tan tells World Screen Newsflash. "It’s been a while since we’ve had chock-full days at the Studios. The quality of the pilots resided firmly within the proverbial bell curve: there weren’t any painful ones to watch, neither was there a stand-out pilot that shouted "hit!" Compared to previous seasons though, this year’s crop tended towards the more promising end."

Noting a preponderance of "well-written" dramas and strong comedy titles, "it looked like there was something for everyone." Olby-Tan added, "The pilots are trending towards being less U.S.-centric and as a result, featured themes and situations that are of international appeal. The Singapore audience is a broad mix of sophisticated cosmopolitans and urbanized heartlanders, so it is likely that there are a few shows that will make a mark, that is, if story lines and production values sustain through the season!"

The Singaporean broadcaster does not have any output deals with the studios—it hasn’t had one in some time. "Amidst a relatively small and fragmented market, we do targeted package deals to cater to a highly-connected audience who have access to many choices. Freshness is key. In this very challenging environment, it is more important than ever to have access to quality products that resonate and are available within reasonable time frames."