CHINA: LAND OF May + June 17 Volume 20, Issue 4 Realscreen is published 4 times a year by Brunico Communications Ltd., OPPORTUNITY? 100- 366 Adelaide Street West, Toronto, Ontario, Canada M5V 1R9 ews of the return of American Idol to ABC — one year after the farewell season Tel. 416-408-2300 Fax 416-408-0870 www.realscreen.com aired on Fox — has many in the industry focused on formats, and asking VP & Publisher Claire Macdonald [email protected] Nwhether there’s room for new ideas in the market. Editor at Large and Content Director Barry Walsh [email protected] A version of that question is bound to be on the minds of Syco Entertainment Managing Editor Darah Hansen [email protected] executives as they play a watch-and-wait game over the next few weeks. Research Editor Jessica Mach [email protected] The first of what is expected to be a number of large-scale formats developed in Associate Editor Meagan Kashty [email protected] Senior Writer Daniele Alcinii [email protected] China by the production arm of the Simon Cowell-fronted media company with Star Staff Writer Selina Chignall [email protected] China International Media was expected to launch in late May. Fingers are crossed Contributing Writers Michael Cascio, Ivana Kirkbride, Jessica Mach, the shiny floor offering (billed as a general talent show with a twist) will find a large Chris Palmer audience…and quickly. The chances of regional success are good. Celebrity-led Associate Publisher Carrie Gillis [email protected] reality TV continues to have strong traction with Chinese audiences, with singing Senior Account Manager Kerry Lanctot [email protected] Account Manager Kristen Skinner [email protected] competitions such as Come Sing with Me, Hidden Singer and I am a Singer among the Marketing & Publishing Coordinator Grace Li [email protected] country’s most-watched shows. Creative Manager Andrew Glowala [email protected] That the format will air in primetime on CCTV, China’s largest broadcaster, and has Art Director Mark Lacoursiere [email protected] Cowell’s star-making stamp of approval only increases the chances it will land in Print Production & Distribution Supervisor Andrew Mahony the top 10 in the debut season. [email protected] Event Producer Tiffany Rushton [email protected] But, under the very specific terms of its partnership, Syco won’t know until the fall, when the format is introduced at MIPCOM, whether its Asian gamble has paid off. Webmaster Farhan Quadri Indeed, the company won’t be the only one watching how well the format sells on the international market as international producers weigh the challenges and opportunities Data Integrity and Customer Support Supervisor Christine McNalley opening up in the world’s most populous and, increasingly, prosperous nation. [email protected] Already complex, China’s TV landscape recently became trickier to navigate when President & CEO Russell Goldstein [email protected] strict new rules capping the overall number of foreign formats coming into the country VP & Editorial Director Mary Maddever [email protected] were ushered in. The government also imposed an outright ban on Korean productions, VP & Publisher, Kidscreen Jocelyn Christie [email protected] which had previously accounted for 40% of formats sold in the country. VP Administration and Finance Linda Lovegrove [email protected] The move was strategically designed to build up China’s in-house development, Senior Director, Events and Creative Services Brenda Wilford [email protected] creativity and production capacity, and decrease reliance on outside expertise. At the Senior Director, IT and eBrunico Eddie Ting [email protected] same time, it has stirred up interesting possibilities for foreign format specialists looking to tap China’s TV spending dollars, estimated at US$8.4 billion, behind only Japan, All letters sent to realscreen or its editors are assumed intended for Britain and the U.S. publication. Realscreen invites editorial comment, but accepts no Syco and Star China inked their deal just before Christmas with a long-term goal of responsibility for its loss or destruction, howsoever arising, while in its office or in transit. All material to be returned must be accompanied by a stamped, producing several hits together. China’s rules mean Star China owns the IP and pays self-addressed envelope. Nothing may be reproduced in whole or in part for most of the development and expenses, while both companies have a stake in the without the written permission of the publisher. international distribution. Michel Rodrigue, CEO of the format consultancy firm The Format People, and the ISSN number 1480-1434 © Brunico Communications Ltd. 2017 negotiator behind the deal, sees it as a good fit for a prodco with serious format chops U.S. Postmaster: Send address changes or corrections to realscreen, PO Box and a media company with the money and ambition to become a much bigger player at 1103, Niagara Falls, NY, 14304 | Canadian Postmaster: Send undeliverables home and abroad. and address changes to realscreen, 8799 Highway 89, Alliston ON L9R 1V1. “The ideas come from both sides. The Chinese partners will not accept ideas from the Canada Post Publication Agreement No. 40050265 Printed in Canada West that they don’t think will get a good rating in their territory, and vice versa,” says Rodrigue. “It feels like a win-win situation.” To subscribe, visit www.realscreen.com/subscribe, email [email protected], call 416-408-2448, or fax Ultimately, he adds, “We’ll know it when the first sales of that deal start to happen.” 