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French TV exports, coproductions & presales sustained losses in 2002
FRANCE: Exports and foreign investments in French production decreased by -16 per cent and -40 per cent respectively in 2002, after more than ten years of overall growth.
This was concluded in the preliminary version of the annual report prepared by TVFI and INA, in collaboration with the CNC and the Direction du Développement des Médias. The complete report will be released in December 2003.
Investments in production and broadcasters’ acquisition capacities suffered from sluggish advertising revenues in a difficult economic climate due to a slowdown in global trade. The sharp decrease of the German market, which accounts for three quarters of the drop in the sale of finished programs, the decline in the field of animation are last year’s most striking features. These two trends outweighed the good results in some territories (South East Asia, the Middle East, Latin America) and the overall growth of documentary.
Western Europe, which still accounts for nearly two thirds of French program sales, witnessed the most significant decline in export revenues. Germany remained France’s largest single client, ahead of the UK, despite a drop in sales from 32.3 to 17.6 million euros. Central Europe achieved uneven results with a clear sales growth Russia (CIS). Pre-funding both in coproduction and presales were equally down in Europe and North America, France’s main co-production partners.
A number of territories showed promising growth rates, including Asia, which was on a par with North America with 9.3 million euros worth of sales. In spite of the economic situation, exports to Latin America rose up to 4.7 million euros, compared to 4.1 million the year before, thanks partly to sales to regional satellite broadcasters.
Animation, in spite of a significant drop in 2002, remained the top-selling genre for the 7th consecutive year, with 45 million euros and 42 per cent of total exports. Co-productions and pre-sales decreased even more markedly with 50 million euros compared to 112 in 2001. Animation is also ahead of the other genres in pre-funding, even though drama came a close second last year.
Drama sales were slightly on the up (22.9 million euros compared to 22.4 in 2001), but pre-funding decrease, partly due to the lack of exceptional programs such as Napoleon in 2001. Documentaries only achieved an increase in co-production and pre-sales (+70 per cent) thanks to ambitious and expensive international projects. Sales figures stood at 23,5 million euros down from to 28,2 millions in 2001, as revenues were partly transferred from sales to pre-funding.
Although video and DVD sales are not included in the report, revenues in this field are estimated somewhere between 10 and 15 per cent of total sales in 2002, i.e. over 10 million euros. The market has been clearly on the rise
for the last two years and has a significant growth potential. The sales of rights over the Internet remained stable with no significant increase of business in 2002.
In a difficult context, French companies have once again proved dynamic as over half of them increased their international earnings in 2002.
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Ek Deewane Ki Deewaniyat Premieres 14 Feb on Zee
Ek Deewane Ki Deewaniyat world TV premiere 14 Feb at 8pm passion meets politics.
MUMBAI: Cupid’s arrow just got a plot twist and it’s heading straight for your TV screen. This Valentine’s Day, Zee Cinema is turning up the heat with the world television premiere of Ek Deewane Ki Deewaniyat, a raw, rule-breaking romantic drama that proves love doesn’t always come wrapped in roses.
Set to air on Saturday, 14 February at 8pm, the film stars Harshvardhan Rane and Sonam Bajwa, directed by Milap Zaveri. It dives headfirst into obsession, heartbreak, and the kind of unconditional love that leaves scorch marks. Rane plays Vikramaditya, a powerful politician whose all-consuming passion for actress Adaa spirals into chaos when his feelings go unreturned unleashing a storm of emotion, misunderstanding, and life-altering consequences.
The timing couldn’t be sharper. Audiences are clearly craving intense love stories over sugar-coated ones, and this film taps straight into that vein. Harshvardhan Rane already has a loyal fanbase from his cult hit Sanam Teri Kasam, which cemented his status as the go-to guy for heart-wrenching romance especially among younger viewers who keep the film on repeat.
Milap Zaveri captured the film’s beating heart, “This film is about love that doesn’t follow rules. With Valentine’s Day being a time when audiences gravitate towards romantic narratives, the television premiere of Ek Deewane Ki Deewaniyat on Zee Cinema felt like the perfect fit. The continued love for intense romances shows there is a strong emotional appetite for such stories.”
Rane himself called it a story rooted in messy, honest emotion, “Ek Deewane Ki Deewaniyat explores love in its most intense and vulnerable form where emotions are messy and deeply human. It’s a story that doesn’t shy away from passion or pain on Valentine’s Day making it even more special as it reflects the many shades of love people experience.”
Sonam Bajwa added her take, “Ek Deewane Ki Deewaniyat is not a conventional love story, it’s raw, intense and emotional. Valentine’s Day is usually associated with happy romance but this film explores love in its most vulnerable form.”
So if your Valentine’s plans include more than chocolates and clichés, tune in to Zee Cinema at 8pm on 14 February. Because sometimes the most unforgettable love stories aren’t the ones that end neatly, they’re the ones that leave you questioning just how far passion can push before everything changes.
