APRIL 2019: Food tops factual buyers’ acquisitions priorities at Mipdoc/MipTV this year, followed closely by a taste for history, lifestyle, travel and wildlife. Malena Amzah talked to buyers across the region...

Food dominates Asia’s factual acquisitions going into Mipdoc/MipTV this year, followed by history, lifestyle, travel and wildlife. Buyers also head to Cannes for this year’s market with tech and science boxes to tick for factual slots and schedules on everything from linear channels to inflight and on-demand platforms, according to ContentAsia’s latest factual survey.

68.4% (13 of 19 participants) of buyers and programmers we spoke to ahead of Mipdoc have food on their acquisitions lists. History, lifestyle, travel and wildlife tie for second place with 63.2% (12 of 19) each, followed by technology with 52.6% (10 of 19). Other genres mentioned include science, environment, docu-drama, fashion, paranormal/sci-fi and sports.

We also asked platforms in Asia what they would like to see next in the region’s factual space. 63% (12 of 19) said more local/international co-production and collaboration, 53% (10 of 19) said lower licensing fees, and 47% (9 of 19) said more factual production in Asia.

The companies that participated in ContentAsia’s factual survey ahead of Mipdoc are: PT Metra-Net (Oona, Indonesia), Television Broadcasts Limited (myTV Super, Hong Kong), Mediaplex International (Doonee, Thailand), HJ Holdings (Hulu, Japan), iwonder (regional), Astro (Malaysia), WebTVAsia (regional), Forever Group (Myanmar), NTV Broadcasting (Mongolia), MediaQuest Holdings (Philippines), Bangkok Media and Broadcasting (PPTV HD 36, Thailand), Young Investment Group (YTV, Myanmar), Inflight Inc (regional), Da Neng Culture Media (China), Yoohoo Media Solutions (Australia), Discovery Networks Asia Pacific (regional), Gabriel Broadcasting Foundation (Good TV, Taiwan), BBC Studios Asia (regional) & Turner Japan K.K. (TABI Channel)

Published in April 2019 in ContentAsia print+online magazine for MIP TV 2019