World Screen DISCOP Istanbul Preview Now Available

Event Preview: DISCOP Istanbul

Following a successful launch in 2011, DISCOP Istanbul is back for a second edition, to take place February 28 to March 1. Hundreds of companies have signed up for the event, a mix of content buyers and suppliers representing broadcasters, pay-TV operators, mobile networks, alternative distribution platforms and territorial agents operating in Western Asia and North Africa. The event has already surpassed its previous edition, with 30 more buying companies, 168 in total, registered to attend.

“Following the sale of our Budapest market, we have recently redirected our attention to the development of content-driven sectors of the industry in Western Asia and Africa, the very last television frontier,” says Patrick Jucaud, the general manager of event organizer Basic Lead.

Jucaud is enthused by the opportunities the region’s television sector holds. He highlights the fast-paced broadband penetration, booming ad budgets, continued growth in digital subscription services and rapid adoption of new technologies and social networking tools. Add to that large and young populations and an urban working middle class with rising disposable income and the result is a vibrant emerging marketplace for content sellers.

"We want to help our clients build and capture market shares in these promising lands,” Jucaud says. “With over 300 companies expected to attend DISCOP Istanbul at the end of February, and close to 800 companies who have already attended our DISCOP Africa markets since their launch, there is an ever-growing number of companies that are sensitive to these strategic regions’ multiplatform environments and appreciative of the DISCOP research and cost-effective matchmaking approach.”

Promoting the concept of a new “Silk Road,” DISCOP Istanbul will feature a spotlight on Central Asia. The one-day program will include an overview of the TV marketplace and provide insights on local co-production and investment opportunities. The following day’s program focuses on the renaissance of Arabic content, with sessions on why Middle Eastern and North African homegrown stories do so well internationally. The event wraps up with a conference program dedicated to the future of online content distribution in emerging markets.

Distributor Spotlight: A+E Networks

ADDRESS: 235 E. 45 St., New York, NY 10017, U.S.A.
TELEPHONE: (1-212) 210-1400
WEBSITE: www.AETNinternational.com
VP, CONTENT SALES, EMEA: Jonathan South
CONTENT SALES COORDINATOR, EMEA: Jennifer Fattell
PROGRAMS: Shipping Wars: 9×30 min., real life; Storage Wars: 52×30 min. & 2×1 hr. specials, real life; Dance Moms: 6×1 hr., entertainment; Ice Road Truckers: 68×1 hour & 6×1 hr. specials, real life; Girl Fight: 1×2 hrs., movie; History of the World in Two Hours: 1×2 hrs., history.

Dance Moms: Set in Pittsburgh’s renowned Abby Lee Dance Company, the series follows children’s early steps on the road to stardom and their doting mothers—all under the discerning eye of the notoriously demanding and passionate instructor Abby Lee Miller.

This year marks A+E Networks’ inaugural outing at DISCOP Istanbul, where it will be looking to strengthen its existing ties in the region as well as make new connections. “It is the perfect place for face-to-face meetings with clients from Turkey, the Middle East and North Africa, territories that have all shown increased interest in our programs over the last several years,” says Jonathan South, the VP of content sales for Europe, the Middle East and Africa (EMEA) at A+E Networks. “DISCOP Istanbul will allow us the opportunity to get in-depth detail on the programming needs of our clients in this region.”

The markets of Western Asia and Northern Africa are a particular focus for the company this year, according to South. “Working alongside our own branded channels in both regions, which include HISTORY and Crime & Investigation Network, we will be focusing on maximizing sales possibilities in the territories. We have also expanded our London-based sales team to help achieve this goal.”

The Middle East has been an area of growth for A+E Networks, South explains, “and this year, we are shifting our sales focus to Turkey and Northern Africa to boost revenue in these territories. We have a number of meetings scheduled with Turkish channels at DISCOP Istanbul, and we look forward to introducing our new programs at the market.”

Special Report: Turkish Delight

Ahead of the second edition of DISCOP Istanbul, taking place at the Intercontinental Ceylan Hotel in Istanbul from February 28 to March 1, World Screen speaks with a range of distributors about their plans for the market.

