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Banijay CEO Marco Bassetti is set to receive the Variety Vanguard Award, which will be presented in October at the Mipcom global content market in Cannes.

The award recognizes television industry leaders who have made a significant contribution to the global business of entertainment. Bassetti, who leads the French-headquartered TV production and distribution giant behind hits including “Survivor” and “Peaky Blinders,” will receive the award, presented by Variety and Mipcom, on Oct. 13 as part of his keynote conversation at the Palais de Festivals.

“Marco Bassetti is one of the most entrepreneurial, visionary and impactful television executives of our era who has led Banijay Entertainment to be the world’s largest production and distribution group through his championing of creativity, independence, and innovation,” said Lucy Smith, director of Mipcom Cannes and Mipjunior. “It is our privilege to partner with Variety to recognize his achievements in front of the global TV industry...

London’s big week in the international TV sun has come to an end, with not one, not two, but three major events running in parallel. Mip London made its debut at the swanky Savoy Hotel and Iet conference center, the well-established London TV Screenings were back and bigger than ever, and the gig that began it all, the BBC Studios Showcase, was held once again. We’ve rounded up five faces who defined the week, from big American stars in town with the U.S. studios to the market creators taking a shot at glory.

Denis Leary: American Stand-Up Royalty In The Big Smoke

Denis Leary was in town promoting ‘Going Dutch’

As noted above, the Screenings wouldn’t be complete without a bit of star power from the other side of the Atlantic and this came in the form of stand-up royalty Denis Leary (also see Kelsey Grammer...

It’s that time of the week, Insiders. Jesse Whittock here to take you through the headlines from international film and TV.

London’s Big TV Week

A permanent alteration?: Since the London TV Screenings began in 2021, more and more international buyers have been flooding to the English capital in February. Anticipation — and tension — was high this week, as Mip London landed in town for the first time at the Savoy Hotel and Iet London conference center. This brought a new market to the table, running parallel to the BBC Studios Showcase and London TV Screenings, which was founded by ITV Studios, All3Media, Fremantle and Banijay and now boasts nearly 40 distributors touting wares. A week of wet and windy weather wasn’t enough to put off buyers, who flocked to various events and meetings, while Mip London offered a sprinkling of star power through David Beckham, who talked about his underwear.

The cast of Downton Abbey: A New Era is, as fans hoped, also identical to that of Downton Abbey 2019, with one notable exception. However, the Crawley family and their servants also welcome some new visitors to their great house in Yorkshire UK, meaning there are a few fresh faces on screen too. In Downton Abbey: A New Era, the Crawleys travel to the South of France after Lady Violet, the Dowager Countess (Maggie Smith) reveals a former flame has left her a seaside villa in his will. Meanwhile, a film production arrives to shoot a movie at Downton Abbey, which creates excitement for the servants and chaos for Lady Mary Talbot (Michelle Dockery).

Downton Abbey: A New Era also features the wedding of Tom Branson (Allen Leech) to Lucy Smith (Tuppence Middleton) after they were engaged in the previous Downton Abbey movie. The Crawleys' lives change forever as the...

Good afternoon Insiders, Max Goldbart here with your very final international newsletter of what has been an at times tumultuous but never dull 2024. We hope you have a mighty fine Christmas and a Happy New Year and all that’s left is to thank you, dear reader, for coming back every week. It is hugely appreciated. Do read on.

Casting A Spell

The sorting hat: We end the year in Potter Land, exploring a show that could well be the highest profile project to be entering production in 2025. Intrigue is growing, mainly around cast. Our deep dive revealed that the search for the next Harry, Hermione and Ron has been whittled down a fair bit from a whopping 32,000, with Lucy Bevan and the casting execs leading the heavily guarded process thought to have started chemistry reads. I chatted with agents and located the original movies’ casting director to dive deep...

Exclusive: With Mip London just over the horizon, Lucy Smith has a big challenge: to prove the need for a newbie event and convince skeptics that this will bring more of the industry’s top-tier execs to the English capital in Feb.

“Over 700 people are already registered and we’re hopeful of landing somewhere between 1,500 to 2,000,” Smith, the Director of the Entertainment Division of Rx France and Mip Markets, reveals to us as we sit down in the plush Savoy hotel, one of two venues Mip London will utilize, along with the adjoining Iet London. The capacity is 1,300 in each.

The new event, from MIPCOM organizer Rx France, comes after the curtain came down on MIPTV last year. Since Mip London was announced, Smith has stressed this is not a simple swap of the Cote D’Azur for the banks of the River Thames. “It’s not MIPTV, let’s be clear on that.

Only Fools and Horses, the legendary British sitcom created by John Sullivan, remains a timeless comedy gem. First hitting screens in 1981, it revolves around the Trotter brothers, Del Boy and Rodney, as they chase dreams of striking it rich through hilariously ill-fated schemes. Living in Peckham, South London, the duo operates their market trading business out of a beaten-up yellow Reliant Regal three-wheeler van.

Del Boy, the older sibling, is a cheeky, quick-witted wheeler-dealer with grand ideas of becoming a millionaire. Rodney, on the other hand, is more level-headed and forever frustrated by his brother’s far-fetched plans.

