Korea to open largest TV content market next month

SEOUL, April 8 (Yonhap) -- South Korea's largest television programming content
market is set to open in the southern port city of Busan next month, with 72
broadcasters from 19 countries having completed registration so far, event
organizers said Wednesday.
The upcoming Busan Contents Market (BCM), established in 2007, will run for three
days from May 13, with the aim of making the event an "indispensable market" for
TV content around the world. Firms looking to participate in the event will be
allowed to register through April 17.
Major television and film companies, including Britain's BBC, Japan's NHK and the
United States' Sony Pictures and Warner Brothers, have already completed
registration, with many more throughout Asia and Europe also joining, organizers
said.
Up to 117 local companies, including major broadcasters KBS, MBC, SBS and the
Corea Drama Production Association, will be participating.
Last year's BCM attracted over 300 companies and drew more than 1,000
professional participants from all over the world. The value of reported content
transactions amounted to more than US$11 million, while co-production and
co-investment sales reached $30 million.
Organizers hope the BCM will become one of three major markets in the field of TV
content transactions and purchases of overseas programming by 2011.
Financed by Korea's culture ministry and the city of Busan, the event will be
held at the Haeundae Grand Hotel. For more information and registration, visit
www.ibcm.tv.
hayney@yna.co.kr
(END)