Sales to overseas pick up

Press, 22 September 1980, Page 15

Sales to overseas pick up

There are signs of a healthy two-way traffic opening up between overseas programme buvers and Television New Zealand.

Recently, two competing Swedish buyers arrived within days of each other to view and earmark programmes for their networks. An Italian buyer has written to say he will be arriving later this year. In the past buyers have looked at made programmes at international television screenings, or have been visited by agents contracted to sell. Two United States distributors also arrived to discuss representation in North and Latin America, and negotiations are well advanced. “Producers can be greatly

encouraged at the overseas interest being shown in their work,” says TVNZ’s head of programme sales. Mr Maurice Smyth. “The era of competitive television pushed out the frontiers of programme sales, and Television New Zealand is geared up to develop this extra source of revenue.”

A new marketing policy, has been drawn up, and agents have been appointed to sell in specific territories.

“Overseas interest in who we are and what we do was spurred by the TVNZ presence at this year’s marketplace at Cannes,” says Mr Smyth. “We had our own stand, publicity, and cassettes. Scandinavian buyers swamped us for the first two davs, and all available viewing time was booked out before the six-day market ended.

“We produce a variation on British and American fare — a new side dish with new scenery, faces, voices, and storylines. Proof of this was the fact that one of the : Swedish buyers said he wanted ‘Mortimer’s Patch’ after he had seen two episodes. His opposite number was also impressed by the production and said it was the kind of product Sweden and other Sandinavian countries were looking for.” Mr Smyth is at pains to point out that a sale is only a sale when a contract is signed. But between them the Swedes said thev wanted to acquire “Mortimer’s Patch,”, “Stroke”. “Ngaio Marsh Theatre”. “Just One Child”, “Come Over to My Place”, “Paths to the Future”, “High Country”, “Jocko”. “Rachel”, and “Wild South.”

Sweden has already bought such programmes as “Hunter’s Gold”,. “Gather Your Dreams”, “Children of Fire Mountain”, “McKenzie”, and “Adventure World of Hillary.”

The over-all sales leader, “Hunter’s Gold,” is being caught up by “Ngaio Marsh Theatre,”' which, says Mr Smyth, may yet earn more money. But both will have to contend with “Children of Fire Mountain,” which this year so far has been acquired by 13 countries, including the French-Canadian network.