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Tag: Deirdre Brennan

  • MIP Junior unveils rich line-up of keynotes & premieres

    MIP Junior unveils rich line-up of keynotes & premieres

    MUMBAI: MIPJunior yesterday unveiled a stellar line-up of conferences, screenings, and events, headlined by keynotes from Deirdre Brennan, VP Content at Corus Kids, and Catherine Balsam-Schwaber, CCO at Mattel.

    MIPJunior, the world’s leading screenings and conference for the kids’ entertainment community, takes place in Cannes, France, on 15-16 October, ahead of the MIPCOM entertainment content market.

    The first keynote, scheduled for 4.45pm (local time) on Saturday 15 October, will be delivered by Deirdre Brennan, Vice President Content for leading Canadian kids’ broadcaster Corus Entertainment . Fifteen years after attending her first MIPJunior, Brennan will share some of her adventures in the world of children’s broadcasting, on both sides of the pay wall. The former Australian Broadcasting Corporation exec will discuss her perspective on the risks and opportunities facing the industry today, and raise some important questions around our responsibility to audiences of the future.

    The following day at 4.30pm, Catherine Balsam-Schwaber, Chief Content Officer for toy giant Mattel , will use her keynote speech to discuss global trends and innovations shaping the future of the kids’ industry. Balsam-Schwaber leads global teams to develop, implement and maximize Mattel’s integrated strategy for content creation and distribution, digital development and media to connect consumers with the company’s brands in meaningful and innovative ways.

    Two MIPJunior World Premiere TV Screenings are scheduled. On Saturday, “Splash and Bubbles ” from The Jim Henson Company and Herschend Enterprises, a series of 80 x 11-minute episodes to debut this autumn in the US on PBS KIDS, will be screened. On Sunday, “Grizzy and the Lemmings” from Hari International will be exclusively shown to MIPJunior delegates. Set in a vast natural reserve lost in an untamed wilderness, a bear called Grizzy feels it’s only natural that the forest ranger’s house becomes his territory as soon as its owner is away – except he has to share it with some annoying lemmings.

    This year, the MIPJunior conference programme will explore the future of kids’ content and new storytelling, including sessions on: international coproductions, licensing and merchandising, and the MIPJunior International Pitch, which is backed for the second year in a row by Majid Entertainment, a subsidiary of Abu Dhabi Media Company. This will take place on Saturday 15 October at 2.30pm.

    Among the high profile speakers scheduled to attend MIPJunior panels are: Arne Lohmann, Vice President ZDFE.JUNIOR, ZDF Enterprises (Germany); Lisa Olfman, CEO and Co-Founder, Portfolio Entertainment (Canada); Sean Chu, Founder and CEO, WeKids Asia (China); Layla Lewis, Vice President Global Acquisitions, Nickelodeon (USA); Hitendra Merchant, Founder and CEO, YoBoHo HooplaKidz (India); Pontus Torpvret, Head of Acquisitions, Children, SVT (Sweden); Catherine Fulton, Creative Director for Marketing Strategy and Engagement, Viacom Media Networks (USA); Henrietta Hurford-Jones, Director of Children’s, BBC Worldwide (UK); Helene Juguet, VP Business Development, TV & Digital Production, Ubisoft Motion Pictures (France) and Finn Arnesen, SVP International Distribution & Development, Hasbro Studios (UK).

    “New distribution platforms are changing the game, playing by different rules and creating a new dynamic in the whole kids’ content industry. Through this vibrant conference programme, matchmaking and networking events, and an extensive screening library, MIPJunior allows industry executives to identify and promote innovative content capturing the hearts of young viewers across cultural borders,” said Lucy Smith, Director of MIPJunior.

    As an appetizer for MIPCOM 2016, we’ve put together this short film . If you haven’t already signed up for free media accreditation – or even if you are already booked to come to Cannes, check out what’s going to be taking place.

  • MIP Junior unveils rich line-up of keynotes & premieres

    MIP Junior unveils rich line-up of keynotes & premieres

    MUMBAI: MIPJunior yesterday unveiled a stellar line-up of conferences, screenings, and events, headlined by keynotes from Deirdre Brennan, VP Content at Corus Kids, and Catherine Balsam-Schwaber, CCO at Mattel.

    MIPJunior, the world’s leading screenings and conference for the kids’ entertainment community, takes place in Cannes, France, on 15-16 October, ahead of the MIPCOM entertainment content market.

    The first keynote, scheduled for 4.45pm (local time) on Saturday 15 October, will be delivered by Deirdre Brennan, Vice President Content for leading Canadian kids’ broadcaster Corus Entertainment . Fifteen years after attending her first MIPJunior, Brennan will share some of her adventures in the world of children’s broadcasting, on both sides of the pay wall. The former Australian Broadcasting Corporation exec will discuss her perspective on the risks and opportunities facing the industry today, and raise some important questions around our responsibility to audiences of the future.

    The following day at 4.30pm, Catherine Balsam-Schwaber, Chief Content Officer for toy giant Mattel , will use her keynote speech to discuss global trends and innovations shaping the future of the kids’ industry. Balsam-Schwaber leads global teams to develop, implement and maximize Mattel’s integrated strategy for content creation and distribution, digital development and media to connect consumers with the company’s brands in meaningful and innovative ways.

