Viewpoints: acquisitions strategies

Vito Savino
Content Acquisition Manager
Arvato Mobile SpA
Italy

What are your acquisition strategies?

Arvato mobile spa, a company of the Bertelsmann group, with its consumer brand TJNET, is trying to open the markets where it operates and it' s based (Spain, Portugal, Russia, Brazil and Italy where there is the HQ) to the video, in particular their efforts are focused on short episodes of few minutes only, perfect to be viewed by the users through the new digital platforms like WebTV, IP TV and DVBH. TJNET is already partners with many large operators, helping them to develop, create the offer, and to schedule a lot of video area and dedicated channels. Some of these partners are companies like MSN, Tiscali, Libero, Fastweb, Alice, TIM, Vodafone, etc.

The arvato mobile acquisition strategies are oriented in a continuously scheduled update of already existing managed channels, and through new exciting properties, to offer through other third party channels. In addition, arvato mobile is looking to open new opportunities with other partners, and always concentrated on all new experimentations and technologies to approach.

Kyashan

What programs are you looking for?

TJNET has created many different areas and channels for genre and typology and manages their schedules keeping them always updated with the main season newest and quality video. TJNET prefers to manage mainly series productions, where it is possible to guarantee fidelity of viewers always interested in the channels schedules.

All kinds of genres need to be updated in the different channels and area videos managed by TJNET, but the products that the company are looking for now comes from productions based on real life generated directly by the users like gags, bloopers, candid camera, etc. 

Also, all entertainment productions based on gossip, actuality, reality show and TV series could be interesting for our channels.

What foreign programs did you buy this year?

Usually, we prefer to buy the entertainment programs from US or Australian companies because they seem to be more professional and actual. This year, we have bought many different programs, but in particular, the TV series based on travel "Latitudes", on Cinema "Cinema Nuveau" and on sport like "Barca Lessons" by Barcelona Football Club and the exclusive of "The Beijing dreams" based on next Olympic games in Pechino.

A part of the TV series, we have also bought many kinds of cartoons coming from many oriental partners, in particular, Japanese for older cartoon series like "Yattaman", "Kyashan", "Hurricane Polimar", etc, Korean and Chinese for 3D animations, and new fashion properties like "Pucca".

What national programs did you buy this year?

TJNET distributes programs mainly for the Italian market, and then it needs to have local productions or localized programs. Considering the very high costs in order to localize a program, very often, it is more convenient to acquire local programs directly. So, TJNET, in 2007, has acquired important Italian properties like "The Munchies", phone-jokes by ironic and exhilarating animated Muppets in hundreds of short videos for the entertainment area, and a series of many episodes based on Wines and Cooking that describe the best Italian wines and the main Italian dishes from the best Italian chefs.

What are your acquisition plans?

We will acquire different programs and as normal, we will be always focused on quality and originality. In particular, our acquisition strategies will be based upon all that programs that can guarantee a certain number of episodes, exclusivity and rights covered for all the main platforms (WEB, IP, Mobile, DVBH) and territories.  We will acquires programs available in different lengths and then useful for all the platforms. We will look for cartoons, TV series and humor productions and we are also looking for good ideas to produce, in cooperation with partners so we could to approach in the best way the international markets and to build new and great opportunities.