Simpsons, Seinfeld and Sun Shine at MIPCOM 2009

CANNES, France--(Business Wire)--
The mood was upbeat in Cannes this week at the 25th edition of MIPCOM, as
executives from the international television, digital, advertising and games
industries focussed on deals rather than the global economic crisis.

With Twentieth Century Fox Television Distribution celebrating the 20th
anniversary of `The Simpsons` during MIPCOM, series creator Matt Groening drew a
capacity crowd and an unprecedented standing ovation to his keynote discussions
with `The Simpsons` executive producer Al Jean and their host/moderator and
`Super Size Me` director Morgan Spurlock. Cannes Mayor Bernard Brochand declared
Wednesday Simpsons Day in the city and Matt Groening received the inaugural
MIPCOM Creative Icon Award the same evening.

Another American comic icon, Jerry Seinfeld, wowed hundreds of international
buyers at MIPCOM with a stand-up set and the international unveiling of his new
comedy-panel format `The Marriage Ref,` created and executive produced by
Seinfeld and Ellen Rakieten and distributed by Endemol.

With over 12,000 delegates in Cannes, MIPCOM registered an increase on the
11,500 delegates who attended MIPTV in April. Buyers were also out in force,
with over 4,000 in town compared to 3,500 at MIPTV.

"At MIPTV in April, a lot of people were taking stock of the economic crisis and
wondering when things would get better," said Laurine Garaude, acting Television
Division Director at Reed MIDEM. "At MIPCOM, conversations have been about
re-thinking business strategies. People have been talking about new alliances to
finance production, new channel strategies to consolidate their brand position
in the international market and how they are thinking about monetizing the
multi-platform potential of their content at the start of the creative process."

In a sign of the changing times, two leaders in their respective industries,
Publicis Worldwide Chief Operating Officer Richard Pinder and Hasbro President
and CEO Brian Goldner made their first visits to MIPCOM. Richard Pinder openly
confessed "I don`t think I know anyone in television," adding that he planned to
change that state of affairs in Cannes. Publicis chose MIPCOM to announce the
launch of Publicis Entertainment, a new business division dedicated to bridging
the gap between advertising, content creation and distribution. Addressing
MIPCOM delegates, Richard Pinder said that for advertising companies and
television content creators, "this is the chance to start to get to know each
other as industries."

In May, Brian Goldner announced that Hasbro was partnering with Discovery
Communications to launch a children`s channel in 2010. That was followed by news
of the creation of Hasbro Studios which is to produce television programming and
films for the U.S. and international market as well as on-line and digital. The
Hasbro CEO told MIPCOM delegates "the toy business is often seen as flat. But if
you look more closely, you`ll find that brands backed by television are still
growing fast."

Fellow toy and games manufacturer Mattel is also fast-tracking its television
and multi-platform strategy. On day two of MIPCOM, ITV Studios and Mattel
announced that ITV Studios will develop several Mattel board-game brands into
international television formats and multi-platform properties.

"A few years ago, eyebrows might have been raised at the idea that Publicis and
Hasbro would be represented at MIPCOM and would be so clearly reaching out to
the television community. The presence of Richard Pinder and Brian Goldner
underlines how much the traditional television market has evolved," noted
Laurine Garaude.

With companies from 103 countries represented at the event, MIPCOM continues to
act as an essential and cost-effective platform to reach the international
entertainment community. NBC Universal kick-started the market announcing five
revamped global channel brands - Universal Channel, 13th Street Universal, Syfy
Universal, Diva Universal and Studio Universal - and a new corporate identity.
The NBCU Global Networks division was renamed Universal Networks International.

"Universal Networks International is proud to have launched our revitalized
portfolio of core brands at MIPCOM," commented Roma Khanna, President Universal
Networks International and Digital Initiatives. "This is a highly effective
forum for connecting with so many of our important international partners."

Starz Media chose MIPCOM to promote its new 13x60 minutes drama series
`Spartacus: Blood and Sand,` starring Andy Whitfield, John Hannah, Peter Mensah
and Lucy Lawless, on the international stage. "`Spartacus: Blood and Sand` is a
series clearly designed for both the domestic and international markets. When
you have over 100 countries and 4,000 buyers at MIPCOM, it enables us to reach
the international community efficiently, which is what we have done in Cannes
this week," reported Starz Media President and COO, Bill Myers.