    Two MIPJunior World Premiere TV Screenings are scheduled. On Saturday, “Splash and Bubbles ” from The Jim Henson Company and Herschend Enterprises, a series of 80 x 11-minute episodes to debut this autumn in the US on PBS KIDS, will be screened. On Sunday, “Grizzy and the Lemmings” from Hari International will be exclusively shown to MIPJunior delegates. Set in a vast natural reserve lost in an untamed wilderness, a bear called Grizzy feels it’s only natural that the forest ranger’s house becomes his territory as soon as its owner is away – except he has to share it with some annoying lemmings.

    This year, the MIPJunior conference programme will explore the future of kids’ content and new storytelling, including sessions on: international coproductions, licensing and merchandising, and the MIPJunior International Pitch, which is backed for the second year in a row by Majid Entertainment, a subsidiary of Abu Dhabi Media Company. This will take place on Saturday 15 October at 2.30pm.

    Among the high profile speakers scheduled to attend MIPJunior panels are: Arne Lohmann, Vice President ZDFE.JUNIOR, ZDF Enterprises (Germany); Lisa Olfman, CEO and Co-Founder, Portfolio Entertainment (Canada); Sean Chu, Founder and CEO, WeKids Asia (China); Layla Lewis, Vice President Global Acquisitions, Nickelodeon (USA); Hitendra Merchant, Founder and CEO, YoBoHo HooplaKidz (India); Pontus Torpvret, Head of Acquisitions, Children, SVT (Sweden); Catherine Fulton, Creative Director for Marketing Strategy and Engagement, Viacom Media Networks (USA); Henrietta Hurford-Jones, Director of Children’s, BBC Worldwide (UK); Helene Juguet, VP Business Development, TV & Digital Production, Ubisoft Motion Pictures (France) and Finn Arnesen, SVP International Distribution & Development, Hasbro Studios (UK).

    “New distribution platforms are changing the game, playing by different rules and creating a new dynamic in the whole kids’ content industry. Through this vibrant conference programme, matchmaking and networking events, and an extensive screening library, MIPJunior allows industry executives to identify and promote innovative content capturing the hearts of young viewers across cultural borders,” said Lucy Smith, Director of MIPJunior.

    As an appetizer for MIPCOM 2016, we’ve put together this short film . If you haven’t already signed up for free media accreditation – or even if you are already booked to come to Cannes, check out what’s going to be taking place.

  • MipJunior 2014: Broadcasters look for creative content creators to attract kids

    MipJunior 2014: Broadcasters look for creative content creators to attract kids

    CANNES:  MipJunior 2014 has established one thing for all kids’ content creators and broadcasters: kids want to watch their favourite programme at the place of their choice and time. But the big question now is how to reach these kids who are consuming content using different platforms? This remained the main focus of the panel discussion on ‘What do buyers want: Emerging multi platform acquisition trends’ on day two of MipJunior 2014.

     

    While a lot is being spoken about kids moving to the second screen to consume content, Australian Broadcasting Corporation head of children’s TV Deirdre Brennan informed that in Australia even now close to 89 per cent of children’s viewing happens on traditional TV.

     

    Today, kids are ready to watch the content over and over again. “With so many platforms, we will now have to devise ways to reach to these platforms,” said Disney Channels Worldwide VP worldwide programming strategy, acquisitions and co-productions Karen K Miller.

     

    The increasing number of platforms poses another problem, of not being sure about which platform the consumer is consuming content from.  Citing the example of Germany, ZDF head of international co-production and acquisition Nicole Keeb said, “90 per cent of content viewing happens on TV. Being a public broadcaster, ZDF is also obliged to deliver content for TV first, followed by online or other platforms.

     

    Broadcasters world over feel that the television monitoring data is still evolving. “The quality of data is important, since we want to monitor the behavior of the consumers. Better data also helps us strategise better and know which platform is better for our audience,” said Cartoon Network VP content acquisitions and co-productions Adina Pitt.

     

    The session also delved on what these tech-savvy kids are doing on portable devices. “They are watching their favourite shows, playing games, they are using it in every way possible for entertainment,” informed Miller.

     

    With numerous kids’ channels offering almost the same content, it becomes important for channels to ensure that kids associate with the brand. “Kids are smart. They know the brand and associate with it. For us, word of mouth publicity helps. In fact the consumer becomes the marketer,” said Pitt.

     

    The broadcasters, while they have their core target audience, they also feel that there should be entry points. “So while Disney is considered more of a girls’ channel, we do have entry points for boys,” added Miller.

     

    For Australian Broadcasting Corporation, until a few years back, it had started looking at children as a separate audience. “We have now started looking at bringing both parents and kids together through our content,” said Brennan.

     

    Brennan also feels that reality shows have seeped in Australian television industry. “I want to bring back storytelling on television,” she opined.

     

    Another key point brought out during the session was that while internet has increased access to content, it is the responsibility of the content creators to ensure that kids are able to find the content.

     

    On a parting note, when World Screen group editorial director Anna Carugati, the moderator for the session, asked what was missing in the kids broadcasting space, Amazon Studios head of kid’s programming Tara Sorensen said, “There is a need for more creative content. The creators need to spend time in creating content.”