20 (Continued from Cover) pating professionals, 558 exhibiting companies, and 977 buyers. While Boat Rocker, a major Canadian studio, will not be attending, Phng noted that “new pavilions from Canada and Indonesia will broaden ATF’s international representation.” Phng also highlighted that under the theme “The Attention Economy,” the ATF Leaders’ Dialogue on December 1 will “examine how the battle for audience attention is redrawing the entertainment landscape, from the rise of verticals and creator-led content to the growing influence of brands in storytelling.” To gauge expectations for the upcoming market, VideoAge spoke with three industry leaders: Sonia Fleck, founder and CEO of Bomanbridge, who, with a Singapore base (an American-born executive based in Singapore and a leading authority on the Southeast Asian TV market); Shashank Singh, lead for Syndication & Content Alliances at One Life Studios India; and Moira Hogan, EVP of APAC Sales and Distribution, ITV Studios, U.K. VideoAge: You’ll be at ATF for sales and co-productions. Will you be expecting more buyers or coproducers? Sonia Fleck: ATF is primarily a Southeast Asian market. The Southeast Asian buyers are very clear about their priorities: 1) local content, 2) Asian content, and 3) international content, in that order of priority. So, it is not an easy market for international content. On coproduction, co-development, and creative collaboration, however, we see real opportunities to explore cross-border partnerships with platforms and producers in the region, particularly around Asian content with international reach. Shashank Singh: Based on our experience over the past few years, ATF tends to attract a stronger presence of Asian buyers than co-production partners, making it an important market for content sales and distribution. Moira Hogan: ATF will largely be buyer-focused across formats and finished tape. Many of the Asian buyers/commissioners who do not make it to Western content markets like MIPCOM will prioritize attending ATF. While ATF has rapidly evolved into a major ecosystem for co-productions, development funding, and project pitching, foreign cooperation and international department executives from broadcasters across Asia will be attending ATF. VA: ATF comes at the end of most budget periods. How can exhibitors maximize what’s left in buyers’ budgets? Sonia Fleck: Work hard, bring deal memos, or be willing to work off that handshake. Beyond that, ATF is about planting the seeds for the upcoming Q1 and, very importantly, the gossip! What’s happening in this fast-paced region where changes are appearing every day? Who’s executing their vision and how? Shashank Singh: The key is to offer content that feels fresh, distinctive, and relevant to the market. New launches can create a compelling reason for buyers to commit remaining budget, particularly when the content has strong audience appeal and clear potential across territories. We’re also seeing strong opportunities in the fast-growing micro-drama space. Moira Hogan: Fiscal year cycles vary across Asian countries, with most buyers in Asia working on an April-March FY, so very often calendar Q4 tends to be a busy time. Buyers who have remaining funds to spend might not require the actual delivery until the next quarter, but they want to capture a Q1 tentpole title they can’t lose. VA: Is ATF a good venue to launch new content? Sonia Fleck: If the content has a clear Southeast Asian angle, then yes. For a more global project, I see ATF less as a launch market and more as an opportunity to build on the international momentum created at MIPCOM, and extend the project’s reach into Asia. Shashank Singh: Absolutely. For an Indian content company like One Life Studios, ATF is a valuable platform to introduce new programming directly to the Asian market. While many regional buyers and industry delegates may not have been able to attend MIPCOM, ATF gives us another opportunity to showcase our latest content, build awareness, and engage with buyers closer to home. It’s more than simply a second launch window. ATF allows us to tailor conversations to regional tastes, explore new distribution opportunities and build relationships with buyers who are actively looking for fresh stories and formats. Moira Hogan: Yes, ATF is an ideal venue to showcase new content that has only just launched at MIPCOM. It offers three dedicated days for buyers and sellers to discuss full slates, share insights, and connect face-to-face in both formal and informal settings. “The Southeast Asian buyers are very clear about their priorities: 1) local content, 2) Asian content, and 3) international content, in that order of priority.” — Sonia Fleck, Bomanbridge Moira Hogan, EVP of APAC Sales and Distribution, ITV Studios, U.K. Bomanbridge’s Sonia Fleck with Gleyce Soares, Effa Syaqilla, and Carl Hall at their MIPCOM stand Shashank Singh, lead for Syndication & Content Alliances. One Life Studios India VIDEOAGE November 2026 ATF Preview
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