Mip sees 'Net gain
2000 event to expand interactive focus
CANNES -- The Mip television market is about to embrace the Internet as part of a growing acceptance that traditional television companies and new technology entities are being drawn together rapidly.
Speaking to Daily Variety as Mip began to wind down Thursday, Rene Peres, head of Reed Midem's television division, noted that Mip 2000 will have a series of Internet debates and will launch a multimedia pavilion to welcome 'Net-related companies to the market. Concretely, our thinking is that we need to address the interactivity between the Internet and our traditional television clients,'' Peres said.
However, Peres ruled out the idea that Reed Midem's existing multimedia market, Milia, will change its dates, May 24 to 27 this year, to coincide with Mip.
Rumors of a Milia move began to circulate in Cannes as a possible answer to grumbling from the U.S. majors, who increasingly are questioning their presence at Mip. The theory was that by twinning Milia and Mip, Reed Midem could keep the majors interested in the April event. ''We are not moving Milia,'' Peres insisted.
In regard to the majors' unhappiness, Peres and Reed Midem chairman Xavier Roy have held a series of informal talks and will head to Los Angeles in June to continue the discussions. ''All companies have to see a return on investment and the majors are no exception,'' Peres noted. ''Having said that, we are working with the majors to see what we can bring to the market which will make their continued presence worthwhile.''
On a financial basis, Reed Midem wouldn't be in trouble if the other majors followed Disney's lead and quit Mip. Such a move would cost Reed Midem around 3% of Mip revenues if the stand space went unfilled -- an unlikely event. In fact, if Mip sold the major's stand space to indies, who tend to take more ads with Mip, Reed Midem could be better off.
''We want the majors here, that's clear, but it's mainly because we want Mip to represent the full range of the television industry,'' Peres said.
Other news that will be welcomed by Mip attendees, particularly those who are part of the Mipdoc documentary screenings that precede the main market, is that Mip 2000 will be a day shorter, bringing it in line with the length of Mipcom.
