be better than ever. “This year’s edition will once again highlight the strong health of Central and Eastern Europe’s television marketplace,” he said. Indeed, the numbers reflect that business will be booming in Budapest, with about 400 sellers in attendance, including between 50 and 70 sales and distribution organizations that will be doing business in the region for the first time. In terms of buyers, about 1,200 were registered at press time, up 150 from last year’s figures. The buyers represent 33 countries throughout Central and Eastern Europe, including a small delegation from Central Asia and India. To accommodate the large turnout, the market will occupy a sixth level for the first time ever. Jucaud pointed out a number of other factors that indicate the region’s recent progress. “Not only is there a growing number of companies from Central and Eastern Europe coming to DISCOP East to sell product,” he said. “Many new thematic channels have been launched over the past year to meet the needs of digital platforms.” Additionally, he noted, to many international distributors, Central and Eastern Europe is already a top marketplace, and telenovelas continue to reign supreme. Israel-based Dori Media’s Jose Escalante is banking on the previous success of his company’s novelas in the region. Dori has a big presence in Latin America through Escalante’s Miami, Florida-based operations, distributing a wealth of telenovelas and other programming throughout the region. Escalante and his team are bringing three new programs to Budapest, a game show entitled The Game of Love , and two experimental telenovelas called The Rainbow Girl and Violet . A more traditional telenovela entitled Rich and Famouscompletes its slate. However, Escalante cautioned that the heyday of foreign soaps in Eastern Europe will not last forever. “Business is growing, but we’re finding more competition,” he said. “What we’re discovering more and more in Eastern Europe is that they’re producing their own local content.” Nevertheless, Escanlante predicted that the region will continue to become more important in the international arena. The Latins won’t be the only ones cashing in on the telenovela fad. Helge Koehnen, head of Eastern European Affairs for Germany’s Bavaria Media Television said that his company also does well with soaps at the conference. This year, it brings 200 new episodes of its popular novela about romance and intrigue, Storm of Love , to DISCOP. Koehnen explained that despite the fact that local productions are gaining speed in Eastern Europe, foreign-made telenovelas aren’t going anywhere. “The demand for telenovelas will continue because they present an inexpensive way to fill a time slot for a long time. In smaller Eastern and Central European markets, the stations cannot afford to use all local productions.” Bavaria will also be selling children’s series Rudy the Racing Pig , teen series Einstein High and some feature-length horror movies, which represent the company’s new direction. “We’re trying to get a bit more involved with genre movies,” said Koehnen. “Especially thrillers.” In addition to closing deals, Koehnen and his team plan on taking advantage of the co-production market put on by DISCOP the day before the conference. For the second year in a row, the minievent known as DISCOPRO will offer keynotes and panels geared toward companies looking for production partners. The co-production market also facilites meetings between small companies and TV networks, which is the occasion’s biggest draw. Bavaria is just one of a growing contingent of companies which will make use of the DISCOP precursor. Koehnen also added that although it’s been tagged an “emerging market,” Eastern Europe is actually already very established, especially from the point of view of neighboring European countries like Germany. “Some people talk about Central and Eastern Europe as an emerging market, but it’s nonsense,” he said. “They have already become completely emancipated and they are very important.” Daniella Kilim, director of Sales, Europe for New York-based Lightworks Program Distribution Incorporating Sandra Carter Global, has plans for DISCOP other than selling programs. In addition to pushing titles such as docudrama Florence Nightingale about the iconic nurse, miniseries The Quest for Sunken Warships , and weekly newsmagazine Red Carpet Reporter , Lightworks intends to use the market to launch its new brand. Lightworks acquired distribution company Sandra Carter Global in January, and looks forward to the opportunity to show the industry what the expanded company is really about. “The goal for this DISCOP is to introduce people to the new combination,” said Kilim. She went on to explain that prior to the merger, Lightworks had a spiritual focus. In absorbing Sandra Carter, which incorporates all genres, the new firm hopes to a create a brand that Kilim described as “life from every angle.” Additionally, Kilim noted that while Sandra Carter Global is a DISCOP veteran, Lightworks is new to the market. Part of the company’s mission in Budapest is to learn the ropes. Kilim noted that is important for the firm to get its bearings at DISCOP because “the Eastern European market is crucial to Lightworks’ success and international image.” She also added that, as always, the company aims to use the conference to explore sales opportunities for existing and new platforms. (Continued from Cover) Telenovelas at DISCOP
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy MTI4OTA5