Mipcom wrap: Moonves, Silverman, Wagner dish

By Liza Foreman

The annual TV programming bazaar MIPCOM drew to a close Thursday on a high note, writes HollywoodWiretap�s Liza Foreman. With strong increases in attendance, the confab once again stressed the importance of content with such A-list keynote speakers as Les Moonves, Ben Silverman and Paula Wagner all weighing in.

Statistics presented at the close of the market, showed strong increases in attendance, with buyer and exhibitor numbers up 10% to 4237, and 1,801, respectively. Eleven new countries made their MIPCOM debut, including Mozambique, Senegal, Namibia, and Cuba.

Better known for its red carpet premieres during the Cannes Film Festival, the Palais hosted a series of keynote addresses in the main Lumiere Theater. Mip�s Personality of the Year, Les Moonves, spoke of CBS� commitment to providing exciting content; �Wireless is useless if you�re hitless,� told the assembled audience on Monday evening.

The CBS Corporation CEO and President addressed a wide range of topics at a Tuesday press conference ranging from Katie Couric to the future of television, and the role of foreign shows in the U.S.

�Ten years ago, the US was reluctant to have shows brought to them,� he said. ��Survivor� and �Big Brother� came over, and that expanded into scripted shows like �The Office.� There is rarely a hit show in any territory not looked at by one US company or another.�

The TV confab veered off towards film Tuesday evening with the arrival of United Artists CEO Paula Wagner. Wagner spoke about the importance of the international box office, which now accounts for around two thirds of revenues, and referred to Hollywood as a �territory,� albeit, �maybe still the most important territory.� Wagner also cited a recent PricewaterhouseCoopers study predicting that the entertainment industry will be worth a whopping $2 trillion by 2011.

Talking about UA�s strategy, Wagner said, "We believe in successful, original, daring" films and, she added, UA plans to "share the risk between the studio and the artists."

Following Wagner at the podium was the Co-Chairman of NBC Entertainment and NBC Universal Television Studio�s, Ben Silverman, who suggested the audience for user generated content was limited, reflecting the fact that execs this year were taking a more laid back attitude to the onset of digital. �You can use it, but it�s really about creating episodic material,� he said.

Although they were less quirky than last year�s contingent, which included British rocker and philanthropist Bob Geldof, and director John Waters, a number of TV stars hit town to talk up new projects, including �Sex and the City�s� Kim Cattrall.

A series of industry panels continued with recent themes including the emergence of green TV, mobile television content, and the future of television. This year�s country focus was on India with the opening night soiree taking on an Indian theme.

Hollywood heavyweights made their presence felt with a number of cocktails and lunches. At an MGM barbecue Wednesday, the company�s President of worldwide television distribution, Jim Packer, talked up MGM�s new domestic channel launched that day on US satellite service DirecTV, and dismissed the notion, in an informal discussion, that audiences would welcome the collapse of all windows to release new product on all platforms simultaneously.

�A friend of mine offered his granddaughter and her friends the chance to watch a DVD of a new film at home before the release, and they said �No, we want to go to the mall�,� he said by way of an example.

Packer said the channel would program around 60% newer films and 40% older material, and would offer themed programming, depending on which films from MGM�s 4,000 title library were available at any given time, as per existing licensing deals.

MGM COO Rick Sands seemed concerned with the lack of hot dogs available in France, however. �Next year,� he mused, �We couldn�t find them anywhere.�

At Disney�s annual lunch Monday, Ben Pyne, the new President, Global Distribution, presented his vision for the company saying he wanted to increase revenues from emerging platforms. Outgoing topper Laurie Younger, meanwhile, said she had no idea what was next for her. �I�m reading books, talking to friends, keeping my eyes open,� she said. �I might return in another guise or do nothing. Life is full of surprises.