Only Fools and Horses | Credit: BBC

The show isn’t just about laughs, it’s about family, friendship, and everyday struggles. Alongside Del and Rodney are unforgettable characters like their Grandad, and quirky friends including Trigger, Boycie, and Denzil. From slapstick comedy moments to touching emotional scenes, the series beautifully balanced humor and heart.

Former soccer star David Beckham and Netflix’s chief content officer Bela Bajaria will join forces for a fireside chat at the inaugural Mip London content and networking market in February.

Collaborators on the Emmy award-winning documentary series Beckham and with the Brit’s Studio 99 now in production on the doc following his wife, Victoria Beckham, the pair will share the main stage at London’s Savoy Hotel to exchange their respective insights.

Beckham founded the content studio in 2019. Studio 99 operates both editorial and commercial production, specializing in developing and producing doc features, series and formats for global platforms and networks, including Netflix, Disney+ and Amazon’s Prime Video.

Bajaria, who joined Netflix in 2016 and was named chief content officer in January 2023, oversees the teams responsible for all Netflix content from around the world including series Stranger Things, Squid Game, Wednesday, Bridgerton, Heeramandi, Lupin and films including Leave the World Behind,...

Soccer star turned TV producer David Beckham and Netflix content chief Bela Bajaria are set to headline U.K. confab Mip London.

Beckham, who starred in last year’s hit docuseries “Beckham,” is co-founder of content studio Studio 99. His next project is another Netflix docuseries about wife Victoria Beckham.

Beckham and Bajaria will speak onstage as part of an “in conversation” event on Feb. 25 at the inaugural market, which comes to the Savoy Hotel in London, U.K. for the first time after years in Cannes.

Mip London is set to run from Feb. 23 to 27, 2025.

“We promised the TV industry to deliver big moments and future-facing conversations at Mip London next February,” said Lucy Smith, director of Mip London. “Bela and David are hugely impactful figures culturally and globally each with great influence and unique perspectives on creating content and connecting with audiences and both with significant international platforms.

Hello Insiders, the big international chatter this week came from Cannes, but there’s been plenty of film and TV stories elsewhere. Jesse Whittock here guiding you through. Sign up here.

Another Mip In The Cannes

“A fun run”: Stewart, Jake and Max returned from Cannes yesterday following another invigorating few days at MIPCOM. This year’s international TV market hit a milestone as MIPCOM turned 40, and it also became the first that will not be followed by MIPTV in April (more on that later). The team was on the ground for talks from some of the TV industry’s biggest names including Warner’s Channing Dungey and outgoing Sony Pictures Entertainment chief Tony Vinciquerra. “It’s been a fun run and it’s time to do something different,” said the latter, as he...

MIPCOM boss Lucy Smith gave attendees in Cannes a preview of what to expect from the newly-unveiled Mip London set for February 2025.

Mip London, pegged as a multi-genre international content and networking marketplace following the death of MIPTV, will take place at the Strand’s Savoy Hotel and Iet venues from Feb. 23-27 next year, in the hopes of attracting over 250 companies from 36 countries.

There will be a focus on unscripted, Fast (free ad-supported streaming TV) and kids content, Smith explained. After conversations at Mip Junior earlier in the week, Smith said they already have a buy-in from a number of key players, including from BBC Children’s and Education and Sky, to stage a kids U.K. and European co-production summit in London. “There’ll be more on this coming soon,” the Rx France exec added.

Attendance at the conference in Cannes this year has fallen by 500, the organizer also revealed on Wednesday.

Mip London has tripled its number of companies planning to attend over the past two months but attendees at this week’s Cannes confab fell by 500, organizer Lucy Smith just revealed.

Newly revealed for Mip London, meanwhile, is a kids co-pro summit, which Rx France’s Smith said came out of the conversations that took place at Mip Junior several days ago.

Smith said big kids TV players from the UK including the BBC and Sky will be involved. “The industry needs as many opportunities as possible to get together to move projects forward,” said Smith at the closing MIPCOM press conference this afternoon, during which she unveiled the figures.

The kids genre has faced tricky headwinds of late and a group including the BBC gathered in the UK earlier this year to discuss at a hastily-convened summit amid existential questions over the genre’s future.

The kids co-pro summit...

Mip London won’t be a “rival” event to the London TV Screenings, assured Lucy Smith, Director of Mipcom Cannes and upcoming Mip London.

“We will be very respectful of what they’ve already planned. They have grown a great event,” she said, promising “intelligent scheduling” on Mip London’s part to “make sure we won’t be fully in competition with some other major events.”

“It’s not a rival event. The first people we spoke to over a year ago were the founding partners of the London TV Screenings. We consulted them. They understand the business reasons to do it.”

Mip London, described as a new “multi-genre, international content and networking market,” will take place from Feb. 23-27, 2025. The London TV Screenings unspools from Feb. 23-28.

“We are not just bringing more screenings to the same number of buyers who are there. Our goal is to create an additional,...

