Press release from SPAA Conference
SPAA announced today that a Kids TV Market will be introduced to its program at this year’s Conference to be held from 17 to 20 November at the Westin Hotel in Sydney.
“With the introduction of the Market, the Kids TV strand is starting to hit its stride. The Market will offer Australian kids producers tangible business and networking opportunities. The international marketplace is keen to attend and that’s a good sign,” commented Gaylee Butler, SPAA Conference Director.
The Kids Market is designed to allow producers of children’s content to meet with local and international Children’s Television Executives in one-on-one meetings. The 20-minute meetings are pre-booked and provide an opportunity to discuss business and build relationships with industry executives in Licensing, Merchandising, Distribution, DVD and Consumer Products, Toy Companies, DVD and Consumer Products Executives.
The Kids strand kicks off with international guests confirmed to date: Nick Wilson, Five UK; Kay Benbow, CBeebies UK; Bob Higgins, Wildbrain USA, and Jules Borkent, Nickelodeon USA. Industry veteran of children’s TV in Canada, Ken Faier, President of the Vancouver based Nerds Corps Entertainment, will also be attending the conference. Ken was the lucky winner at this year’s Australian Independent Children’s Producers function held in New York during the Kidscreen
Conference. This is an annual networking event for Australian kids producers sponsored by SPAA.
The Kids POW WOW returns again this year. The format, which consists of 30-minute sessions, allows delegates to meet with some of Europe’s most influential players together with Australian producers and commissioners. These sessions allow delegates private time with some of the industry’s top leaders in children’s television and provide an opportunity for building new business relationships. 7 Network’s Ready Steady Pitch will round out the kids strand with a 5-minute timeslot designed for delegates to privately pitch their projects to children’s network commissioning executives. This arena provides one-on-one time where delegates can share an idea and receive feedback on their pitch or project.
SPAA Conference, 17 – 20 November 2009
The Westin Hotel, Sydney, New South Wales
www.spaa.org.au/conference