As a seasoned gamer of the global television industry, I find the announcement of MIP London 2025 to be a breath of fresh air. With my years of attending MIPTV and navigating through the bustling Cannes scene, I can appreciate the shift towards a more intimate, focused event in London.
Lucy Smith, head of MIPCOM, shared with attendees in Cannes a sneak peek into the upcoming MIP London event slated for February 2025, following its recent unveiling.
The multi-genre international content and networking event, MIP London, which has been dubbed as a replacement for MIPTV, will be held at the Savoy Hotel and IET venues on The Strand from February 23rd to the 27th next year. The goal is to draw in more than 250 companies from 36 different countries.
The emphasis will shift towards unscripted content, free ad-supported streaming TV, and children’s programming, as Smith clarified. Following discussions at MIP Junior earlier in the week, Smith mentioned that they have secured support from several significant figures, such as BBC Children’s and Education, and Sky, to organize a U.K. and European co-production summit for kids in London. “More details about this will be shared soon,” concluded the executive from RX France.
This year’s attendance at the conference in Cannes has dropped by 500, as disclosed on Wednesday. The organizer elaborated that following reviews, the goal is to transition MIP London into what she called “the era of companies.” Smith stated: “We’re focusing on co-exclusivity, co-branding, collaboration, and collectives. We aim to facilitate easier connections. During the week, we will introduce a central database that hasn’t been available before, and in a week filled with screenings, we will also establish an online and on-site library for screenings, which we believe is greatly appreciated.
Smith mentioned that by February, London has grown to be the largest content week during the first quarter, featuring events like the London Screenings from February 23rd to 28th. They view this as an opportunity to maximize their business potential, as there is already a lot of excitement and activity in London’s capital city that month.
Smith mentioned that, over several years, there has been a noticeable decrease in companies viewing MIPTV as a significant event worth attending and investing in, similarly to before. Instead, the question seems to be shifting from attending MIPTV to either participating in the BBC showcase or London TV screenings.
At the previous MIPTV, there were approximately 3,500 attendees. It’s well-known that this number isn’t enough for an event of this scale. Feeling it was time for a significant transformation, we decided to introduce a new event to serve as a central hub during this busy period.” [This paraphrase aims to simplify the original text while maintaining its meaning.]
She added, “Approximately a year ago, I had a one-on-one conversation with the original partners of the London TV Screenings. It’s important to emphasize that our event wasn’t intended as a competitor. We made sure to consult them before revealing our plans for this new event. They recognize the strategic reasons behind our decision… I believe the emergence of various companies during the events in London that week was already underway. In fact, there were 29 distributors present this year.
Smith was questioned about the value MIP London can offer to people on a tight budget in an expensive city that’s known for its high costs. She clarified that it’s a unique event unlike Cannes and not a large-scale exhibition. They are providing easy-to-set-up solutions for anyone who wishes to participate, and the early bird registration priced at £450 ($583) is now available, which grants access to all their central London venues.
Smith made it very clear that what we’re discussing isn’t a comparison. Contrary to popular belief, we didn’t transfer MIPTV to London; rather, we’re launching a fresh event – a conference, networking opportunity, and screening event with a global marketplace. Our goal is to attract more businesses, companies, and opportunities, and we truly believe that this new venture holds immense value.
RX France aims to broaden the platform, transforming it into a bustling marketplace that extends beyond simply connecting buyers and sellers,” they explained. “Our goal is to encourage greater participation, fostering increased business activity among a wider group of individuals.
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2024-10-25 13:24