416-408-0249. Subscription rates for one year: in the US, US$59.00; It won’t be long now. in Canada, CDN$79.00; outside the US and Canada, US$99.00. Cheers, ™ Realscreen is a trademark of Brunico Communications Ltd. Darah Hansen Managing Editor 004 May / June ‘17 Get ready to pull out all the stops January 2018, the Realscreen Summit will celebrate its UPCOMING ADVERTISING 20th anniversary, and we are going to be pulling out all & SPONSORSHIP OPPORTUNITIES In the stops to celebrate this momentous occasion. Details will be forthcoming over the next few months, but please make sure SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER you save the date. Editorial features: MIPCOM Picks, Lifestyle The anniversary edition will take place from Sunday, Jan. 28 to Wednesday, Jan. 31, at the Marriott Marquis in Washington, DC. Genre Focus, Formats Focus and our From humble beginnings at the Hyatt Regency on Capitol Hill in Natural History & Science Focus. 1999, with just over 300 delegates in attendance, the Realscreen Summit has evolved into the world’s largest conference and Bonus distribution: market for the unscripted and factual entertainment community. MIPCOM, World Congress of Science & We couldn’t be prouder of what we have accomplished together. Factual Producers, IDFA. As we start to plan the celebrations for the big anniversary event, I’m putting out an open call to all of you to share some of your favorite memories of Summits past. I’m sure that many of you Booking deadline: have photos and anecdotes that will stir some memories for folks Sept. 6 who have been in attendance over the years. Please feel free to share them with me at [email protected] and we’ll come For information on any of these up with a plan on how best to showcase them. opportunities, to book your MIPCOM Right now, the team is putting the finishing touches on the 9th listing or if you’re interested in sponsorship edition of Realscreen West and the Realscreen Awards show. On behalf of the content team, I’d like to extend a huge thanks to this or private meeting space at Realscreen year’s advisory board members who went above and beyond to help Summit 2018, call realscreen sales at shape the conference content and secure us an A-list speaker lineup: 1 416 408 0863. Simon Andreae, Denise Contis, Charlie DeBevoise, Leslie Greif, Sally Habbershaw, Ivana Kirkbride, Gena McCarthy, Howard T. Owens, Ben Relles, Chachi Senior and Lori York. The luscious setting of the Fairmont Miramar Hotel, an incredibly strong line-up of keynotes, panelists and hosts, and really meaningful networking opportunities once again promise a tremendously productive market. Welcome! And to those of you who couldn’t make it to Santa Monica, make sure you get those Summit dates in your calendar now. ’til next time, go well. Claire Macdonald VP, Publisher realscreen 006 May / June ‘17 BIZ From hate groups to real-life killers, chronic exposure to disturbing, difficult content is taking its toll on television producers and researchers. Is it time BY JESSICA M ACH to start talking about WHEN mental health? A&E’s Cold Case Files re-opens DARKNESS compelling criminal cases. ast fall, Matt Goerzen began dedicating In journalism, for example, exposure eight hours a day, five days a week, to FALLS to disturbing events or sources can be L tracking down internet trolls, security commonplace. Dialogue about its risks is researchers, media manipulators and hackers. “It does affect me,” said Latman at the time, certainly present, especially in relation to war An associate producer and researcher when asked about the darkness of ID’s true crime correspondents or journalists covering explicitly for Viceland’s Cyberwar, Goerzen is tasked content. “I’ve always said that we laugh more violent topics. Following the State of Arkansas’ with investigating the dark ecosystem of than any other network on cable. We laugh all the announcement in March that it was seeking cyberwarfare. Since joining the network, he’s time because I think we know that we’re dealing to execute eight men over the course of 11 pursued stories on tech developed to surveil with such heavy, serious, dark things.” days, publications ranging from the Columbia activist communities, memetic warfare and Still, she confessed, “I have nightmares.” Journalism Review to the Washington Post malware that recruits unwitting devices for Latman and Goerzen are among many in the considered the emotional toll the events would DDoS (distributed denial of service) attacks.