10,272 participants (+3.4 per cent compared to 2001) from 2,721 companies and 90 countries attended Mipcom 2002. Last year at the same period 9,943 delegates had attended the event. Positive signals from the global industry such as improved advertising revenues in the US, were reflected at the venue this year. The number of programme buyers saw a significant increase as 2,720 delegates from 1,105 companies registered came to Cannes. The growth was already apparent at Mipcom Junior from 5 -6 October with a 19.3 per cent increase in the number of acquisition executives (433 buyers, compared to 363 in 2001).

Asia Pacific representation increased with a total number of 407 companies present at the event, up 10 per cent compared to 370 companies last year (314 in 2000). Japan and Korea now rank respectively fourth and ninth among countries with the largest number of stands.

Canada accounted for 134 exhibiting companies, up 18.58 per cent, compared to 113 last year (and 87 companies in 2000), and now ranks fourth in the top exhibiting countries after France, US and the UK. Telefilm Canada’s umbrella stand gathered 67 companies, against 35 last year and 16 in 2000. Canada’s dynamic industry came into the spotlight at Mipcom’s opening night as CBC/Radio Canada celebrated their 50th anniversary with a spectacular performance from world famous troupe Cirque Du Soleil.

Producers and distributors showcased new drama films and mini-series at the all new MIP Screenings which proved highly popular attracting 480 professionals. In all, 32 programmes were presented by 23 companies from the US, Canada, Europe and Latin America.

Another first was Mipcom’s Formats Day which was attended by over 600 delegates and included a keynote by ITV Director of Programming David Liddiment, a high-level panel and a pitching session. A large number of deals were signed during MIPCOM underlining that formats have now become a worldwide phenomenon. The UK’s Zeal Television licensed Under Control to RTL2 in Germany; Dutch company Eyeworks.TV sold rights to Talent Television (UK) to promote its format Test The Nation The National IQ Test in Japan, and Canada’s Distraction signed a deal with Bunim/Murray Productions to create a US version of Stripsearch The Real Full Monty.

Animation was widely represented at the market and appealed to numerous buyers who passed. Tokyo Broadcasting System signed a multi-territory deal with Fox Kids Europe for rights to 50 episodes of The Quintuplets, France’s Tele Images and Australia’s Yoram Gross teamed up to co-produce Seaside Hotel, and Decode and Sunwoo entered a partnership for B-Bot vs. The Alien Posse, the first Canadian-Korean co-produced series based on a property developed by a Korean company. At MIPCOM Junior animation was the most screened programme genre: all of the top 30 most screened programmes belonged to the animation category.

A growing amount of trade is done in the area of DVD rights. US company TDK Mediactive has picked up rights from Italian broadcaster RAI’s prestigious operas to distribute 20 to 30 DVD titles a year.

MIPTV 2003, the next international programmes market for the TV industry, will be held from 24-28 March and will celebrate its 40th anniversary. The MIPDOC Documentary Screenings will be held on 22-23 March.