MIP Markets Establish Drama Buyers Advisory Board

PARIS: Six international acquisition executives have been appointed to the first-ever Drama Buyers Advisory Board for Reed MIDEM’s portfolio of TV events, including MIPTV and MIPCOM.

The Drama Buyers Advisory Board includes Sky’s director of acquisitions, Sarah Wright; CANAL+’s senior VP of international SVOD global acquisitions, Aline Marrache-Tesseraud; ProSiebenSat.1’s executive VP of group acquisitions and sales, Rüdiger Böss; TV2’s head of acquisitions and formats, Anette Romer; Mediaset’s head of acquisitions, Zelda Stewart; and Albavision’s head of acquisitions department, Ignacio Barrera. The new board will meet several times a year. One of their first tasks will be to vote for and present the Buyer’s Choice Award at the inaugural MIPDrama Screenings. The day-long event, set for April 3, will showcase an official selection of 12 new drama series, nominated by a jury of international showrunners.

The director of Reed MIDEM’s television division, Laurine Garaude, commented, “These are passionate and exciting times for drama players and viewers and they call for creative and inspired thought leadership. Today, we’ve answered that call by bringing together these influential and talented executives to play a fundamental role in developing new drama projects across the MIP Markets, starting with the MIPDrama Screenings at MIPTV.

“Their combined credentials and insight reflect a wide understanding of the complex decision-making drama buyers face in the technologically advanced entertainment world we live in today. Together they will help us develop new projects and concepts designed to best serve the TV drama community.”

Wright remarked, “There’s never been a more exciting time for drama—for buyers, for commissioners and above all for the audiences—around the globe. With so much to talk about in such a dynamic multiplatform world, I’m delighted to be involved in the conversation with my talented international colleagues on this Drama Buyers Advisory Board.”

Böss said, “We’ve been going to the Cannes markets for years and one thing consistently stands out: Reed MIDEM always finds innovative ways to address the issues and needs of the industry now and in the future. I’m delighted to be part of this inaugural Drama Buyers Advisory Board and to have an opportunity to not only see new projects coming down the drama pipeline, but to be able to share my views and perspectives on an on-going basis with my esteemed international colleagues.”