TBI’s 2024 Predictions: Min Lim, group CEO, Vision New Media

Min Lim (Source: Vision New Media)

2024 is set to be a pivotal year for the global content industry, so TBI has enlisted some of the biggest names in the business to share their thoughts on the major trends of the next 12 months and how they’re going to capitalise on them.

Here, Min Lim, group CEO of Malaysia’s Vision New Media, talks South Asian content on the global stage and why companies need to put their money where their mouth is when it comes to diversity, inclusion and authenticity.

What is the biggest growth area for your company this year?

International opportunities. We’ve spent the last few years developing and setting up projects that take our shows beyond Malaysia (and even Asia) and given the response so far, I am optimistic that this will be the thing that will allow us to make that quantum leap. South East Asian shows traditionally have not travelled well outside the region but that is changing fast. 2023 saw Malaysia’s first Oscar win (in Michelle Yeoh), its first Cannes prize (in Tiger Stripes) and its first television show sold into Australia (in The Bridge) – so one can only dream about what 2024 will bring!

What is the key trend going to be in 2024?

Austerity – and subsequently creativity in finding new ways of doing business. Budgets (and sadly people) are being cut all over the world (just look at this week’s news – you’ve lost your job, happy new year!) so this is going to be the time for high quality, cost efficient programming. So many more people are becoming more and more open to looking at new sources of programming (because in most cases they have to!) and that’s exactly what our Sympatico slate with Argo Films is poised to deliver. So hopefully we have our work cut out for us!

What is your New Year’s resolution and why?

To punch more people in the proverbial (or not!) face – especially the ones who talk about diversity, inclusion and authenticity but don’t put their money where their mouth is. So many people talk the talk but few walk the walk when it comes to this so if big companies want to use this to make themselves look better, then they should live it too – not just in the more developed Western markets but all over the world where they do business as well. Oh that and to get at least one project from my “f*ck you” list made!

What will be the biggest headline (not involving your own company) in 2024 and why?

“US Television Execs Realise That International Isn’t Just Europe”. (Well, one can hope!) But seriously, I think it’s going to be around AI. It sounds cliché and we’ve seen it a hundred times in the movies but I don’t think we truly understand what we are dealing with when it comes to AI and how that affects what we do all across our industry. What is wrong, what is right – it’s anyone’s best guess. I, for one, am of the opinion that creation is uniquely human. AI can definitely be a tool in that process but where do we draw the line? It’s a scary thing to contemplate. Maybe we really will need John Connor after all!

What show are you most looking forward to in 2024?

Shogun on Hulu/Disney+/ FX! It was one of my favourite books growing up and the trailer looks amazing. And hopefully the Mouse House has learned from Mulan and is really looking to do authenticity right. With Hiroyuki Sanada starring and producing, a girl can finally dream!