In “A Coffee with Luc” our CEO Luc Voncken regularly lets us take a look behind the operational scenes of his daily business. It has been some time since the last edition, and new exciting things have happened since then. This time, Luc tells us about his latest visit to Cannes, where he, together with his licensing team, attended MipTV, one of the most important events in the TV and film industry.

Hi Luc! How are you doing?

Good, thanks! I just returned from the capital of cinema, Cannes, where I attended the content marketplace MipTV together with our licensing team. Despite the beautiful event location on the Cote d’Azur, such an event normally means a pure meeting marathon. In two days we had 27 meetings plus lunch and dinner appointments. Sounds exhausting? It definitely was, but after so many great talks, I am feeling really inspired and energised. The MipTV is next to its big brother Mipcom, one of the most important events in the TV and film industry. Participants from over 100 countries gathered in Cannes to present and sell their newest productions and to discuss the latest industry trends.

Why is it important for CLIQ to attend such events?

A so-called “content marketplace” is the perfect occasion for our licensing team to source new films & series for our streaming platforms and to find new potential licensors. It’s almost like going to the supermarket: Whether you are looking for Telenovelas for Brazil or blockbusters for France, at an event like MipTV you will find exactly the content you need. On the other hand, we are able to meet and mingle, extend our business network, strengthen relationships with existing suppliers and learn about new trends. But what is also very important is: We are able to present CLIQ as a relevant player in the global entertainment industry.

And lastly: What new trends and developments were you able to notice at MipTV this year?

FAST was a frequently discussed side topic during the event. FAST stands for Free-Ad-Supported Streaming TV. It refers to linear TV channels that are available over the Internet. CLIQ will make FAST part of our licensing strategy this year. We aim to enhance our portals with selected linear channels to give our customers additional value and to keep our streaming content up-to-date. Plus, another interesting trend I noticed is that big platforms are seeking new ways to monetise their Originals by opening their portfolio to other streamers – a great opportunity for our licensing team!