Buyers were given the red-carpet treatment as Endemol and Jerry Seinfeld made
their first major international promotion of `Marriage Ref.` "The launch of
Endemol Worldwide Distribution, our partnership with Jerry Seinfeld for the
`Marriage Ref` and the debut of one of our most extensive slates of new shows to
date have made this a particularly important market for Endemol," said Tom
Toumazis, Chief Commercial Officer Endemol Group. "It`s been well worth the hard
work. When you need to reach the global television community, MIPCOM is the
place to be."

Delegates from several Asian countries appear to agree. The number of Chinese
companies in Cannes rose 8% to 66. The 19 Taiwanese companies represented a 35%
increased on last year`s MIPCOM and Hong Kong company attendance was up 8%. The
Malaysian delegation got a significant boost when Prime Minister Yab Dato` Sri
Mohd Najib bin Tun Abdul Razak, on a four-day official visit to France, arrived
at MIPCOM to lend his backing to Malaysia`s drive to further develop its
creative multimedia industry.

Among a plethora of deal announcements, French pay television Canal Plus and
German producer EOS greenlit production on 12-hour English-language series `The
Borgias,` scripted by Tom Fontana and executive produced by Chris Albrecht and
Anne Thomopoulos. Canal Plus followed that up by acquiring `The Prisoner,` the
remake of 1960s British cult series. Co-producers ITV Studios and AMC premiered
`The Prisoner` at MIPCOM. FremantleMedia announced the acquisition of original
comedy-auction `Batsu Bidding,` from Tokyo Broadcasting System Television, Inc.
(TBS). The programme has already successfully aired in Japan.

With the corporate name makeover just announced in Cannes, Universal Networks
International inked its first partnership deal with independent distributor E1
Entertainment to co-finance 13x60 minutes suspense thriller `Haven,` based on
the Stephen King novella `The Colorado Kid.`

Meanwhile Endemol secured its first deals for `The Marriage Ref.` Abu Dhabi
Media Company acquired the NBC version of the show and commissioned a local
version to be produced by Endemol Middle East. Australia`s Seven Network also
acquired the NBC version and commissioned a locally-produced version from
Southern Star Entertainment.

One sector of the television business that is in excellent health is the format
business. Mid-MIPCOM, the Format Recognition and Protection Association (FRAPA)
presented its latest report on formats covering the period 2006-2008. According
to the report, which covers 14 territories, production volume generated by
traded formats was worth €9.3 billion, a 45% increase in the 2002-2004 period.

"The growing importance of formats will be reflected at MIPTV 2010 where we will
introduce targeted conferences, pitching sessions and other events," enthused
Laurine Garaude.

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Notes to editors:

About REED MIDEM

Founded in 1963, Reed MIDEM is a leading organiser of professional,
international tradeshows. Reed MIDEM events have established themselves as key
dates in professional diaries. The company hosts MIPTV, MIPDOC, MIPCOM, and
MIPJUNIOR for the television and digital content industries, MIDEM for music
professionals, MIPIM, MIPIM Asia, MIPIM HORIZONS and MAPIC for the property and
retail real estate sectors.

Reed Exhibitions is the world`s leading events organiser, with over 470 events
in 37 countries. In 2008 Reed brought together over seven million industry
professionals from around the world generating billions of dollars in business.
Today Reed events are held throughout the Americas, Europe, the Middle East and
Asia Pacific, and organised by 38 fully staffed offices.

Reed organises a wide range of events, including exhibitions, conferences,
congresses and meetings. Its portfolio of over 470 events serves 44 industry
sectors, including: Aerospace & aviation, automobiles, broadcasting, building &
construction, electronics, energy, oil & gas, engineering, manufacturing,
environment, food service & hospitality, gifts, healthcare, interior design, IT
& telecoms, jewellery, life science & pharmaceuticals, machinery, medical
education, printing & graphics, property & real estate, security & safety,
sports & recreation, travel.

For further information about Reed MIDEM, visit www.reedmidem.com.

REED MIDEM
Jane GARTON, Press Director
Tel: 33 (0)1 41 90 44 39
Jane.garton@reedmidem.com
or
Joanna KIRK, Press Officer
Tel: 33 (0)1 41 90 45 82
joanna.kirk@reedmidem.com
or
Adeline ANFRAY, Junior Press Officer
Tel: 33 (0)1 41 90 49 10
adeline.anfray@reedmidem.com
or
www.mipworld.com

Copyright Business Wire 2009