With a population of more than 500 million people, encompassing 120 million TV households, 12 million pay-TV subscribers and 250 million mobile users, the markets of Western Asia and Northern Africa are shaping up to be a promising prospect for deal-making in the international marketplace. The attendees heading to Turkey for the second edition of DISCOP Istanbul have been encouraged by these figures.

“With new channels and platforms launching more frequently in this territory, new opportunities are emerging all the time,” says Lucy Rawson, regional sales executive at Cineflix Rights. “With our catalogue growing to over 2,500 hours spanning factual, factual entertainment and formats, and looking to grow by another 25 percent this year, there is a wealth of programming options within these territories.”

Cineflix will be bringing its largest ever slate to DISCOP Istanbul, led by formats and factual titles. “Turkey is a real focus for format sales, with the need for prime-time local versions of shows,” Rawson points out. “Alongside this, factual finished shows are still of interest to newer themed channels. In the Middle East, sales to both Kuwait and Iran are key areas for us and growing business with other broadcasters in territories such as Saudi Arabia and Northern Africa is an area we are focusing on. We’ve enlarged our sales team so that sales managers can increase our focus on specific buyer needs, as well as doing business with newer and existing channels in emerging markets worldwide.”

Celebrity and historical portraits have been top performers in the region for A+E Networks. “We have also seen an increased demand for our history series and specials such as How the Earth Was Made and America: The Story of the U.S.,” says Jonathan South, the company’s VP of content sales for Europe, the Middle East and Africa.

South believes that the track records of the shows on offer will speak for themselves. “First and foremost, all of our titles have found an audience on our channels in the U.S.—HISTORY, A&E and Lifetime—which is one of the most competitive TV markets in the world. Specifically, our character-driven real-life programming such as Storage Wars, Ice Road Truckers and Ax Men portray emotion and human interaction that are universal and hugely entertaining. In addition, our history and documentary specials are filmed with exceptional special effects and cinema-style storytelling, which make them sophisticated and compelling for viewers around the globe.”

Telemundo Internacional has already made inroads in this part of the world, according to Xavier Aristimuño, the senior VP of sales and business development for Asia. “Throughout the years, Telemundo’s television content has been present on all leading Asian broadcasters. When one of the titles from our catalogue proves successful in Latin America and Spain, it is highly likely to be acquired for broadcast in Asia and Africa.”

Aristimuño says that classic telenovelas are a favorite in Asia, and the region is even open to the fresh, innovative spins Telemundo has been incorporating in the stories. “Regarding the development in Asia, I can highlight that the trend of local productions in the region has created new amazing opportunities for Telemundo Internacional and has brought with it great success, as our formats are acquired to develop our stories locally.”

Televisa Internacional also has high hopes for its novelas at the DISCOP Istanbul market. “Our main goal is to meet with our current and new clients in the MENA region to show them our most recent and successful telenovela titles,” says Mario Castro, Televisa’s director of new businesses. Castro highlights in particular The One Who Couldn’t Love, Abyss of Passion, A Shelter for Love and The Power of Destiny.

“Televisa Internacional has classic and contemporary daily drama love stories for clients to choose from,” Castro says. “They can determine whether they want to broadcast our version or adapt our stories to produce local versions.”

Formats have also been a strong business driver in the region for Global Agency, which is based in Istanbul. "We were pioneers in bringing Turkish series to CEE and other territories," says Izzet Pinto, Global Agency’s CEO. "While Turkish series continue to do very well, we are also seeing broadcasters picking up on many of our reality formats such as Shopping Monsters, which has spread to over 15 territories now, and Perfect Bride, which has been produced in Hungary."

Pinto also reports increasing interest out of North Africa for finished series, led by the strong performance of shows such as Magnificent Century. Sales for Greek series such as The Island and Secrets of Eden have also picked up in the region.

“We were at the first DISCOP Istanbul and it was very successful for us,” Pinto notes. “DISCOP Istanbul was a combination of meeting new clients and being able to host some of our long-standing connections.” Global Agency will be looking to repeat that success this year, as many new companies will also be heading to Istanbul to explore the opportunities the region holds.