Tuesday afternoon, a joyful crowd of industryites gathered at the Grand Auditorium in Cannes for the 8th Mipcom Cannes Diversity TV Awards, introduced on stage by Mipcom director Lucy Smith as “the industry’s only awards to champion and promote diversity and inclusion in all its forms in the international television industry.”

Standing next to her, Mark Garner, head of Global Fast for A&e Networks, and Mip Markets’ Diversity Advisory Board member added: “I’m proud to be a continuous founding sponsor of the Awards, highlighting the “stumbling” debuts of the awards “in a hidden cocktail bar in Cannes.” Garner underscored that since then, diversity voices have grown, and his group’s mission is to mentor those of the future. “When we commit to elevate authentic voices, we get spectacular voices,” he said.

The ceremony was again hosted by Femi Oke, media expert and co-founder of the diverse moderators’ bureau “Moderate The Panel,...

Garcelle Beauvais has high hopes for the upcoming U.S. election — which she says will produce the first Black female president in Kamala Harris.

The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills star sat down with The Hollywood Reporter‘s co-editor-in-chief, Nekesa Mumbi Moody, at MIPCOM’s Women In Global Entertainment Power Lunch with A+E Media Group on Monday afternoon, to talk about breaking into the industry as a model, being a Black woman in Hollywood and U.S. politics.

A&e is a sponsor of the annual Power Lunch, where some of television’s most senior industry execs gather to get inspired among fellow women. The Hollywood Reporter, which publishes its annual list of the most powerful women in international television to coincide with the event, is the official media partner.

Beauvais is a woman of many talents: not only a beloved real housewife, but also an actress in films such as...

James Farrell, head of international originals at Amazon MGM Studios, and Akihiko Okamoto, president and representative director at Yoshimoto Kogyo, are to feature in a joint keynote session at TV market Mipcom.

The execs will explore the origination and approach that has made “Lol: Last One Laughing” one of the most successful and travelled formats of recent years and Prime Video’s most watched title ever in several countries.

The session, part of the market’s Media Mastermind Keynote series, will be staged on the first full day of Mipcom on Oct. 21 at 10.20 a.m. in the Grand Auditorium of the Palais des Festivals. The 40th edition of Mipcom will take place in Cannes from Oct. 21-24.

The show originated from a top-line pitch to Farrell as follows: “Ten comedians gather in a room and try to make each other laugh; the last one to keep a straight face wins.

All3Media CEO Jane Turton will take part in a keynote interview at the 40th edition of Mipcom, the international co-production and entertainment content market, which runs from Oct. 21-24 in Cannes.

Staged as a fireside chat in the Grand Auditorium of the Palais des Festival on Oct. 21 at 3 p.m., the keynote forms part of the “C-Suite Conversations” series being presented across the opening afternoon of the market in partnership with Variety. The other interviewees taking part in this series are Channing Dungey, chairman and CEO, Warner Bros. Television Group, and Tony Vinciquerra, chairman and CEO, Sony Pictures Entertainment.

The session will “explore creative and commercial trends driving transformation across all sectors, how these are informing All3Media’s strategy and shaping the wider future for the global industry,” according to a statement.

Since becoming CEO in 2015, Turton has led a global strategy that has built All3Media, now owned by RedBird Imi,...

Channing Dungey, Warner Bros. TV Group chairman and CEO, will deliver a keynote address at Mipcom in Cannes next month.

The executive will participate in a fireside chat on Oct. 21 in the Grand Auditorium of the Palais des Festivals as part of the “C-Suite Conversations” series in partnership with Variety.

Dungey took the helm of Warner Bros. TV Group in 2021 and oversees the studio’s production activities, which includes Warner Bros. Television, Warner Bros. Unscripted Television, Warner Bros. Animation, Cartoon Network Studios and Hanna-Barbera Studios Europe. Last month, it was announced that Dungey will also lead Warner Bros. Discovery’s U.S. Networks beginning next year.

According to a press release, Dungey’s keynote will detail her “approach to storytelling and creative leadership and explore the future-facing global production strategies behind one of the world’s most high-profile and prolific studios.”

Prior to taking the reins at Warner Bros. TV Group,...

“Rise of the Raven,” the anticipated European event series from Beta Film, behind “Babylon Berlin” and “The Swarm,” and producer Robert Lantos, will world premiere at Cannes content trade fair Mipcom on Oct. 22.

Beta Film has shared in exclusivity with Variety a first teaser to the series, which is a bracing introduction to the scale and ambition of “Rise of the Raven’s” production values, as well as the brutality of its battles scenes as it tells in an 10-part epic the extraordinary real-life feat of Hungarian army commander Janos Hunyadi, played by discovery Gellért L. Kádár, who turned back the tide of the Ottoman Empire’s seemingly unstoppable advance into Europe.

This looks set to climax in the series as in history in 1456 when Hunyadi won a bloody Battle of Belgrade against a vast Ottoman force twice the size of his troops who were sometimes armed with just slings and patriotic fervor.

More than 80 major companies spanning buyers and distributors are set to take part in the inaugural Mip London.

Mip London takes place from 23-27 February at the Savoy Hotel and Iet London conference centre in London’s West End.

