DISCOP East Breaks Attendance Records In 2008

Leading Central and Eastern European content market DISCOP East, which took place from June 18-20 at the Sofitel Atrium Hotel in Budapest, has reported a hugely successful event with attendees and exhibiting companies significantly up on previous years, Patrick Jucaud, General Manager, DISCOP and Rick Feldman, President and CEO of NATPE, DISCOP's joint partner.
DISCOP EAST, which is attended by international distributors and buyers across all genres, welcomed 1729 participants (1522 in 2007), including 1003 television content buyers (901 in 2007) representing 804 (678) in 2007) TV stations, thematic TV channels, DVD distributors, theatrical distributors, territorial agents and production companies, satellite, cable and IPTV operators, from 33 Central and Eastern European countries. 596 sales executives also attended, up from 530 in 2007, of which 108 were from Central and Eastern Europe (68 in 2007) representing 42 television content sales organisations (24 in 2007).
The number of sales organisations exhibiting at the market also increased to 281 from 242 in 2007, with national pavilions including umbrella stands from France, Korea, Italy, Spain, Taiwan and Israel. A special umbrella called 'The Bridge' was also set-up and funded up by the EU-funded Media Programme to welcome 28 independent Central and Eastern European television content production and distribution companies from member states and candidate countries of the European Union.
The second edition of DISCOPRO, the one-day networking and training programme, dedicated to co-production opportunities in the region, which took place on the eve of the market, brought together 121 participants, up from 97 in 2007, including 29 speakers on a variety of panels, sessions and case studies.
The emergence of some 300 digital thematic channels in Central and Eastern Europe has driven the success of this year's market, triggering a demand for specialised programming and powering deal-making during the three day-market.
A range of international attendees have already reported sales success at the market, including Parthenon Entertainment (UK), IMG Entertainment (UK), Oasis International (Canada), Telefe International (Argentina), AETN International (US), Telepool (Germany) and BBC Worldwide (UK).
Patrick Jucaud commented: "Most of the growth in the entertainment industries will occur in emerging markets over the next five years with Central and Eastern Europe expected to show the strongest gains thanks to faster growth in economic output along with the widespread adoption of new technologies and the imminent digital switchover in most countries. This explains why major international television content sales organisations have been increasing their presence at DISCOP EAST."
Founded in 1991, DISCOP is the only television content market strictly targeted at Central and Eastern Europe. After 15 years of operating independently, the DISCOP organisation has partnered since 2005 with the National Association of Television Programme Executives (NATPE). NATPE is a global non-profit organisation dedicated to the creation, development and distribution of televised programming in all forms, across all mature and emerging media platforms.
(KMcA/JM)