18 There’s a new television trade mart in town: Content Americas. It’s the new kid on the block — the downtown Miami block, that is. Content Americas hopes to replace the dearly departed NATPE Miami, a market that was traditionally held in January, and the new event will focus on the LatAm, domestic U.S., and international television content business. Now, we can’t quite call Content Americas a phoenix, even though it is rising from the ashes of NATPE Miami. The jury is still out, but it’s possible that the verdict will be delivered after the current first edition of the three-day event closes down on Thursday, January 26. Just like NATPE Miami always was, Content Americas will be the first TV market of the year, but it isn’t just trying to replicate NATPE Miami. Content Americas is also trying to be like MIP Cancun (the most recent edition of which was held in November 2022). In recent years, MIP Cancun had become NATPE’s main competitor for the LatAm contingent, and Content Americas is looking to lure in that same audience. The name “Americas” implies that most international companies in attendance will hail from North, Central, and South America. Some participants have reportedly said that they hope that U.S. domestic TV stations will forge some sort of presence, even though the chances are slim. Looming in the distance is the ghost of NATPE Miami, which could haunt Content Americas, especially since Canadian publisher Brunico announced the acquisition (upon the approval of U.S. courts) of NATPE’s assets, which are under the protection of Chapter 11. These assets include brands such as NATPE Global and NATPE Budapest, two of NATPE’s signature TV trade shows. However, while Brunico has confirmed the dates for NATPE Budapest (June 26-28, 2023), it has not yet revealed those of NATPE Global, or its location. Miguel Garcia Sánchez, the Miami-based Sales director of Spain’s Atresmedia Television, is “excited to participate and check out how [the organizer, U.K. publisher] C21 Media will organize a big event like this.”He acknowledges that this is a daunting task “due to the fame of NATPE Miami and all the difficulties of planning a market in a big city [like] Miami”, adding, “the [organizers] made a great strategy with two key decisions. One was the decision to hire many people with experience organizing events in the U.S. (some of them from NATPE) and the other was the invitation tomany buyers and key commissioners that pull sellers like us to participate in Content Americas instead of DISCOP. It was the game changer decision ‘to win the battle.’ ” “This will be the first edition of Content Americas and we’re happy to be a part of such an event, which gathers relevant players in the area”, said Isadora Filpi, Sales manager for Brazil’s Globo International Distribution. “Each event has its own particularities, but it’s always a positive experience to meet with our partners and friends in the market, building relationships and presenting our content.” Filpi believes that as the first event of 2023, Content Americas will “measure the trends of the industry.” Globo plans to highlight the telenovela genre, which she notes has “huge potential for engagement.” That’s not all. The company has a diverse docket that also includes series, documentaries, and children’s titles. “We want to catch the market’s interest with our productions and take our stories to more screens every day. For this reason, we’re countingon the event tobe the first opportunity of 2023 to meet the market in person and work on our proposals.” On Wednesday, January 25, during Content Americas, Telemundo Global Studios will present its content offerings for 2023 with its first in-person screening (accompanied by a cocktail party) since NATPE Miami 2020. At the event, which will be led by EVP of Production and Development Karen Barroeta, Telemundo Global Studios will screen the newest season of El Señor de los Cielos, in addition to upcoming titles for Telemundo U.S. Atresmedia’s Garcia Sánchez added: “I hope that [C21] will organize parties and cocktails. Those events create [an incentive] to join Content Americas next year. Content Americas 2023 should be an unforgettable event if they want to occupy the space that NATPE left and avoid Brunico [becoming] a new important competitor for the 2024 edition.” (By Sara Alessi) Content Americas Instead of NATPE Miami: What Has Changed January 2023 Market Preview Isadora Filpi, Sales manager at Brazil’s Globo Miguel Garcia Sánchez, Sales director at Madrid-based Atresmedia Television Expectations and Aspirations As per January 14, 2023, the number of exhibitors registered to attend the first edition of Content Americas is orbiting at around 80, although, by opening time 10 days later, the number of participants is expected to reach 500 (plus the usual ones who will be parked around the badgeless spaces). All in all, this first Content Americas in downtown Miami might be not too far off from the last in-person NATPE Miami event (in Miami Beach) in 2020, which recorded an estimated 1,500 participants. During its three days of activities, the event will also feature 22 conferences, and at least one major screenings and evening cocktail from Telemundo Global Studios. The conference program will kick off on Tuesday, January 24, at 9 a.m. with a session on 2023 Content Trends, followed by a 10 a.m. keynote from Pierluigi Gazzolo, president of TelevisaUnivision. That morning will also see a special welcome fromBruce Orosz, chairman of the board of the Greater Miami Convention & Visitors Bureau. Market organizers (the U.K.-based trade publisher C21 Media) did not reply to a request for comments about their expectations, however they have managed to get — after an initial hesitation — the endorsement of all trade publications. One of the executives who was reached by VideoAge for comments mentioned that the Hilton Downtown Miami is located in an area full of construction that is difficult to travel to; therefore, it’s not an optimal location for an event such as Content Americas.
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy MTI4OTA5