Buyers from numerous global companies set to attend Mip London include ITV, Netflix, Sky, CBC, AMC Networks International, Canal+, National Geographic, The Walt Disney Company, Zdf, France Televisions and Nine Network Australia.

Elsewhere, Rx has signed up myriad distribution companies to participate in meetings, screenings and summits at Mip London. These include Armoza Formats, Beta Film, FilmRise, Global Agency, PBS Distribution and Fox Entertainment Global.

Mip London’s organizers say the debuting event has attracted buyers from the likes of Netflix, ITV and Disney.

More than 80 companies have committed to the event in February next year, according to Rx France. They include buyers from Al Jazeera, AMC Networks International – Central and Northern Europe, Canal+, CBC/Radio Canada, France Télévisions, ITV, M6, Mbc, National Geographic, Netflix, Nine Network in Australia, Nrk in Norway, Seven One Entertainment Group, Sky, Telefonica, France’s TF1 The Walt Disney Company and Germany’s Zdf.

Distributors confirmed include Armoza Formats, Beta Film, FilmRise, Fox Entertainment Global, Global Agency and PBS Distribution.

Attracting Fox Entertainment Global, which hosts its own London TV Screenings event during the same week, is something of a coup. The company has joined the MIPFormats Pitch even as a presenting partner, while the MIPDoc Pitch and MIPDoc Co-Production Summit have also been confirmed for Mip London. They were previously run at MIPTV.

Mip London, the new content market and networking event run by the team behind Mipcom, has revealed that more than 80 companies – including distributors, buyers and producers – from 30 countries have confirmed their presence for the inaugural edition.

Mip London will run Feb. 23-27 at the Savoy Hotel and Iet London conference center in London’s West-End. The event is timed to coincide with the London TV Screenings, which runs Feb. 23-28, organized by the top U.K. distributors, led by All3Media Intl., Banijay Ent., Fremantle and ITV Studios.

Among the distribution companies to confirm for the Mip London market are Armoza Formats, Beta Film, FilmRise, Fox Entertainment Global, Global Agency and PBS Distribution.

Companies sending buyers include Al Jazeera, AMC Networks Intl., Canal+, CBC/Radio Canada, France Televisions, ITV, M6, Mbc, National Geographic, Netflix, Nine Network Australia, Nrk, Orf, Rtl Hungary, Seven One Entertainment Group, Sky, Telefonica, TF1, Thai Public Broadcasting Service,...

In the run up to the U.S. presidential election, Mipcom Cannes will turn the spotlight on the New York Times bestseller “Apprentice in Wonderland: How Donald Trump and Mark Burnett Took America Through the Looking Glass.”

Written by Variety‘s co-editor-in-chief Ramin Setoodeh, the book examines the critical role of the reality TV series The Apprentice in launching the political career of Donald Trump and its impact on popular culture.

Set for Oct. 23, the session will be presented by Setoodeh at the Grand Auditorium inside the Palais des Festivals. Setoodeh, who conducted six lengthy interviews with Trump, will explore how the cult of celebrity and rise of the reality genre in the early 1990’s catapulted Trump the White House, and created one of most influential and commercially successful U.S. series of all time.

Setoodeh will also share the behind-the-scenes of the NBC series, as well insights from his...

Sony Pictures Entertainment chairman-ceo Tony Vinciquerra has been selected to receive the Variety Vanguard Award, which will be presented in October at the Mipcom global content market in Cannes.

The award recognizes television industry leaders who have made a significant contribution to the global business of entertainment. Vinciquerra will receive the award, presented by Variety and Mipcom, on Oct. 21 as part of his keynote conversation at the Palais de Festivals, moderated by Variety Co-Editor in Chief Cynthia Littleton. The Vanguard Award presentation will close out an afternoon of C-Suite Converations, a new initiative presented by Variety and Mipcom to help attendees and industry leaders navigate the business of a content in the age of disruption.

“Tony Vinciquerra is one of our industry’s most respected chief executives. He’s been the steady hand at Sony Pictures Entertainment during a time of incredible transformation. His strong business acumen has allowed one...

Peter Farrelly’s ‘Balls Up’ With Mark Wahlberg & Paul Walter Heads To Queensland

Peter Farrelly’s Amazon MGM Studios and Skydance-backed action comedy Balls Up, starring Mark Wahlberg (The Family Plan) and Paul Walter Hauser (The Instigators), has set the Australian state of Queensland as its principal shooting location with cameras beginning to roll this month. Screen Queensland CEO Jacqui Feeney announced the shoot as good news for the state. “This production from Amazon MGM Studios and Skydance will generate an estimated $64.8M for the Queensland economy, employing approximately 250 local cast and crew, as well as utilising small businesses,” she said. Brad Carlson, EVP of Physical Production at Skydance, said the production had chosen Queensland for its “wide variety of urban and rural locations coupled with a robust incentive program and talented crew base.” The film follows two U.S. marketing executives who are fired for blowing a client sponsorship...

MipDoc and MipFormats are joining Mip London next Feb, organizers confirmed today.

The new market is set to replace Mip TV, which traditionally took place in Cannes in April.

