MIPCOM shifts to fully online-only event

The event has now pivoted to a fully virtual experience with three components, while the BBC Studios Showcase is also moving online only for its 45th edition.

Weeks away from what was supposed to be the kick-off date, event organizer Reed MIDEM has cancelled the physical event for this year’s MIPCOM market and conference in Cannes, due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.

The event has now pivoted to a fully virtual experience, with three components: MIPCOM Warm Up, beginning on Oct. 5, which contains market intelligence sessions, content & finance briefings and the MIPJunior Screenings platform, as well as use of the MIPCOM Digital Hub; MIPCOM Week from Oct. 12-16, which will feature the fully digital “Main Stage Cannes” conference and screenings program including Global Upfronts, keynotes, market screenings, the MIPCOM Diversify TV Excellence Awards, use of the Virtual Exhibit Hub and more; and finally, MIPCOM Follow Up+ from Oct. 17-Nov. 17, which will offer replays of screenings, keynotes and conference sessions, from MIPCOM and MIPJunior.

In late July, Reed MIDEM announced plans to reconfigure the physical event, doing away from exhibition stands and moving towards facilitating more networking space under the heading of MIPCOM Rendezvous Cannes. That move still didn’t prevent several major companies, including Banijay, Fremantle and A+E among others, from pulling out of having a presence at the physical event, citing safety concerns.

“We made clear when we announced MIPCOM Rendezvous Cannes that we would only hold the physical market if conditions permitted,” said Laurine Garaude, director of Reed MIDEM’s TV division, in a statement. “Due to the ongoing uncertainty around COVID-19 and recently increased travel restrictions, we believe that MIPCOM Online+ is the most effective way to move forward and to gather the global television community around MIPCOM Week.”

Meanwhile, the third edition of TV festival Canneseries is still slated to take place in Cannes from Oct. 9-14 and virtually on its new platform Canneseries Live from Oct. 7-21.

Elsewhere, the BBC has announced that the upcoming BBC Studios Showcase, slated for February of 2021, is also moving online only for its 45th edition.

Paul Dempsey, president, global distribution, BBC Studios, said in a statement: “It’s simply not fair to ask our clients and partners to travel during these uncertain times so we are going to pull out all the stops to give them the full Showcase experience from the comfort of their home locations. BBC Studios Showcase is known for the scale of its ambition and the skill of its execution so you can imagine the fun we’re going to have reimagining this market as a virtual event.”

The invitation-only event offers buyers the chance to see upcoming content from BBC Studios, and features production panels offering insight behind the scenes of the programming. The three-day event is slated for Feb. 22-24.

This story originally appeared in Realscreen