Basic Lead, the organizer of the DISCOP film and television content markets, is deploying a new initiative to strengthen and expand its business in sub-Saharan Africa. With the industry easing into the habit of distance appointments, two annual virtual markets will be launched to complement the organizers' physical markets in Abidjan and Johannesburg.
Each virtual market will last three months and specifically promote content available right away and under favorable terms. During that period of time, buyers can screen trailers and full-length episodes online and have access to personalized voice/email/chat assistance to seek answers to their questions and request appointments with rights-holders.
Content will be supplied by the top 100+ global and regional content distributors who service sub-Saharan Africa and already attend DISCOP’s physical markets. To guarantee well-matched and well-prepared meetings, the same appointment-setting discipline DISCOP is known for will be applied to promote content and convert initial interest into confirmed appointments.
Over the next five months, 1000+ individual buyers in 49 African countries will be surveyed, one by one. They represent 400+ public and commercial broadcasters, pay-tv operators and streaming platforms. Urgent programming needs will be at the center of a 20-minute video conference piloted by DISCOP’s reinforced research and networking teams.
The two virtual markets scheduled for 2020 are:
● VIRTUAL MARKET #1
17 countries in Francophone Sub-Saharan Africa
May 1 to July 31
● VIRTUAL MARKET #2
32 countries in Anglophone and Lusophone Africa
August 1 to October 31