Event Spotlight: MIPCOM CANNES 2023

Overlooking the Mediterranean with views of yachts and the famous red carpet, MIPCOM CANNES 2023 was hosted this week at the beautiful Palais des Festivals. Living up to its reputation as the world’s greatest gathering of TV and entertainment executives, MIPCOM attracted all the major players in the industry – including Wurl!

Who’s Who in Entertainment

Representing every role within content distribution from creation and production to marketing – top companies from around the world discussed new content, tech innovation, and the future of entertainment. 

Fun Fact: MIPCOM stands for “Marché International des Programmes de Communication” (International Market of Communications Programs). 

Timing for MIPCOM coincides with the peak autumn buying season for new series and production rollouts, such as television shows, films, documentaries, virtual reality experiences, and more. It’s exciting to see the fresh content ideas on the horizon! People always come ready to network, negotiate, and create entertainment around the world.

Connecting Content with Audiences

There is no doubt that “Content Everywhere” was the top-of-mind topic at MIPCOM this year. Industry leaders highlighted the importance of multi-platform distribution and the demand for innovative content solutions – particularly centered on discoverability.

This observation aligns with the findings of Digital TV Europe’s Industry Survey conducted earlier this year that found 58% of respondents believe that ensuring content is visible and discoverable is a “very significant challenge.”

With such a crowded streaming marketplace and so many ways to watch, the need for personalization has never been greater to connect with audiences. Cited among the challenges was the volume of data required from multiple data sources to make the proper connections. 

The Buzz at MIPCOM

The bright Market exposition, filled with production companies, studios, and distributors, was busy the entire week. CTV is top of mind for many – not only for content publishers and broadcasters already streaming but also for publishers eager to jump in. Wurl welcomed booth visitors with a comfortable environment to network and share their thoughts.

Keith Bedford, GM of EMEA for Wurl, commented, “The Wurl team spent the week engaged in a flurry of discussions with partners, clients, and emerging CTV content publishers and streamers. Germany and the UK are leading the race for tier-one broadcasters entering the CTV space in Europe. And Wurl is by their side helping many of them launch channels and leverage AdPool to grow revenue.” 

European broadcasters are pushing to replicate the revenue growth evident among CTV streamers in the U.S. as advertising spend shifts from traditional linear TV to digital. The biggest barrier to realizing this goal is the fragmentation of measurement in EMEA – to achieve better monetization, unified measurement is a must.

Fun at the Wurl Social Club

More than 100 guests attended Wurl’s Social Club reception at Ondine Vilebrequin La Plage to enjoy an amazing night of hospitality against the backdrop of Cannes – a great time to catch up with Wurl friends! 

An exciting week in Cannes for entertainment – lots of opportunities to learn, share, and connect. If you couldn’t attend this year, mark your calendar for 2024 because business gets done here!