Big number of SVOD nets set for MIPCOM

MIPCOM organiser Reed MIDEM expects close to 500 VOD services to attend this year’s market, with the likes of Claro Video and Showmax represented for the first time.

Laurine Garaude, head of Reed MIDEM’s TV division, told TBI there would be around 4,800 buyers attending MIPCOM in total.

There has been a significant uptick in those buying for subscription video services, and there will be close to 500 when VOD services are added in to the equation.

Garaude said other new developments at MIPCOM next month will be a new VR zone, a focus on Russia, 8K screenings, first time participation from major companies such as WME and Chinese VOD service Tencent, and a new UK pavilion.

The latter stand, which Reed MIDEM is putting on, will replace the PACT pavilion. The UK indie production decided to end its participation due to costs.

UK distributors at the new pavilion include Jetpack Distribution, Hoho Rights, Magnify Media and Special Treats Distribution.

Yesterday, Reed MIDEM announced Snap VP of content Nick Bell and senior director of content programming Sean Mills as the latest keynote at the MIPCOM conference.

Already unveiled are MIPCOM personality of the year David Zaslav, Discovery Communications president and CEO; HBO chief exec and chairman Richard Plepler; National Geographic Global CEO Courteney Monroe; celebrity chef Gordon Ramsay; and Facebook head of global creative strategy Ricky Van Veen.

Cannes Series president Fleur Pellerin will also give a keynote outlining plans for the drama-focused event that launches at adjacent to MIPTV next April.

Screenings include Sony’s Counterpart, with actor J.K. Simmons (Whiplash) in attendance; Banijay Rights’ The Lawyer; and Sky-Amazon coproduction Britannia.

David Morrissey (The Walking Dead) will attend for the latter, while Catherine Zeta-Jones will be in town to promote Lifetime telemovie Cocaine Godmother.

“The growth of our premieres line-up is entirely organic, having begun seven years ago,” Garaude said. “It follows the news of the market.”