It will be the 27th edition of MipDoc and the 15th edition of MipFormats.

Mip London will take place in London’s West End from Feb. 23 to 27, with a base at the Savoy Hotel and adjacent Iet London conference center. MipDoc and MipFormats will take place on the Sunday and Monday, focusing on showcasing new content, gaining market insights and networking with a view to deal-making.

The market will take place alongside London Screenings, which is already established in the month.

“The biggest international week in unscripted is now in London with Mip next February,” said Lucy Smith, director of Mip London and Mipcom, which will continue to take place in Cannes in the fall. “We’ve had clear feedback from...

Spain will be the Country of Honor at 2024’s Mipcom, the biggest TV content market in the world.

Celebrating Spanish creativity, the Country of Honor program will mix events will feature panels and screenings of first-look new content, focusing on opportunities for co-production and relocation to Spain, Lucy Smith, director of Mipcom, announced Thursday at a press conference in Madrid.

The honor recognises “the country’s increased prominence in recent years on the global stage” which is “inescapable and is incredibly impressive,” Smith added. “It really could not be more timely for Spain to take center stage this year at the mother of all entertainment content markets,” she said.

Mipcom will open with a Spanish-themed party, Smith added. The co-production and entertainment content event unspools in Cannes over Oct. 21-24.

News of Spain’s Honor came as María González Veracruz, Spain’s secretary of state for Telecommunications and Digital Structures,...

Stars Matt Bomer and Jonathan Bailey set TV screens ablaze in the romantic period drama “Fellow Travelers.” The Showtime miniseries follows two men whose love is intertwined across several decades, spanning wars and political events. Since its debut in October, it has received widespread acclaim.

Revealed exclusively to Variety, the series has been submitted for 23 potential Primetime Emmy nominations across multiple categories. In addition to outstanding limited or anthology series, the pilot episode, penned by Ron Nyswaner and directed by Daniel Minahan, will serve as the official submission in their respective categories.

For his role as Hawk Fuller, a closeted World War II veteran, Bomer is campaigning in the lead actor (limited) category, competing against heavyweights such as Jon Hamm (“Fargo”), Richard Gadd (“Baby Reindeer”) and Andrew Scott (“Ripley”). He was a previous Emmy nominee for playing Felix Turner in the 2014 television movie “The Normal Heart, where he was heavily...

Good afternoon Insiders, thanks for always sticking with us. Max Goldbart here talking you through a packed week in the global entertainment world. Read on, and sign up here.

Bonjour Cannes Film Fest

Here they come: Cannes head Thierry Frémaux delivered a strong selection of titles Wednesday that will make up the festival’s 77th edition, running May 14 to 25, as the eagerly-awaited Cannes presser took place and Deadline kept you well informed. One of them we already knew – Francis Ford Coppola’s much-discussed epic Megalopolis, which Mike Fleming revealed earlier this week. Other filmmakers set for competition slots include Ali Abbasi, who brings The Apprentice, a feature pic about the early life of Donald Trump. Andrea Arnold returns with Bird, starring Barry Keoghan, and Jacques Audiard’s latest, Emilia Perez, a musical with Selena Gomez will also debut on the Croisette. Elsewhere, Italian filmmaker Paolo Sorrentino returns with Parthenope. Poor Things...

“How do we learn how much we love what we have? We can learn that by saying we’re going to lose it,” said Thomas Vinterberg, director of “Families Like Ours,” one of the scripted standouts at MipTV. He was talking about Denmark, evacuated in the series. But the same could be said of delegates at this MipTV.

As the final edition ever rounded its final straits on Wednesday, there was a rush of nostalgia, building in prior days, for an event which had become a fixture in many executives lives down the decades, and had served a business purpose.

“MipTV has always been a very important market for us in the last 25 years. We’ve launched there the new spring series. It is sad that they are moving to London,” lamented Helene Auro at Denmark’s REinvent.

“It’s a pity that MipTV ends. It has a long history,...

And the winners are… Pan-African non-profit Ubongo and footage and data visualizations library Open Planet. The two organizations picked up Mip Sdg [Sustainable Development Goals] awards at MipTV on Tuesday.

Adopted by all Un member states in 2015, the Sdg Awards’ 17 goals are a call to action to boost the economy while tackling climate change, improving healthcare, and ending inequality.

“Both winners are agents of change,” said Caroline Petit, deputy director of the United Nations Regional Information Center in Brussels. Under-Secretary-General for Global Communications, Melissa Fleming, added via video statement:

“The Un has recognized, time and again, the importance of the media industry and the achievement of the sustainable development goals. Your work is absolutely crucial.”

Mwasi Wilmore, chief executive officer at Ubongo, opened up about its past and future goals. A leading pan-African non-profit, Ubongo is dedicated to advancing Sdg goal number 4 – quality education – through multimedia animated content.

“Ubongo was founded with the...

MIPTV is dead, long live Mip London.

At a packed press conference Tuesday, Lucy Smith of Mip organizer Rx France marked the end of Cannes’ decades-old international television market MIPTV and the official launch of its hoped-for successor in the British capital next year.

