"Viewers will always seek out high quality content," said Viacom CEO Philippe Dauman, delivering a message of optimism in these turbulent times at his packed MIPCOM 2008 keynote yesterday (October 13).

This video and more soon, in the MIP Review, MIPCOM Edition... Meanwhile, click here for the MIPCOM daily News' keynote report

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Magician David Merlini broke a world record at MIPCOM's Opening Cocktail last night (October 13): encouraged by his friend and mentor, mentalist Uri Geller (right), he accomplished the considerable feat of holding his breath underwater in a glass tank for over 20 minutes, considerably beating the previous record of 17 minutes and 19 seconds.

A spectacular finish was guaranteed by the breaking of the glass at the end of his turn; fortunately, the Majestic hotel wasn't flooded!

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Hordes of delegates gathered on the Carlton beach Sunday evening (October 12) for the official MIPCOM Junior closing cocktail.

The event was sponsored by Telescreen, who celebrated their 25th anniversary by presenting new kids’ animation series Frog And Friends.

A frogtastic time was had by all; inparticular the Telescreen staff, who were all dressed as Frog himself!

This article and more in the MIPCOM daily News: here!

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“My role is as a believer rather than as a famous face,” Jude Law said yesterday on his arrival at MIPCOM as Peace One Day Ambassador.

The film star said he was “deeply honoured” to be supporting his friend, film-maker Jeremy Gilley (left), in spreading the peace message.

The two are promoting the documentary The Day After Peace, which charts Gilley’s 10-year battle for a global day of ceasefire and non-violence — an annual UN International Day Of Peace was established in 2001.

But the campaign does not stop there. Gilley said he and Law were producing another film “which will tell the story of the next few ...

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Technology may be changing the media landscape but content and brands remain crucial, Viacom president and CEO Philippe Dauman said in his MIPCOM keynote, October 13.

Illustrating his point with Viacom hit properties such as SpongeBob SquarePants, The Hills and The Indiana Jones film franchise, he said:

“Technology gives consumers the ability to consume content when they want and how they want. But new technology can’t replace great content and great brands.”

In a speech designed to reassure the core MIPCOM constituency, he argued emphatically that television remains the dominant entertainment medium.

However he also underlined the importance of online and mobile in “extending and deepening the entertainment experience.

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Long-running Scottish detective series Taggart is celebrating its 25th anniversary and the completion of its 100th episode.

To mark the two events, the show’s principal actors are at MIPCOM to meet the media and greet international buyers.

Taggart, set in and around Glasgow, claims to be the world’s longest continually running police drama.

It has survived various cast changes, including the death of actor Mark McManus, who played the original title character.

Paul Sheehan, commercial director of STV Productions, which makes the series for ITV, said: “The secret of Taggart’s sustained success is down to strong scripts, compelling storylines and the fact that viewers’ love a great whodunit.”

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Discovery Communications president and CEO David Zaslav used his Green Keynote October 13 to explain how the leading non-fiction creator and broadcaster is contributing to the global environmental debate.

Having launched its groundbreaking Planet Green channel across all media platforms, Zaslav told a packed MIPCOM auditorium that Discovery was not chasing after “the dark greens” but themainstreamaudience thatwants to “do a bit better” in terms of its green commitment.

“This channel is not all about the fact that the ice ismelting.We tackle the serious stuff— but the channel has got to be fun to watch too.”

Zaslav also explained how Discovery is no longer interested in just supplying its in-house ...

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Jane Seymour’s long acting career began in 1969, when she played a small role in Richard Attenborough’s film version of Oh! What A Lovely War.

Since then, she has appeared in many film and TV productions, including playing Bond girl Solitaire in Live And Let Die, starring in the US TV production Dr Quinn Medicine Woman, executive producing several film and TV projects, and winning two Golden Globe awards as best actress.

Now, Seymour is back in front of the cameras, starring as a TV host turned detective in the ITV Global Entertainment television movie, Dear Prudence.

She has made her first ever visit to MIPCOM to create international awareness of the ...

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WTTW National Productions has teamed up with Roman Coppola’s Directors Bureau to launch Mission To Planet 429 (104 x 11 mins or 52 x 30 mins), a new mixed-media comedy-adventure series for children aged between six and nine.

Daniel Schmidt (photo), president and CEO of WTTW, said the property would premiere on US public television in 2010, as well as on media platforms and in markets worldwide.

The retro sci-fi Mission To Planet 429 focuses on the twists and turns of two rookie intergalactic ‘earthsplorers’, who are attempting to save their planet from peril.

The series aims to encourage children to develop their reading and comprehension skills as they ...

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