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MIPCOM Cannes 2025 puts creators centre stage
PARIS: Mipcom Cannes is recasting itself as the global meeting ground for the creator economy, unveiling a 13–16 October programme that director Lucy Smith calls “the biggest generational shift the market has ever seen”. She declared the creator economy “no longer emerging—it’s arrived”, signalling a fresh era for storytelling, distribution and monetisation.
The scale remains vast: organisers expect more than 10,500 delegates from over 100 countries to pack the Palais des Festivals and surrounding beachfront. Joining the traditional powerhouses—Disney, Warner Bros Discovery, Sony Pictures Entertainment, Paramount Global, Banijay, BBC Studios, ZDF Studios and ITV Studios—are creator-led platforms and digital natives such as YouTube, TikTok, Snapchat, Dhar Mann Studios, Tubi, Samsung TV Plus and Luma AI. Big advertisers and agencies including Mattel, Toys“R”Us, Ancestry, Dentsu and McCann are coming to broker brand-funded projects.
YouTube mounts its most ambitious presence yet: a dedicated space on the Croisette, daily workshops and a headline keynote with EMEA vice-president Pedro Pina and BBC Studios digital chief Jasmine Dawson in conversation with industry analyst Evan Shapiro. The rebadged MIP Creative Hub—formerly the Producers Hub—will host four days of matchmaking between creators, studios and brands.
Fresh summits aim to blur the lines between TV, tech and social platforms. The BrandStorytelling Summit, imported from Sundance, will showcase how advertisers and digital talent collaborate on narrative campaigns. The Innovation Lab expands with an AI summit and new demo areas for cloud production, virtual sets and immersive formats. Panels will dissect monetisation models from Fast and AVoD to direct-to-fan subscriptions.
MIPJunior, the kids’ pre-market on 11–12 October, moves into the Palais for the first time, offering dedicated matchmaking and a premiere of Ki & Hi in the Panda Kingdom, based on Kevin Tran’s best-selling manga.
High-wattage speakers include Mattel Studios president Robbie Brenner, Banijay chief Marco Bassetti, Mediawan Pictures CEO Elisabeth d’Arvieu and Toys“R”Us CMO Kim Miller Olko, alongside creators Callum “Callux” McGinley and Dhar Mann. World premieres on the main stage feature Paramount’s Boston Blue, ZDF’s Ku’damm 77 and a Sony preview of The Miniature Wife, with cast members Donnie Wahlberg, Sonequa Martin-Green and Matthew Macfadyen expected.
By weaving creators into every strand—from keynotes to co-production hubs—MIPCOM is betting that the next wave of global television will be forged as much by YouTubers and TikTokers as by Hollywood studios. The 2025 edition aims to prove that the Croisette can be the crossroads where legacy broadcasters and digital disruptors strike their biggest deals yet.
eNews
Piyush Thakur steps down as Inshorts’ chief revenue officer
Former vice president and cro says exit marks a new chapter after close to a decade of building revenue and partnerships at Inshorts Group.
NOIDA: Piyush Thakur has stepped away from Inshorts Group after nearly 10 years with the company, marking the end of a long tenure that culminated in his role as chief revenue officer.
In a farewell note, Thakur said he was “turning a new page” after almost a decade at Inshorts, calling it one of the hardest professional decisions he has made. He added that his exit was not driven by uncertainty about the future, but by reflection on a long association with the company.
Thakur joined Inshorts in October 2016 as vice president and spent around seven years in the role before being elevated to chief revenue officer in April 2024, a position he held until April 2026.
He said his tenure was defined by “thousands of mornings, late nights, product debates and breakthrough moments”, as the company evolved into a large-scale digital news platform used by millions.
In his note, Thakur emphasised that Inshorts’ growth was a collective effort across teams, adding that engineers, designers, sales teams and customer support staff all contributed to building the platform. He said the company’s success was not the result of individuals but of “everyone who stayed, passed through, and left their mark”.
Before Inshorts, Thakur worked across several digital media and business development roles. At ESPN, he served as senior regional manager from October 2015 to October 2016, focusing on growth initiatives, strategic opportunities and video distribution.
At Times Internet, he worked for nearly three years, including as head of business development from April 2015 to September 2015 and chief manager from January 2013 to March 2015. His responsibilities included monetisation of mobile platforms, managing media and developer partnerships, and driving revenue across digital properties such as The Times of India and The Economic Times.
Earlier, he worked at Brandmovers as head of business development from June 2012 to June 2013, handling digital, mobile and social media marketing solutions, client development and strategic consulting. During this period, he also worked on advertising revenue, brand strategy and CRM-based solutions.
At Inshorts, Thakur’s role focused on revenue strategy, mobile and media partnerships, and growth initiatives across platforms. His profile highlights experience in mobile product management, digital business models, partner ecosystems and revenue expansion in high-growth environments.