As Rx announced last month, the current MIPTV, which runs through Wednesday, will be the last. Next year, Rx will debut Mip London, a smaller event running Feb. 24-27 alongside the popular London Screenings and BBC Screenings markets.

Launched in 1965, as the international television business was just gearing up, MIPTV was, for decades, a must-attend for global television execs. But the spring market has proven unable to adjust to shifts in the business. Its model, based on exhibitors renting stands where they present their new shows to international buyers, seems outdated in a world where streaming companies drop new series almost daily and where international broadcasters...

MIPTV boss Lucy Smith grew visibly emotional as she said farewell to the 61st and final MIPTV late Tuesday afternoon.

Smith, who runs Mip organizer Rx, acknowledged negative feedback from attendees about MIPTV’s end such as “It’s about time” and “What were you waiting for?,” as she talked a packed Palais des Festivals through what they can expect from next year’s Mip London, which will take place at the same time as the London TV Screenings.

“We do believe the time is now,” she said. “Refreshingly, I hear people say, ‘How exciting,’ but I also hear, ‘Will it work?.’ We firmly believe it will and that there is an appetite for a market. The distribution calendar has moved forward to London in February.”

Footfall at MIPTV 2024 was well down on last year, Smith revealed earlier today.

Visibly emotional, Smith said her goodbyes to MIPTV in its current...

MIPTV is coming to an end – but people have not traveled here to Cannes in the numbers of yesteryear to say goodbye.

Market organizers Rx France said Tuesday that the final MIPTV has attracted 3,500 people including 1,100 buyers. For context, there were over 5,000 in town last year and that was considered low. The event regularly topped 10,000 delegates in the earlier 2000s and this year’s last-ever edition will go down as one of the smallest. MIPCOM, in October, still hits those big numbers, however, and remains a focal point for the international TV industry.

The final MIPTV has been a pared back version of the market many people remember. The iconic ‘bunker’ – the downstairs part of the Palais Des Festivals that used to thrum with buyers and distributors hashing out deals – is closed, as are many other parts of the huge venue that hosts the event. One floor of the Riviera...

MipTV’s 61st and final edition in Cannes saw a year-on drop of more than 40% in participation, organizers said on Tuesday. During the presser, organizers also outlined plans for MipLondon which will run alongside the London Screenings next February.

This year’s MipTV welcomed 3,537 delegates from 84 countries, including 1,133 buyers, compared with 5,510 participants in 2023.

While unveiling the figures, Rx’s entertainment division director Lucy Smith explained the drop in attendance was due to “global market” conditions. “Continued consolidation, reduced budgets have all inevitably affected participation numbers here in the spring, as has the increase in the number of industry events in the first half of the year, and that has been going on for a long time. Change is needed, and that’s why we’ve taken action,” Smith continued. She said the participation level still underscored MipTV’s profile as the “biggest international multi-genre market in the first half of...

The votes are in: Atmospheric (and claustrophobic) Finnish mystery thriller “Icebreaker,” already one of the most buzzed of projects hitting the competition, has been crowned the winner of the 8th edition of MipDrama, receiving its Coup de Coeur award.

Sold by About Premium Content, created by Mia Ylönen, who exec produces with Aleksi Bardy, the Elisa Viihde-commissioned show “Icebreaker” is set on a stranded boat.

As its crew members start to disappear, one by one, coastguard Sanna Tanner (Jessica Grabowsky) is trying to find answers – but what she is dealing with goes way beyond rational explanations.

“We wanted to build up slowly, like a classic whodunnit, but you get a sense there is something else going on. Something is lurking on this ship, but we don’t know whether it’s human or not,” creator Mia Ylönen previously told Variety. The show is produced by Helsinki-filmi, an independent subsidiary of Aurora Studios.

Cannes-based market Mip TV is to officially end as a fixture in the international TV calendar after the 2024 iteration, with organisers Rx France confirming plans for a Mip London event in February 2025.

Talks to move its Q1 conference and market to the UK capital emerged last month after years of speculation Mip TV would eventually be wound down.

Rx has now finalised an event in London for 2025 to be housed at the Savoy Hotel and the neighbouring 1,300-capacity Iet London: Savoy Place. It will take place from February 24-27.

“The creation of Mip London is a direct result of clear and evidenced market factors,...

This year will be the last hurrah for MIPTV in Cannes.

The international television market has been a fixed date on the industry calendar since it first launched back in 1963. But organizers Rx France say this year’s MIPTV will be the last one on the Croisette.

Facing declining attendance and a rapidly shifting global TV industry, MIPTV is pulling up stakes in the sunny South of France and will shift to rainy old England next year, sidling up alongside the popular London Screenings, which in just four years has grown to become the most important small screen event in Europe in the first half of the year.

Mip London will take place Feb. 24-27th, 2025 in London’s The Savoy Hotel and the neighboring Iet London: Savoy Place, running concurrently to next year’s Screenings, which will take place Feb. 24 – Feb. 28, 2025. Mip London will kick off with a pre-opening event on Sunday Feb.

Annual Cannes-based market MipTV has confirmed its move to London, ending months of speculation.

