visiting companies (with six listed as press) were registered for MIPCOM, making up a total of 181 companies, from countries such as Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Venezuela, Peru Uruguay, Costa Rica, Bolivia and Ecuador. Of the 181 Latin companies, 95 attended MIPCOM for the first time this year and many new exhibitors hailed from Colombia and Chile, including Canal 13 Chile and Films International. The Argentinean and Mexican pavilions grew with new exhibiting companies, such as Argentina’s INCAA. Reed MIDEM, which organizes MIPCOM, reported that 180 buyers from Latin America were in Cannes. In order to handle meetings with all these buyers, exhibiting companies brought large contingents of their sales teams. Cesar Diaz, VP of International Sales at Venevision International, noted that the “entire specialized sales team [was] on hand.” The team in attendance represented Eastern Europe, Africa, the Middle East, North America, Asia, Latin America, Western Europe and Spain. Diaz reported that “The bulk of [his company’s] major buyers come from Spanish-speaking territories in Latin America.” The same was true for Brazil’s Record TV Network, as Delmar Andrade, International Sales director said, “Latin American countries are our main market, even though we also reach buyers worldwide.” Caracol’s Madrid-based Roberto Corrente, International Sales executive for Eastern Europe and Asia, found his company was even busier than last year at their new stand. To handle the packed schedule and meet with buyers from around the world, he said, “Our entire sales team [was] present. This is our main market because it has a global focus.” Corrente added that the “presence of buyers in Asia, Africa and the Middle East is growing” and that the market went “very well. In fact, even better than last year.” Likewise, Televisa Internacional’s Ricardo Ehrsam, general director for Europe, Asia and Africa, was happy with his experience this year, as he found the market, “energetic and positive. Together with NATPE, MIPCOM is the most important international market.” He added, “We were very booked, better than last year, despite the European crisis. I have the sense that the market is coming back, and I’m positive that next year will be even better.” Despite the difficult economic situation in Europe, exhibitors remained positive. Record TV’s Andrade found a silver lining: “We cannot close our eyes to the European situation, but entertainment is extremely important during this time of affliction,” he said. On her part, Stephanie Pacheco, managing director, Latin America at CBS Studios International, was busy meeting with buyers from the larger territories at MIPCOM, including the “Pan-regionals, Mexico, Brazil, Chile, Venezuela and Puerto Rico.” While Pacheco said the majority of the sales delegation was in attendance, she noted that her entire team was not present at this market. Indeed, exhibitors were incredibly busy this year, but still tried to find time for spontaneous meetings with buyers. As far as walk-ins go, Diaz was accommodating. “When we come to major conventions such as MIPCOM, 90 percent of our appointments have been prearranged with our clients. However, due to the exciting atmosphere and activity of these markets, there are quite a number of walk-ins that show up, and we are always available to accommodate them, and we certainly appreciate their potential business — it’s what these markets are all about!” he said. Similarly, Record’s Andrade stated, “Our agenda is full, with half an hour reserved for each customer, but walk-ins are more than welcome.” CBSSI’s Pacheco concurred, adding, “If time allows, I take walk-ins.” She had meetings scheduled with 26 buying companies, which she said was on pace with past years. Like the others, Caracol’s Corrente also takes appointments, noting that his agenda for this market was very tight. But, he said, “We are open to walk-ins if we are able to fit them in.” Adding to the Latin flavor at this MIPCOM, top-level Latin executives had a big presence at the market. Emilio Azcárraga Jean, chairman and CEO of Mexico’s Grupo Televisa, was honored with the 2012 Personality of the Year award, while Adriana Cisneros de Griffin, vice chairman and director of Strategy for Venezuela’s Cisneros Group, delivered the inaugural keynote and hosted the “LATAM Global Dealmakers Networking Lunch.” “This edition of MIPCOM [was] a very special occasion for us for that reason,” said Venevision’s Diaz. In its effort to give a boost to Chilean television content, CinemaChile, an agency for the promotion of the Chilean audiovisual sector, launched a new entity, “MICH!TV/Deals, Content, People” at this MIPJunior and MIPCOM. Additionally, Disney Media Distribution Latin America, together with TV Azteca, announced the production of a local version of the ABC drama series Brothers & Sisters for Mexico. Based on the original series, it will consist of 80 hour-long episodes. SA V I D E O • A G E DE C E M B E R 2 0 1 2 (Continued from Cover) Latins Take MIPCOM and TV Sales by Storm 26 Disney Media Distribution Latin America’s Gustavo Sorotski, Fabiola Bovino, Fernando Barbosa, Leonardo Aranguibel, Henri Ringel Twentieth Century Fox Int’l Distribution’s Elie Wahba and Ricardo Rubini with Artear’s Walter Sequeira (center) Stephanie Pacheco of CBS Studios International Sony Pictures International TV’s Alexander Marin Telemundo International’s Marcos Santana with Cisneros Group’s Adriana Cisneros de Griffin A large Latin American TV trade press contingent invaded MIPCOM. Pictured is Televisa’s press conference announcing the production of two telenovelas. “I have the sense that the market is coming back, and I’m positive that next year will be even better.” — Ricardo Ehrsam
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