Reed plans for October Mipcom

Mipcom 2020 is scheduled for October 12 to 15

Mipcom organiser Reed Midem has issued an update to exhibitors as it pushes ahead with plans to hold the 36th edition of the Cannes event in October.

The Covid-19 pandemic decimated the spring and summer TV events’ calendar, with many markets, including Reed Midem’s MipTV, shifting online as the world contended with the coronavirus.

Question marks remain over the industry’s autumn calendar, with many countries now relaxing their lockdown rules but concerns remaining about a potential second wave.

Reed Midem said it is “looking forward” to hosting Mipcom, which is scheduled to take place from October 12 to 15, along with MipJunior on October 10 and 11, but has told exhibitors and delegates health and safety is its “top priority.”

The company has outlined its approach to putting on the event and catering to those who may be unable to travel to Cannes.

“At Reed Midem and Reed Exhibitions (RX), we have been combining our experience to establish a coherent and consistent programme of advanced measures to ensure our events are judged to be safe to do so by the relevant local authorities and by the benchmarks which are currently being established across RX – based on the best practices and experience learned from RX’s 500-plus events,” organisers said in an email to delegates on Tuesday.

“We are also closely following French government and public health guidelines and will continue to do so. In the coming weeks we will report to you our first guidelines and recommendations for safely gathering and exhibiting in the Palais des Festivals and other event venues.”

Measures planned include protocols on physical distancing, increased medical facilities and enhanced cleaning, sanitation and hygiene. Reed said that should it not be possible to host Mipcom in October it would inform the industry “well in advance,” having left it until March 3 to admit defeat on its attempt to host sister event MipTV in April.

“We are committed to providing you with regular updates on Mipcom 2020,” Reed said. “With a large part of the exhibition sold, we are focused more than ever on bringing the international television community together and curating a relevant programme that meets the moment and supports the industry in getting back to business.

“We want you to know that we are planning an online complement to Mipcom and MipJunior to allow participants who may not be able to travel at this time to join the market. This digital version of Mipcom is being imagined from the ground up in close collaboration with buyers, exhibitors and participating companies. Look for future announcements. We look forward to gathering again at Mipcom.”

Reed Midem offered its digital market MipTV Online+ free of charge to all registered MipTV, MipDoc and MipFormats delegates following the cancellation of the physical Cannes event as a result of the pandemic.

Series Mania in Lille, the LA Screenings, Monte-Carlo TV Festival, Banff World Media Festival the Edinburgh TV Festival, Realscreen West and Annecy are among the other high-profile events to be offering online alternatives with a promise to return in 2021.

A handful of markets have decided to push their conference dates to later in the year in the hope the situation will ease.

These include Natpe Budapest International, which has shifted from its traditional spot at the end of June to August 25-27 at the InterContinental Hotel in the Hungarian capital.