Variety has confirmed the market will run alongside the London Screenings next February. It will be located at the five-star Savoy Hotel, as well as the Iet London, a screenings venue located at Savoy Place in the West End area.

A spokesperson for Rx told Variety the event will have a different format than MipTV and confirmed the Cannes confab will have its last edition this Spring. But while MipTV will relocate to the U.K., Rx said it will continue to host fall event Mipcom in Cannes in October.

The London transfer will be free for buyers and will not require a flat fee for delegates. “It will be different than MipTV, so it won’t be an exhibition market but rather focused on networking, screenings and meetings,” said a rep for Rx, adding that...

Updated, 3:59 Am: Rx France has now confirmed our scoop and sent out a press release with quotes.

“The creation of Mip London is a direct result of clear and evidenced market factors,” said Lucy Smith, Entertainment Division Director, Rx France. “There is a continued appetite for a global content market in the first half of the year. Mip London will not only alleviate a busy events calendar but will provide an additional entry point for international companies to gather in London at the same time.”

Original Exclusive, 2:57 Am: It’s confirmed – or will be later today – the organizers of MIPTV will set up a new event in London in 2025. Deadline can reveal that Mip London will be based in The Savoy hotel and an adjacent space, the Iet London, in a seismic change to the international TV calendar. Historic programming market MIPTV has been situated in Cannes since...

“Johnny B! Johnny B!” Matt Bomer exclaims as he logs in to Zoom to join his Fellow Travelers co-star, Jonathan Bailey, to do press for their critically acclaimed Showtime limited series.

“Hey, Matty Mo,” Bailey replies.

The actors spent about six months filming the eight-episode series — so, of course, they’ve established a playful bond. On this particular day, they’ve even given each other nicknames.

“I don’t think I’ve ever called Matt ‘Matty Mo’ in my life,” a smiling Bailey says.

“I love Matty Mo,” Bomer replies. “Listen, I love Matty Mo. I appreciate it.”

Bomer and Bailey built a brotherhood and onscreen chemistry for the historical romantic drama about two male political staffers who fall in love at the height of the Lavender Scare, a time when homosexuals were banned from holding positions in the federal government. The series — based on Thomas Mallon’s 2007 novel of...

Fans of historical drama and heartfelt storytelling, get ready for an emotional journey in the upcoming episode of “Fellow Travelers.” Season 1 Episode 8, titled “Make It Easy,” is set to air on Tuesday, December 19, 2023, at 9:00 Pm on Showcase.

In this episode, viewers will be transported to 1957, where Hawk and Tim reunite at Sen. McCarthy’s funeral. As they navigate the complexities of their relationship in the midst of societal challenges, the stakes are higher than ever. Meanwhile, in 1986 San Francisco, Hawk seeks redemption, while Tim faces a heart-wrenching decision that will have profound consequences for Hawk’s future.

“Fellow Travelers” continues to deliver a poignant narrative set against the backdrop of significant historical events. Don’t miss the drama, romance, and powerful performances in “Make It Easy” on Tuesday, December 19, at 9:00 Pm on Showcase.

Release Date & Time: 9:00 Pm Tuesday 19 December 2023 on Showcase

Fellow Travelers Make It Easy Cast...

This Sunday at 9:00 Pm on Showtime, viewers are in for an emotional journey in the Season 1 Episode 8 titled “Make It Easy” of “Fellow Travelers.” Set in 1957, the episode sees Hawk and Tim reuniting at Senator McCarthy’s funeral, attempting one last time to find a way to be together amidst the political and social upheavals of the time. The storyline then takes a poignant turn, shifting to 1986 San Francisco, where Hawk seeks redemption and Tim grapples with a wrenching decision that is poised to alter Hawk’s life forever.

“Fellow Travelers” has captivated audiences with its compelling narrative and rich historical backdrop. The Season 1 Episode 8 promises to deliver another episode filled with heartfelt moments, complex characters, and a blend of political and personal struggles. Tune in at 9:00 Pm this Sunday on Showtime to witness the unfolding drama and poignant choices in “Make It Easy.”

Release Date & Time: 9:...

Step into the time machine and travel back to 1979 as “Fellow Travelers” unfolds another gripping episode, “White Nights,” airing at 9:00 Pm this Tuesday on Showcase. The series takes viewers on a nostalgic journey, offering a glimpse into the lives of its characters against the backdrop of significant historical events.

In this episode, Tim, now a social worker, embarks on a trip to Fire Island, guided by Hawk, who introduces him to the vibrant world of “gay paradise.” Meanwhile, in San Francisco, Marcus and Frankie find themselves entangled in the wave of gay rage following the verdict in Dan White’s murder trial.

“Fellow Travelers” continues to captivate audiences with its rich storytelling and a meticulous portrayal of the late ’70s. Don’t miss “White Nights,” an episode that promises both a trip down memory lane and a front-row seat to the evolving dynamics of its characters. Tune in for...

Warning: Spoilers ahead for Fellow Travelers episode 6.

