A partnership between Nokia and Heroes creator Tim Kring to develop the hit TV series across multiple platforms is revealed at MIPTV today.

Niklas Savander, Nokia’s executive vice-president, services — in Cannes to collect the Pioneer Prize from the International Academy of Television Arts & Sciences – said the project, code-named TEVA, was still in its early stages. “We will work on creative new content to go across different media,” he said. The storyline would be “developed in a much deeper way” to allow consumer involvement.

Nokia and Kring will launch the first mobile phase of ...

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Advertising visionary Chuck Porter, co-chairman of the Crispin Porter + Bogusky agency (who gave MIPTV 2009's branded entertainment keynote yesterday, with Blue Advertainment's Christophe Lambert), here talks about how advertising works, especially with the TV industry... Also read our conference report, here. ...

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In this latest post, our industry insider talks to Telcast about its latest multi-platform projects; and the value of face-to-face meetings...

As well as the 20 or so 'giants' at MIPTV - the Hollywood studios, Fremantle, Endemol, RHI and so on - there are hundreds of medium and small distributor-producers who attract less attention but who play an important role in the eco-system nontheless.

Among these are specialist players like Telcast. I got back in touch with the company's CEO-president Thomas Hohenacker at MIPTV to catch up. I'd previously written about a multiplatform project he'd launched called "

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Press play for our eight-minute edit of the Endemol CEO's March 30 keynote; or read on for the daily News report!

Ynon Kreiz, chairman and CEO of the world's biggest TV entertainment production group, Endemol, delivered a bullish address in his MIPTV keynote speech, March 30.

Having made a dazzling entrance to the Grand Auditorium with a spectacular, space-themed 3D display, Kreiz said he was optimistic about the future "despite the fact we have all been humbled by the current recession".

His optimism is rooted in Endemol's creativity, ...

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Press agency AFP (Agence France Presse) and Getty Images have sealed a worldwide video partnership which will allow both agencies to market their video content in English, it was announced at MIPTV today.

Getty Images captures all the iconic moments from the world of stage and screen, including the major film premieres and festivals such as the Oscars, the Grammies, the Golden Globes and the Emmy Awards. The deal will allow AFP to complement with entertainment material its already well-stocked service on current affairs, politics, the environment, lifestyle and fashion.

"AFP and Getty Images have enjoyed ...

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Patrick Barry, VP of Yahoo's Connected TV initiative, gave a MIPTV keynote April 1. In this exclusive interview, he talks about how his company aims to make watching TV more interactive, notably by overlaying web widgets on programmes watched on net-connected television sets. Watch this space for our conference report...
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FremantleMedia Enterprises (FME) has invested in high quality drama programming this MIPTV, with the announcement of joint-venture deals with producers from the US, Australia and the UK.

The US partnerships, brokered by FME’s David Ellender (photo) and Jeff Tahler, include producer relationships with Winkler Films, Mike Tollin and Landscape Entertainment.

Winkler Films, headed up by father and son filmmakers, produced the 1976 Oscar winner Rocky as well as Raging Bull and Goodfellas: “We are very excited to be an integral part in FME’s expansion in the scripted television arena,” said Irvin and ...

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Press play to watch our eight-minute edit of Sir Martin Sorrell's keynote; or read on for the full report...

The content industries are never going to be the same again after the current global recession, Sir Martin Sorrell, chief executive of communications group WPP, warned in a hard-hitting MIPTV keynote yesterday.

While repeating his forecast that “pretty anaemic” signs of recovery will be seen next year, he said: “If I were a media owner, in particular an owner of one medium in one country, I would be extremely nervous.” He ...

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Centuries-old advice and a peek into the future of documentary-making were provided at yesterday’s Branded Entertainment & Creativity keynotes featuring Chuck Porter, co-chairman of Crispin Porter + Bogusky, alongside Christophe Lambert, co-founder of Blue Advertainment.

“A dramatic drop-off in male viewers aged between 18 and 35, which became very evident in 2004, added to media fragmentation has led to the myth that everything has changed — but the truth is that nothing has changed,” Porter said.

"As Plato said in 380 BC, there is no learning without emotion. Sometimes the audience learns from TV programmes and sometimes they learn from ...

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China’s increasing sophistication in international co-production was underscored at a Focus On China conference yesterday, providing delegates with useful tips on how to work with the country's TV professionals.

Brian Leith, executive producer, BBC Natural History Unit, told delegates the series Wild China “could never have been made without co- production access and the help of CCTV.”

Liu Xiaolin, president, Beijing Asian Union Culture and Media Investment told delegates that China’s history and culture were ripe with rich subjects for co-production. And Ma Runsheng, general manager, China Radio Film and Television Programs Exchanging Centre, said China ...

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Forward-thinking delegates flocked to the Carlton's Digital Creative Party last night, where a speed-dating corner and a colour-coded badge system helped visitors connect with the right people. Pictured left to right are Ericsson Mobility World's Kurt Sillen; Capgemini Consulting's Ari Iso-Rautio and Marc Goodchild, head of interactive and on-demand at BBC Children's.

This and more in the MIPTV daily News, now online!
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...in which our industry insider focuses on formats, with FRAPA & ITV...

Tuesday kicked off with a presentation by FRAPA, a body representing format owners. The organisation has commissioned a report on developments in this area, which will be presented at MIPCOM in October. The authors of the report, The WIT and TV Sisters, have seen an explosion in business in recent years.

Gameshows and factual entertainment formats have been the stars but the scripted formats business is also gaining strength. Argentina, for example, is developing a healthy export of its telenovelas. Other territories, like ...

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