Paris/Los Angeles, 3 July – Leading Central and Eastern European content market DISCOP EAST, which took place from 18-20 June at the Sofitel Atrium Hotel in Budapest, today reported a hugely successful event with attendees and exhibiting companies significantly up on previous years, it was announced today by Patrick Jucaud, General Manager, DISCOP and Rick Feldman, President and CEO, 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 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 program  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 specialized 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 comments, “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 Program Executives (NATPE). NATPE is a global non-profit organization dedicated to the creation, development and distribution of televised programming in all forms, across all mature and emerging media platforms.

For further information contact:

Debbie Lawrence                                                           Paul Nichols

The Lippin Group - London                                              The Lippin Group – Los Angeles

T: +44 203 008 5406                                                      T: +1 323 965 1990

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