Lucy discovers Tim in Hawk's life through a letter, revealing her knowledge of their secret relationship. Hawk's Washington D.C. paperweight symbolizes his lost romances and true sexual identity. The paperweight also holds meaning for Lucy, representing her loss and trauma in Washington D.C.

Hawk's wife Lucy in Fellow Travelers makes one pivotal discovery in episode 6 that revisits a key theme of her husband's backstory. Through six episodes, the acclaimed Showtime series has chronicled Hawk's secret relationship with Tim as he navigates an intense political landscape heightened by the threat of McCarthyism and the Lavender Scare. Despite Hawk's obvious attraction to men in the series, he holds onto a courted relationship with Lucy in order to avoid suspicion from the dangerous M Unit and maintain his career as a bureaucrat.

Fellow Travelers episode 6 takes place entirely in 1968, fourteen years after Tim and...

Warning: Spoilers ahead for Fellow Travelers episode 6.

Hawk and Lucy's son Jackson is a new addition to the series who confronts his feelings about his dad when he meets Tim. Lucy knows about Hawk's secret affairs and closeted gayness, which explains her uncharacteristic behavior at a party and her affair with Chet. Lucy is in denial about Hawk's double life and tolerates his extramarital affairs because she values their idyllic family image more than his faithfulness.

Fellow Travelers episode 6 takes place in 1968 with Hawk and Lucy at least ten years into their marriage. Hawk ended up doing exactly what he told Tim he would do at the end of Fellow Travelers episode 5, ending their chances at a life together and marrying Lucy mostly for the protective image of being a straight, family man. Up until episode 6, titled "Beyond Measure", it appeared that Lucy was completely oblivious to the secret affairs...

Warning: Spoilers ahead for Fellow Travelers episode 6.

Fellow Travelers episode 6 introduces Jackson Fuller, Hawk's rebellious and sensitive son who struggles to connect with his family. Jackson's criminal behavior and introverted nature make him the black sheep of the Fullers, especially compared to his cookie-cutter sister. Jackson's friendship with Tim helps him see a different side of his father and reveals that he may be fighting his own battle with identity formation.

Fellow Travelers episode 6 jumps ahead to 1968 and introduces a great new character in Jackson Fuller (Etienne Kellici). While most of the celebrated Showtime series has taken place during the early 1950s during the Lavender Scare in Washington D.C., episode 6 is almost entirely set in rural Pennsylvania as Tim escapes the law and Hawk, now a family man, tries to protect him. With only two episodes left of Fellow Travelers, Tim and Hawk are set to have one more...

Step back in time to 1979 with “Fellow Travelers” Season 1 Episode 7, titled “White Nights,” airing on Showtime at 9:00 Pm, Sunday, December 10, 2023. In this episode, viewers are taken on a poignant journey as Tim, now a social worker, embarks on a visit to Fire Island. Here, Hawk becomes his guide, leading him through the vibrant tapestry of what was considered a “gay paradise” during that era.

Meanwhile, in San Francisco, Marcus and Frankie find themselves caught up in the powerful wave of gay rage following the verdict in Dan White’s murder trial. The explosive atmosphere of this episode delves into the complex emotions and challenges faced by the LGBTQ+ community during a pivotal moment in history.

“Fellow Travelers” continues to unfold a compelling narrative, exploring the intricacies of personal and collective experiences within the backdrop of significant historical events. Tune in for a night of evocative storytelling, where the characters...

This Saturday at 7:00 Pm on Showcase, viewers are in for a trip back to 1968 with the Season 1 Episode 6 of “Fellow Travelers” titled “Beyond Measure.” Set against the backdrop of anti-war protests and FBI pursuits, the episode follows Tim, an activist on the run, sought by the authorities. Meanwhile, Hawk and Lucy navigate the challenges of family life with two children and a countryside retreat.

In a twist of fate, Hawk and Tim, who have been out of touch for years, find their paths crossing again. Hawk, yearning for reconnection, tries to bring Tim back into his life, while Tim, on the brink of becoming a priest, grapples with the irresistible pull of Hawk’s charms.

Tune in at 7:00 Pm for an episode that promises a nostalgic journey into the tumultuous 1960s, exploring themes of activism, love, and the enduring bonds that withstand the test of time on Showcase’s “Fellow Travelers.

Warning: Spoilers ahead for Fellow Travelers episode 6.

Tim becomes a fugitive and joins a radical religious group, committing crimes against the government in protest of the Vietnam War. Hawk offers Tim refuge at his country house, hiding his presence from his family until his son finds out. Hawk struggles to discipline and connect with his rebellious son, Jackson, but Tim quickly becomes a friend and mentor to him.

Fellow Travelers episode 6 "Beyond Measure" jumps ahead to 1968 and sees Tim Laughlin (Jonathan Bailey) as a fugitive and Hawk Fuller (Matt Bomer) as a family man. The sixth episode of the eight-part miniseries also dives deeper into the character of Lucy Smith (Allison Williams), who has largely been in a supporting role throughout the first five episodes as Hawk's catalyst for a straight and narrow lifestyle. Fellow Travelers episode 6 also introduces Hawk's two children, Kimberly and Jackson, the latter of whom shows...