Foreign buys requesting information from Chinese exhibitor. (Photo: Gong Ming)

Cannes (People’s Daily) – The annual global TV content trade show MIPCOM, currently underway in Cannes, France, recently recognized China as a Country of Honor after having a presence for 15 consecutive years. MIPCOM is a global marketplace for entertainment content across all platforms and receives over 10, 000 participants form 110 countries and regions every year.

Panel discussions on the Chinese marketplace, showcases on the latest Chinese programs, previews of hottest shows from China on Fresh TV and an Opening Night Welcome Reception were held under the theme “China, source of great stories” by Chinese delegations lead by Fan Weiping, Deputy Director of the National Administration of Radio and Television and Ling Li, Deputy Director of the Foreign Affairs of the Information Bureau of the State Council of China. 

Foreign buys having a discussion with Chinese exhibitor. (Photo: Gong Ming)

Over 50 Chinese companies and some 500 delegates made up this year’s the largest-ever China Pavilion, including China International Television Corporation, Shanghai Media Group and Wuzhou Communication Center. Together, they cover film, television, animation, documentary, variety, and programmed entertainment.

“Television is the one of the best ways to make friends. China wants to work sincerely and friendly with countries willing to coproduce with China,” said Fan Weiping during his address at the event’s opening ceremony. 

This year's MIPCOM attracts 14,000 exhibitor from over 110 countries. China's theme is "Source of great stories"

China: an exploding market

MIPCOM director Reed Midem said China has become the second largest television market in the world, overtaking the UK, just behind the US. 

“In recent years, we have witnessed the growth of Chinese shows present at MIPCOM for sale to international broadcasters and an increase in projects coproduced with China,” said Laurine Garaude, director of MIPCOM’s television division. 

“The Chinese television and entertainment industry has a special place here and we hope their market continues to grow and even speed up over the next two to three years,” Garaude said. 

As the Country of Honor, China showcased its wide range of programming for international television. With the popular FRESH TV, a number of Chinese TV series, documentaries, variety shows won applause from international audiences. 

“I’ve always kept an eye on the Chinese entertainment market and have seen it explode in recent years,” said Aled Evans, senior analyst with HIS Markit. Evans said he particularly enjoyed the documentaries “China from Above,” and “The Third Pole."

Last year China produced 314 dramas, 350 cartoons and 798 movies. Entertainment exports and services exceeded $400 million and expanded from Southeast Asia to Africa, the Middle East, Europe and the US. China currently has co-production agreements with 21 countries.

Fox Network group signing copyright agreement with Huanyu Entertainment.

Cross-border productions

Chinese programs won the favor with worldwide companies due to high-quality content and innovative programming. Chinese firms signed cross-border agreements with Youku, Tencent, iQIYI and foreign networks Fox Group, Viacom Asia, BBC studios and BBC World News, and GMA Worldwide.

Except traditional content and copyright sales, film and television co-production, the cooperation’s moved toward creating TV channel overseas and programming model exchanges. Variaties like This is Street Danse and Nation’s Greatest Treasure will see their orignal way of programming going abroad. This is a very new trend of coproducing while China imitated foreign programming models for most of the time. 

During the Coproducing with China Forum, world entertainment giants shared their China work stories. 

“We have a long history of coproducing films and television with China and we both benefit from our relationship with the country. China is a great source for stories and is ready for openness, tolerance and balance,” said Wayne Garvie, President of International Production at Sony Pictures Television.

Earlier this year Sony Pictures signed an agreement with China to coproduce the Sci-fi series “Origin.” 

“Coproducing is not for one market but for the international global market. “Origin” will attract younger audiences in China and other countries. We believe there is a bright future in coproducing with China and we are just at the start of our story,” said Garvie.