MADRID International exhibition and conference organizer Reed Midem has cancelled Amazia 2008.
Envisaged as an Asia-based entertainment content market and conference, Amazias first ever edition was to have taken place Nov. 17-20 in Hong Kong.
Reaction to the Amazia concept has been very positive, Reed Midem chief exec Paul Zilk said Tuesday.
However, many television companies who are vital to the success of Amazia have expressed reluctance about attending Amazia and other television events taking place in Asia during the same time of year, he continued.
Given that, Zilk added, It is likely that the presence of television content buyers and sellers would be diluted at Amazia.
Amazia sought to bow in an already crowded Asian fall TV calendar. The Mipcom TV trade show runs Oct. 13-17 in Cannes. A CASBAA Convention of the Cable and Satellite Broadcasting Assn. of Asia takes place Oct. 28-30 in Hong Kong. Run by Reed Exhibitions, the Asia Television Forum TV programming market has Dec. 10-12 dates, and has booked a large venue at Suntec Singapore.
Amazia had attempted to find a unique niche by focusing on not only TV and animation, but also music and vidgames, with a strong emphasis on multiplatform distribution.
At Mip TV last month, Reed Midem announced Amazia participation stats of 56 exhibiting companies from 20 countries, and buyers from 132 Asian buying companies.
Signed up exhibitors included heavyweights from outside Asia such as Sony Pictures Television International and MGM, plus Endemol.
Amazia had announced a strong presence of top Spanish-language broadcasters, such as Televisa, Telemundo, Venevision and TV Azteca, as well as the crucial backing of Chinas State Administration of Radio, Film and Television (SARFT) and the Shanghai Media Group.
MGM Studios chairman-CEO Harry E. Sloan was to deliver a keynote speech at a two-day Amazia Entertainment Summit, running Nov. 17-18.
But it looks as if Amazia, in a crowded calendar, had not secured a critical mass of critically important companies vital to ensuring a successful event.
Given our commitment to providing a premium quality experience, we cannot risk disappointing our clients, Zilk concluded.
Reed Midem, the organizer of Mip TV, Mipcom, Mipdoc, Mipcom Junior and Midem, is owned by Variety parent, the Reed Elsevier publishing group.
© Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
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