OTT players take Mip by storm

Netflix signed a contract to show ITV crime drama Marcella around the globe, while Amazon picked up the US rights to All3Media International’s Irish soap Red Rock.

Some of the biggest deals done in Cannes involved OTT platforms, with the services showing interest in everything from high-end dramas to documentaries. “It’s disruptive in the truest sense; they’re coming to Mip to buy and they’re changing the game. They are becoming the most important buyers of IP around,” said Bruce Tuchman, president of US network group AMC Global and Sundance Channel Global, which is responsible for shows including The Walking Dead.

Amazon was picking up global rights for shows at Mip TV, despite the fact that it currently only has a service in the US, UK and Germany. It is expected to roll out its platform around the world and will use much of its acquired content internationally.

US platform Acorn TV was also busy. The niche service, which charges $4.99 (£3.50) a month to watch international and UK dramas, picked up World Productions’ forthcoming BBC1 series The Secret Agent.

Kuala Lumpur-based Iflix, which covers Malaysia, Thailand and the Philippines, was another major player at Mip. It bought 400 hours of content from Fremantle Media International (FMI), including Merlin and The IT Crowd, plus cooking shows featuring Jamie Oliver, Nigella Lawson and The Hairy Bikers.

Haryaty Rahman, FMI senior vice-president of sales and distribution in Asia, said viewing habits in Asia had “completely changed” as a result of the SVoD services.

African service Iroko, which has been described as the Netflix of Africa, was also in town searching for programming to sit alongside its raft of local output.

Meanwhile, India’s Hungama struck a deal with BBC Worldwide for series including John Simm-fronted Prey, comedy drama Not Safe For Work and period drama War And Peace.

“With more and more Indians going online to watch their favourite dramas, we are excited to work with Hungama and Viu to satisfy viewers’ demands by bringing critically acclaimed and highly rated programmes to their subscribers,” said BBCW India general manager Myleeta Aga.

Back in the UK, Sky chief executive Jeremy Darroch used a keynote speech to argue that OTT is one of the “biggest moving plates in our industry”. He explained that it was particularly targeting the “young urbanite” with its Now TV service.