Speech Mipcom
Speech Staatsecretaris van Economische Zaken, Frank Heemskerk, t.g.v. Nederlands-Franse netwerkbijeenkomst tijdens de MIPCOM tv beurs, 10 oktober 2007, te Cannes (Fr).
Ladies and gentlemen,
Pioneers in International Business. It is a slogan that you in the world of TV can relate to. The TV industry has become a global cultural force and a highly profitable industry. And MIPCOM is at the centre of it all.
I would like to highlight the role that Dutch TV plays in this. Since French is not my forte, I will switch to English now. I hope our French hosts will forgive me!
So, ladies and gentlemen. It's great to be here at MIPCOM. I hope you enjoyed that little "Oscar-nominated" video. It was produced for the Ministry of Economic Affairs. To me it shows how creativity can promote the strengths of Dutch business abroad.
We have a lot to be proud of. The Dutch excel at maritime construction, logistics, and food technology. We conduct cutting-edge research into polymers and life sciences, and are renowned for our architecture and Dutch design. We make world-class luxury yachts, that - I am sure you will pity me - I cannot afford on my ministerial salary.
Abroad people thinking of The Netherlands often think about cheese, windmills and gloomy weather. Or about the Dutch football squad. But TV is as Dutch as tulips are. We grow it, export it and allow others to enjoy it. Our TV companies are responsible for this success.
The Dutch world of TV - and in a wider sense the media industry - is dynamic and innovative. Tens of TV stations fight for the attention of advertisers and 16 million viewers. We almost enjoy the world's highest rate of broadband penetration. And we were the first country to fully switch to digital TV.
It's a converging and competitive environment. And because of that, a perfect breeding ground for new ideas. It challenges our TV producers to create multimedia formats that appeal to a global audience of all ages.
Just like Hollywood is the centre of the American movie industry, the Hilversum- Amsterdam region is the beating heart of the Dutch TV industry. Behind me, you see a screen grab from Google Earth that shows the area. There may be less silicon and 'bling-bling' than Hollywood, but it's a creative epicentre nevertheless.
Let me show you some of our stars.
The largest player in the Dutch TV industry is Endemol.
Endemol is a global leader in television and other audiovisual entertainment. It is active in 24 countries on five continents. It develops and sells entertainment ideas for the world's leading broadcasters. These include Big Brother (produced in 36 countries), Fear Factor (a prime-time network show in the US) and Deal or No Deal (a popular game show in 26 countries).
The other major player is IdtV, our second-largest developer of concepts in the areas of TV, IP-TV, movies, events and promotion campaigns. It's movie Twin Sisters was nominated for an Academy Award for best foreign-language movie in 2004. It does very well in Germany and works with UK-based ALL3MEDIA to distribute its formats worldwide.
There are many smaller producers that have been successful in the global TV industry. Eyeworks, for example, has produced the National IQ Test, which is broadcast in more than 25 countries.
But also think of Absolutely Independent that sold the format of the film and TV series 'All Stars' - about a soccer team of amateurs - to different countries around the world. And it's not just the Western world that is interested!
Recently the Middle Eastern TV station Al Jazeera bought the Dutch TV series 'Couscous & Cola', which highlights the attitudes of a group of teenagers who have immigrated to Holland. Teenagers from around the world saw this series and reacted passionately. It really struck a chord.
So Dutch TV producers excel at creating formats that surprise, entertain and immerse. But they also produce TV that stirs social debate, both inside and outside our borders.
I am sure you've heard of the Big Donor Show, an amazing stunt pulled by the ever rebellious BNN network. The show featured a terminally ill woman who was to decide which four contestants - each suffering from kidney failure - would get one of her kidneys. Viewers could vote and influence the outcome of the show. Life is the best show on earth, right?
Well, the show turned out to be a practical joke. The participants were actors and the show wanted to stir a public debate on the lack of organ donors. It was outrageous, memorable and, without doubt, a landmark in television.
Less controversial, but socially relevant, are TV formats that focus on issues like sustainability.
We had a TV show called the Environmental Police and several prime-time news programmes, like NOVA, highlight the subject. And we have vibrant on air discussion of sensitive subjects like integration of ethnic minorities, the effects of globalisation and public safety.
I am really proud of what Dutch TV producers have achieved. And MIPCOM shows what aces we still have up our sleeves. Like our tulips, the creative work of our people will be seen and enjoyed by millions of people worldwide.
I am curious to learn what's next. As for the Dutch government, we are here to support and stimulate the media and TV industry. Convergence is changing the landscape and is forcing us to reconsider everything from copyright law to the release of new frequencies. We want an environment that continues to be creative, responsible and commercially successful.
That is why I am pleased to see so many French and Dutch companies here together. The French have earned an enviable reputation as a creative nation, not in the least in the area of TV and movies. Cooperation between French and Dutch TV companies could be very fruitful, from a creative and commercial point of view. So I wish you luck in your creative endeavours!
Thank you.