Opinion: ‘High Hopes’ for formats as MIPTV beckons

MIPTV

With MIPTV almost upon us, TBI’s resident format expert Siobhan Crawford casts an eye over the highlights on offer in Cannes this year

It’s MIPTV! God, I love this time of year and to set the tone, I have figured out the distributors’ (and producers’) anthem – it’s Panic! At The Disco’s classic, High Hopes.

Siobhan Crawford

Seriously, get your Spotify lyrics out and listen: “Had to have high, high hopes for a living…I was gonna be that one in a million”. Obviously, it’s talking about paper format commissioning – or Australian commissions, or US, UK – OK, all commissions!

Right, the good stuff – content. London Screenings already provided us with insights but lesser known are the indies:

• Acun Medya – fulfilling our need for daily content, dating format Amor En El Aire (local title) is coming hot from Azteca. Allowing single viewers at home to join the villa as new contestants is unique.
• Be Entertainment – Destination X was one of the hits of London Screenings and the competition reality has a lot of people talking (partly about how a bus can cost so much). From Love To Yes In 24 Hours was on the slate but slightly quiet.
• Can’t Stop – A US format is coming. Less top secret, The Unexpected Getaway from France 2 takes three celebrities on a reflective getaway to dive into their lives.
• D360 – Pushing ahead with recommissions of existing catalogue including A Cut Above, Best In Miniature and Race Against The Tides.
• Eccholine – The hub experts will be bringing four big formats (with very familiar branding on one). The Box, with its remote jungle in Colombia, is the headline, plus Chefs Unlimited.
• Glow Media – Yes, my company is launching The Golden Egg. If Cash Or Trash and Deal Or No Deal had an immersive studio baby this would be it. Plus our first co-dev with Phileas sees us launch Love DisConnected!
• Lineup Industries – Leading the line-up is For Sale For 100 Years, one of Denmark’s most binged shows, plus a few mysterious late editions may be added. Watch this space.
• Media Ranch – Coming in hot from Korea, Round Table has all the FOMO vibes as it comes from, you guessed it, Wonwoo Park. The Story Of Us is continuing to make noise after Belgian success.
• Mediawan – Israeli-US format Hungry For Love launched at the end of 2022 with a simple concept – you can’t eat alone. The most proactive dating format ever.
• Newen – Don’t Stop The Music, a new Dutch entertainment format introducing artists from the 1980s and 1990s to a younger audience in the ultimate music video. I am going to rave about this until we get a shiny US and a UK version!
• Passion – Aussie format Better Date Than Never has all the (buzzword) authentic First Dates/Love On The Spectrum feels, plus One Night Stand and Best Worst Driver are launching. And why do we love buses this year… Tool Club rounds out the titles.
• Phileas – Can You Keep The Money? is a new primetime development between Phileas and Wonwoo Park with MIP deals expected, plus gameshow Cash In Cash Out. Remember, hardest working man in TV.
• Primitives – Newly launched in Belgium, Justice In Jail will lead the launches with Irish recommission The Toughest Team and Celebrity Retreat joining the launches at The Mole house.
• Propagate – the hangover from The Masked Singer continues in new Fox Format Fund title Celebrity Masterpiece, which has just finished its first season on Workpoint in Thailand, plus Propagate have two renewals on Fox.
• Rabbit – Travel Battle is a hybrid studio and location production with good vibes as comedians compete to win the best travel experiences, with their trips revealed in studio. Taskmaster feels.
• Talpa – the firm is bringing a new format, chequebooks at the ready; The Jump is coming and should been greenlit by MIP – never has getting the answer wrong been so risky. Plus, The Floor.
• TGC – newly launched US distributor continues the roll out of (Canada’s) Ultimate Challenge, foodies favourite Fridge Wars and Parking Lot Payday. Keeping hot news quiet but expect headlines during MIP.

So, go forth and enjoy the delights of Cannes. Brown Sugar awaits, the rude waiter service in the cafes, the heaven that is De Laura and the new Wit session, The Garden… I mean why would we ever stop coming to MIPTV?

Siobhan Crawford is co-founder at Glow Media and has worked in the format business for almost two decades at firms including DRG, Zodiak, Banijay and Primitives