It was the third announcement of what has become the leading TV content market event of Central Europe. On day one of the market, Jucaud announced he was shifting to a minority owner role in DISCOP, with the newly renamed NAPTE Budapest in place to take over the market in 2012 under the direction of NAPTE CEO Rick Feldman. Jucaud ended the day with the announcement of the launch of a new Montreux Comedy market.
Jucaud's equal share partner in the Signature licensing market is Vincent Alati, CEO of Alati International Marketing, Inc. The pair will be developing a series of trade shows under the title Patent International, and will start by targeting emerging markets with high growth rates in TV, then move on to niche licensing in mature markets, including a one-on-one networking event and a product placement market.
Alati, who brings a solid background in marketing, said of Jucaud's role, "Patrick nurtures the buyer-seller relationship," through a well-developed DISCOP team that brings qualified buyers to sellers.
The licensing markets will be spaced roughly three months apart, beginning with the launch of the Polish market in Warsaw on 18-19 January 2012. Jucaud told FNE that his experience working in Central Europe (DISCOP is in its 21st edition) made Poland an obvious jumping off point. "For us, it was only logical to start in Poland," he said. Poland was also chosen for its population: the largest in Central Europe, youthful, and high per capita GDP; as well as for its TV landscape, with over 100 TV channels broadcasting in Polish nation-wide.
Similarly, Istanbul was the natural choice for the second Signature market, another well-known territory for the DISCOP team after launching there two years ago. "We know we can conduct the right kind of research," Jucaud said, referring to the team's strength in matching sellers with the right buyers.
The Warsaw Signature market is targeting attendance of 220-250 buyers, with sellers receiving a digital catalogue six weeks prior to the market, and the management team setting meetings in advance. Jucaud expects that 75% of the buyers will be Polish, with the remainder coming from neighboring territories.
Signature will have a working website by the beginning of July. Dates for the Istanbul and Moscow markets should be announced later this summer.
