Dated: 7 May 2007
Made-by-Singapore content is increasingly making its mark on the global stage with Singapore media companies securing US$128 million worth of co-production and distribution projects at the recently concluded MIPTV, one of the world’s largest audiovisual and digital content markets. This figure is more than double the US$54 million clinched by Singapore companies at MIPCOM 2006.
Said Dr Christopher Chia, Chief Executive Officer, MDA, “Singapore companies have risen above their size and shown mettle to achieve success on the international stage. The newly established networks at MIPTV provides more collaboration opportunities for exportable Singapore-made programmes and firmly establishes us as a major player in the international television and animation production industry and beyond.”
Highlights of Deals Sealed
From animated television series to documentaries to dramas, Singapore companies inked a slate of collaborations that testified to Singapore companies’ ability to create exportable content with strong international appeal. They include collaboration by Singapore Technologies Electronics with Canada’s Nelvana Studios to co-produce three animated TV series and 10 DVD movies. Worth about US$100 million, the projects will be completed over the next four years. The first two DVD projects in the partnership will be Puff the Magic Dragon and Franklin the Turtle, estimated between US$5 - 10million each.
Other successful deals include BIG Communications’ US$6.5 million collaboration with Australia’s Flying Bark Productions and Canada’s Thunderbird Films on Zigby, The 3-D animated series, based on HarperCollins’ popular literary children’s character, will be distributed internationally by EM.Entertainment GmbH and broadcast on ABC network, Australia’s national broadcaster, and Canada’s Treehouse TV next year. The company has also inked an MOU with South Korea’s Sieundesign to co-produce two 3-D animated TV series The Chronicles of Oujo and Rpeng Bini. Another animation company, Mediafreaks Cartoon Pte Ltd, has secured MOUs to co-produce with US/Malaysia’s Rocket Fish Studios for The Pupu Squad and with Omens Studio for Sedo Dog. Both are estimated at US$2.6 million each.
On the distribution end, Character Farm’s Katakune has secured representation by Spain’s Neptuno Films for the European market;while Scrawl Studios’ Nanoboy will be distributed by Canada’s Cookie Jar Entertainment for North America and Europe. Nanoboy has also been sold to Mediacorp TV12’s Kids Central. In addition, Scrawl’s Milly, Molly was pre-sold to worldwide broadcasters such as Australia’s ABC Network, Canada’s TV Ontario, Portugal’s Aquaris &Auqris Ltd (Radiotelev), and Hong Kong’s ATV World;with deals in negotiation with Finland’s YLE Finnish Broadcasting Company, Norway’s NRK Norwegian Broadcasting Corporation and France’s TPS Jeunesse.
Aside from animation, Singapore-made TV content also forged ahead successfully at MIPTV with Upside Down Entertainment’s collaboration with Korea’s Dreamville Entertainment and India’s Clapstem Productions on Asian Crisis Centre, a US$5 million adventure drama series. Mega Media, content management company Six- Six-Eight and France’s Project Images Films will also be collaborating on the first ever Singapore-France TV series Déjà Vu. The US$4.1 million youth fiction series will feature four episodes shot on location in Singapore.
Full details of the deals sealed at MIPTV are in
Media Development Authority of Singapore
The Media Development Authority of Singapore (MDA) was formed on 1 January 2003 to champion Media 21, a blueprint to transform Singapore into a global media city. Media 21 seeks to create a vibrant media environment by establishing Singapore as a media exchange, exporting Made-by-Singapore content, internationalising local media companies, nurturing local media talent and developing digital media. More information on MDA can be found on www.mda.gov.sg.
For more information, please contact:
Ms Tessa Monteiro
Manager, Communications
Media Development Authority
Tel: +65 6837 9757
Email:
Tessa_Mae_Monteiro@imda.gov.sg
Ms Phoebe Seow
Assistant Director, Communications
Media Development Authority
Tel: +65 6837 9369
Email:
Phoebe_Seow@imda.gov.sg
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