Viewpoints: sales strategies

Eric Verniere International Sales Manager, pre-sales & co-productions Ulrich Lagriffoul International Sales Manager, Eastern European Countries France Televisions Distribution France

Can you tell us about your activities in Western Europe ?

France Televisions Distribution distributes internationally programmes produced by the France Televisions group and independent producers. The catalogue covers all genres: feature films, fiction drama, documentaries, magazine and animation. The news department offers France 2, France 3 and France 5 daily news footage and current affairs magazines. FTDI also strongly operates in the field of international pre-sales and co-production, working closely with producers in order to finance ambitious documentary and fiction projects at an early stage. Although we count among our client's portfolio broadcasters from all around the world, Europe remains our main source of business for obvious cultural reasons.

Earth From Above

What were your most important sales in 2006?

"David Nolande", mini series (6x52'); "Eloise Rome Investigates", TV series (24x52'); "Gangsters", feature film (90'); "Potlach The Farm", animation (26x26'); "Tasty Post Cards", documentary series (150x26'); "College Days" ("Age Sensible"), TV series (50x26'); "War and Peace in the Kitchen garden", documentary series (2x52' or 90'); "Clara Sheller ", mini series (6x52'); "Marie Antoinette ", docu drama (90').

What titles do you currently have on the air in Western European countries?

Many our titles were a huge success in France in 2006. We sold our fiction: "A Family Murder Party" (7 Million viewers for 4-weeks in a row) and "David Nolande" (a stunning debut in December with 6.1 Million viewers, and overall a 25% MS on the 15 to 34-years-old); the documentary series: "Hunting Down The Nazis" (doc / history) was a huge ratings success in January 07; Game Shows: "Sudokoo" (190x1') is the new success on France 2 (25 to 30% MS everyday), a cross media property and a serious money earner (SMS, audiotel). And as always " Des Chiffres et des Lettres " with 25% MS everyday on France 3, and the animated series: "Potlach" ("The Farm") was the success of Summer of France 3, with a 25% MS on the 4 to 10-years-old. Currently on the air are "Earth From Above", "Chez Maupassant" (4x30' + 4x60', Fiction) over 27% Market Share in March 2007, and "Rise Of Man" in April 07; In Europe: "Homo Sapiens": Spain TVE 14,4% Market Share in June 2006 and Germany ZDF 11,7% Market Share in April 2005.

What new titles will you bring to MIPTV 2007?

We will bring documentaries: "Earth From Above", a prime-time documentary series presented by Yann Arthus-Bertrand, and exploring the major environmental issues at stake on our planet; "Scenario 2100" is a one-hour science documentary about global warming and its impact on the environment and our society based on simulation models of a future earth; "Exposed", the series highlights the political destiny of Head of States with exclusive interviews, completed with archives and analysis; "Rise Of Man" docu-drama, after A Species Odyssey and Homo Sapiens, the final chapter in the hit trilogy; " Extreme Rescue - The Fire, Ice, and the Sea", around the world men and women are on alert. When a cry for help is received, they respond and are willing to give their lives so that others may live; "Chirac" is a realistic and critical portrait of the French President, starting with his youth, based on accounts and research of archives covering half a century; "Hunting Down The Nazis", for the first time, a film recounts the story of the unrelenting pursuit of Eichman, Mengele and other Nazi criminals in hiding from 1945 to the present day. We will also bring fiction titles: "Madame de Pompadour", gripped by a burning passion for his lover, the king forces this "commoner" on an indignant royal court and makes her "la Marquise de Pompadour". "A Family Murder Party" is based on the novel "Hercule Poirot's Christmas" by Agatha Christie. It was the great success of autumn 2006 on France 2. Over 7 million television viewers faithfully followed the episodes over four weeks. "David Nolande", after days in a coma, premonitory visions dictate David Noland's fate and existence. " Mrs President ", a comedy about power, politics, love . and the problems women have in reconciling their careers with their personal lives. "Civil Unrest " ( " L'Embrasement " ) is an exceptional drama / TV Movie based on the tragic event that started the October 2005 riots in the Paris Suburbs; "October 17th, 1961 " ( " Nuit Noire " ), Emmy Award 2006, Best TV Movie of the year. "Marie Antoinette" -1793. Marie-Antoinette is in her cell in the Conciergierie, the last day of her life. She will be taken to the Place de la Concorde to be guillotined.