New Creative, Financing Dynamics Reshaping the TV Industry Discussed at MipTV

variety.com:

Marta Balaga As multiple opportunities open up in the changing market, it’s crucial to protect what’s special about the project first, Element Pictures producer Ed Guiney argued at a Canneseries panel.“You figure out what the scripts are, who is going to make it and how much it’s going to cost, and then you go out and choose the best partner.

The dynamic is that we are making this thing, the train is pulling out of the station, so do you want to join us? Rather than ‘this is something we are thinking of doing, do we have your permission?’,” he said, citing collaboration on “Normal People” with the BBC.“When we were in contention for the rights, the BBC did a very bold thing – they greenlit the show before we had them.

We could go to Sally Rooney, the writer, and say: ‘If we are the lucky recipient, we are making this’.” During the panel, entitled The Changing Face of Co-Production and Rights Sharing Among Frenemies, participants discussed how to keep up with new developments, including in financing.“I think everyone here has become a part-financier over the last few years,” said Danna Stern, founder of Israel’s Yes Studios.“We are seeing private equity come in, venture capital come in, there are a whole host of opportunities as this business grows.

It used to be one TV screen and one family watching one show. Now, there is more audience, more opportunity for eyeballs and therefore more creative financing,” noted Emmanuelle Guilbart, CEO at About Premium Content, adding that the business of distribution has changed, too.“We spend part of our time selling finished programs, but most of it goes to looking for finance.