ONE YEAR OF FRIDAY’S ESPRESSO!
On 1st October 2021, the first Friday’s Espresso was posted here on Substack. Now, 50 posts later, this newsletter has on average of +3,5k views each week and hundreds of subscribers all around the world.
The formula is easy: to give an independent look at the unscripted global scenario and update professionals worldwide about the main news regarding formats, markets and trends in a quick and agile but -at least I hope- not superficial way.
Now, 1 year after its “birth”, I’d like this to become an open space where all business operators (but also all interested persons) can express their opinion. So, if you have a format to point out (especially by medium and small prodcos), a market you have attended, a trend you’ve noticed but also general considerations on this sector, please mail me and I’ll be happy to welcome you to Friday’s Espresso.
Thank you very much!
1. EMOTIONAL JOURNEYS TOWARDS MARRIAGE
It’s always a pleasure to introduce small, nice formats by indie prodcos. Wedding Diaries, produced and distributed by Rabbit Formats and currently on air on Katsomo, the AVOD service of the MTV3 Finland group (the linear broadcast on MTV3 will follow after the AVOD run), is definitely one of these.
In this delicate and touching show, 4 ordinary couples, who are all in different stages of life and in very different relationships, document their own wedding-planning journey. From venue scouting to picking the dress, all the way up to the big day, these couples share their whole journeys.
Each person films themselves alone, without their partner’s presence, giving the viewers a personal, raw and unfiltered view of their life. And at the end of these stories you have the feeling of knowing all of the participants intimately.
2. ALL CRAZY FOR KARAOKE!
After the success of the June special on M6, Le Plus Grand Karaoké de France (The Biggest Karaoke in France) returned on the same channel on 29th September with an “80’s” edition.
The show, produced by Banijay-owned DMLS TV and distributed by Banijay (that will launch it in the upcoming MipCom), has an interesting twist: 1000 participants are equipped with special headsets and mics permitting them to sing together with the artists on stage.
As in the normal karaoke, the public can follow the words scrolling during the song, both on their smartphones and on the big studio led-wall. Behind the scene, a jury of experts (vocal teachers, vocal coaches and musicians) select the best of them during the 4-rounds competition.
3. NATPE’S CRISIS
NATPE, the largest US based global content association born 60 years ago, that organizes, among other things, the Miami and the Budapest markets (see Tim Crescenti’s report on Friday’s Espresso 1st July) has claimed the Chapter 11 of the Bankruptcy Code, that, according to US law, permits reorganization and allows a company to stay in business and restructure its obligations.
The management is optimistic and declares that they do “not presently intend to cancel” the next event scheduled to take place on January 2023 at Nassau in the Bahamas, followed by a return to Budapest in June.
We are optimistic, too. But it’s not a good signal for all the “physical” markets in general.