MIP

SO after a break of 2 years I found myself at MIP once again. Great to catch up with everyone and comforting to know that the industry hasn't changed! The sevice at Cafe Roma was as idiosyncratic as ever, I even witnessed a near physical fight! And the Sony Monday night gathering was a delight and very sad as we said goodbye to Paul Gilbert, who I'm sure will be back with a new expense account on a different company at MIPCOM!

I didn't see any thing that really set my interest alight. Game shows are definitely back on every broadcasters lips. Scripted Drama seemed to be doing very well.

The Game shows were big and brash, the reality was more observational. There was no single buzz. There was a lot of talk about the over valued UK indie market some even valued at over 12 times earnings. But there still seemed to be some potential takers.

Some interesting developments in training, some I'm involved with and more news on that later.

You Bet! and Ant and Dec!

Who would have thought Ant and Dec would use "You Bet" as the spring-board for their next crack at the USA. It was a great format and I'm sure given the "treatment" and cash of ABC in the USA it will find a new lease of life. Big shiny floor entertainment really isn't a trend anymore its a fact! And with one of the Daddy's of them all making it back to the screen a proven fact! Although in Germany YOu Bet has never been away, I think? It must be one of Germany's longest running shows.

You Bet is the show where a panel of 3 celebrity judges bet on various challenges in the studio and location. Get it right and they win and the money goes to charity. The percentages are effected by the audience voting on the out come. I'm sure the new version will be interactive in some way.

I directed 3 Series with the lovely Matthew Kelly Hosting. It was a great show for a director, a real challenge in its self. The pre recorded challenges were great. My favorite was a guy who said he could climb up the side of a hot air balloon and abseil back down to the basket, all at 3,000 feet. We used radio link cameras from on board the balloon so we could watch live from the ground, all good stuff!

I've put the only clip I could find on the Pod below unfortunately its is a negative review although tong in cheek!!