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MIPCOM Junior to focus on licensing & merchandising
MUMBAI: MIPCOM Junior, the international showcase for children’s programming, returns with an extensive schedule of conferences and new events. The event will be held at Noga Helton, Cannes, Paris on 2-3 October.
Both licensing and merchandising will be highlighted in this 12th edition of MIPCOM Junior and participants will have the opportunity of attending a series of exceptional conferences focusing on these key sectors and the significant economic potential they represent for the television industry.
In a new development, MIPCOM Junior and License ! Magazine are launching the “MIPCOM Junior Licensing Challenge”. An international jury, chaired by Toys US Inc. chief marketing officer Warren Kornblum will evaluate the licensing and merchandising potential of a series of production projects, said an official release.
MIPCOM Junior will once again host the “Programmers Showcase”, in association with Kidscreen magazine, in which children’s programmers from around the world come together and outline their current acquisitions and commissioning strategies to help producers tailor future projects, informed the release.
Additionally, a number of case studies entitled “Conquering America”, organised in partnership with Kidscreen magazine, will give strategic advice to producers and distributors on how to break into this essential market, giving concrete examples of programmes that have enjoyed success in this area.
For the first time, the International Licensing Industry Merchandiser’s Association (LIMA) will be attending MIPCOM Junior. A work-shop, co-organised with LIMA and made up of a panel of international experts, will offer guidance to professionals on how to exploit the licensing and merchandising potential of TV programmes. The experts will also be available for one-to-one meetings and propose an invaluable source of advice for professionals looking to develop business strategies in this area, added the release.
In addition to the conferences, all MIPCOM Junior 2004 participants will have access to the “Licensing Club”. For the second year running, the MIPCOM Junior Licensing Club will be a meeting place for professionals from the licensing and merchandising sectors and will showcase licensed products that are destined to be commercialised. Finally, as a preview to MIPCOM Junior 2005, MIPCOM Junior will give a demonstration of the future digital videotheque.
This year’s international TV and entertainment market MIPCOM 2004, to be held from 4 October to 8 October, will have merchandising as the core topic of two panels that will compliment the MIPCOM Junior conference programme.
NEW DELHI: Hamdard Laboratories gathered a cross-section of India’s achievers in New Delhi on Friday, handing out the Hakeem Abdul Hameed Excellence Awards to figures who have left their mark across healthcare, education, sport, public service and the arts.
The ceremony, attended by minister of state for defence Sanjay Seth and senior officials from the ministry of Ayush, celebrated individuals whose work blends professional success with a sense of public purpose. It was as much a roll call of achievement as it was a reminder that influence is not measured only in profits or podiums, but in people reached and lives improved.
Among the headline awardees was Alakh Pandey, founder and chief executive of PhysicsWallah, recognised for turning affordable digital learning into a mass movement. On the sporting front, Arjuna Awardee and kabaddi player Sakshi Puniya was honoured for her contribution to the game and for pushing women’s participation onto bigger stages.
The cultural spotlight fell on veteran lyricist and poet Santosh Anand, whose songs have echoed across generations of Hindi cinema. At 97, Anand accepted the honour with characteristic humility, reflecting on a life shaped by perseverance and hope.
Healthcare honours spanned both modern and traditional systems. Manoj N. Nesari was recognised for strengthening Ayurveda’s place in national and global health frameworks. Padma shri Mohammed Abdul Waheed was honoured for his research-backed work in Unani medicine, while padma shri Mohsin Wali received recognition for his long-standing contribution to patient-centred care.
Education and social development also featured prominently. Padma shri Zahir Ishaq Kazi was honoured for decades of work in education, while former Meghalaya superintendent of Police T. C. Chacko was recognised for public service. Goonj founder Anshu Gupta received an award for his dignity-centred rural development initiatives, and the Hunar Shakti Foundation was honoured for empowering women and young girls through skill development.
The Lifetime Achievement Award went to former IAS officer Shailaja Chandra for her long career in public healthcare and governance, particularly in the traditional systems under Ayush.
Speaking at the event, Hamdard chairman Abdul Majeed said the awards were a tribute to those who combine excellence with empathy. “These awardees reflect Hakeem Sahib’s belief that healthcare, education and public service must ultimately serve humanity,” he said.
Minister Seth struck a forward-looking note, saying India’s young population gives the country a unique opportunity to become a global destination for learning, health and wellness by 2047.
The ceremony also featured the trailer launch of Unani Ki Kahaani, an upcoming documentary starring actor Jim Sarbh, set to premiere on Discovery on 11 February.
Instituted in memory of Unani scholar and educationist Hakeem Abdul Hameed, the awards have grown into a national platform that celebrates those building a more inclusive and resilient India. For one evening at least, the spotlight was not just on success, but on service with substance.
