Big shots and big deals make for a merry market.

Once again, the annual MIPCOM market, which ended in mid-October and was held at the Palais des Festivals in Cannes, France, has been hailed by Reed Midem as its biggest TV market ever. The 23rd edition of the event drew a total of 13,371 participants, a seven percent increase over last year's market.

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News events trampled all over each other. Industry superstars were forced to split the spotlight and business deals blossomed, aided by the very weak U.S. dollar--and all that happened in just five days (out of a seven-day market, that is, if one considers Mipcom Jr., the children's program market that precedes MIPCOM, to truly be a part of it).

"This historic success for MIPCOM demonstrates the importance of content in our industry," said Paul Johnson, director of Television at Reed Midem. "Numerous factors contributed to making the 23rd edition break records, including the increased presence of companies in the technology, mobile and advertising sectors."

At MIPCOM, NBC-Universal announced that the NBC network in the U.S. acquired a new series based on the classic "Robinson Crusoe" masterpiece by Daniel Defoe. The show was produced by U.K.-based Power with Universal Media Studios. "One of our key strategies is to look abroad for great production partners," said Ben Silverman, co-chairman, NBC Entertainment and Universal Media Studios. "This was an opportunity that made perfect sense for us." Justin Bodle, founder and CEO of Power, commented: "This deal is the first for nearly 40 years where a British producer has received an order directly from a U.S. network. It is exciting to be producing a network show for NBC, and to be working with Ben and his creative team." Added Power's Chris Philip: "Crusoe will be a valuable addition to our 2008 slate and to our library for years to come."

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Disney-ABC International Television Latin America (DAIT-LA) inked a two-year agreement with Venezuela's Venevision. "We are very happy that Venevision, the leading channel in Venezuela, will maximize our presence and our brand locally," said Fernando Barbosa," senior vp of DAIT-LA. Disney Latin America also struck a deal with Discovery Networks Latin America/US Hispanic for shows such as Dirt and Six Degrees, which will soon air on the People+Arts network. "We trust our series will generate solid ratings for our partners at Discovery," said Henri Ringel, vp, DAIT Latin America. In addition, DAIT closed a deal with Latin American Internet company Terra. "This is a hugely significant agreement since it reflects an important step forward," commented DAIT-LA's president Diego Lerner, since Terra is now offering Disney-branded and non-branded content to its TV users in Latin America.

Argentina's Telefe International and Colombia's RCN both announced the opening of offices in Russia through which they hope to increase their presences in the territory. The offices will be run by Anastasia Korchagina, a Russian specialist who has a successful track record in Russian television. "Being in Russia will allow us a closer vision of the needs of such a competitive market," said Alejandro Parra, director of International Business for Telefe.

In addition, Canada's largest private broadcaster, CTV, together with 19 Entertainment and dick clark productions, announced that they would produce and broadcast a Canadian version of Emmy Award-winning show So You Think You Can Dance. "The joy of dance is at the center of So You Think You Can Dance Canada," said Susanne Boyce, president, Creative, Content and Channels for CTV. "But it's also about the passion and energy of young dancers from across Canada and their dreams to excel in this art form."

Just one day prior to the start of the market, the third edition of the Telenovelas Screenings was held, and many of the telenovoleros remain pleased with the relatively new event. "We were very happy with the Screenings," said Guadalupe D'Agostino, vice president and general manager of RCTV International. "A lot of people from Europe and Asia took the time to see our product," added Telemundo's Karen Barroeta.

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MIPCOM 2007 also offered a variety of unique events. This year's market featured a slew of high-profile keynotes, including speeches from CBS Corp. president Les Moonves, Televisa's Emilio Acarraga Jean, United Artists' CEO Paula Wagner and the aforementioned Ben Silverman from NBC.

"The international marketplace is vital to our survival," said Wagner, Tom Cruise's longtime producing partner, before a packed house in the Grand Auditorium of the Palais. Silverman concurred, saying that the global marketplace is "a huge part of our growth strategy."

In fact, before joining NBC, Silverman had a hand in bringing both The Office (once a British comedy) and Ugly Betty (a series based on Colombia's Betty la Fea) to U.S. audiences. "Our titles are built for the globe," he said. At the end of the day, it doesn't matter where something comes from, he told attendees. All that really matters is: "where are the best ideas?"

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Moonves, who was also named MIPCOM's Personality of the Year for his contributions to the global entertainment business, tooted CBS's horn, saying that CSI: Crime Scene Investigation has become a $2 billion treasure for the company. And, after praising CBS Paramount International TV's president Armando Nunez Jr. for the good job he does, Moonves told an audience of TV execs fearful of new platforms that: "We, the broadcasters, are the guys who feed the world what it wants to watch. They're always going to need us." He continued: "Wireless is useless if hitless."

During his keynote, Televisa's top executive, Emilio Azcarraga Jean--whom Reed Midem's Paul Johnson called "the turnaround king" for remaking Televisa into a company that boasts profits of over 50 percent and exports content all over the globe--spoke about the importance of finding and maintaining partnerships in the broadcasting arena, and stated that Televisa had recently entered into an agreement to produce a novela in Russia, and has two new ventures in Indonesia and China in the works, as well.

"We have the means and we know how to exploit a property," he said. "We're a content provider, so we're looking into going into different markets with established partners."

Next up for Azcarraga Jean are plans to make Televisa's telenovelas available in English-language versions in America. "The Spanish population is exploding in the U.S.," he said. "We believe we can be in English-speaking households in the near future."

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During the traditional VideoAge breakfast meeting, editor Dom Serafini announced the all-new "Independents' Day," which will be held at L.A. Screenings 2008. The event will be a full day of general screenings, meals, conferences and parties, set to replicate the studios' L.A. Screenings environment and will be held the day before the start of the studios' own screenings. According to Serafini, "This is the only way we can make the L.A. Screenings viable for the independents. After this year's disappointing L.A. Screenings results for many independents, it is important that the sector evolve, or it could spell the end of the indies' participation."

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NATPE has already announced its co-sponsorship of the "Independents' Day" luncheon for buyers and sellers. Brasil TV Forum is considering sponsorship of the breakfast, and the Florida Media Market will be organizing a seminar.

This MIPCOM also saw a number of changes, including Disney-ABC International TV's move from the Palais to a tent next to FremantleMedia's. There, Disney took the opportunity to introduce its new global president, Benjamin N. Pyne. Telemundo took over Disney's vacated spot. E! Entertainment changed its location (this time, it occupied the area left empty by Alliance Atlantis, which seemed to have disappeared), as well as its name--it's now Comcast International Media Group. Canada's CHUM TV was also put to rest. Its program catalog is now handled by CTV's EPI, which operated from beneath the Discovery umbrella.

For their part, the Italians introduced RAI Trade's new CEO, Carlo Nardello, along with its new fare, while Mediaset announced the sale of nine of its series, and noted that special attention was paid to Teaching the Future and The Squad, as well as Christmas movie What if Santa.

Brazil's Globo built up its booth to resemble a digital forest in an effort to promote its new miniseries, Amazania, and invited the series' author, Gloria Perez, to participate in a Q & A with the press.

Germany introduced a new company, Studio 100, headed by industry veteran Patrick Elmendorff. Israel's Dori Media presented Jose Escalante as Dori Media America's new CEO. And Canada introduced an up-and-coming company, Qc Entertainment.

On the seminar front, Indian TV Day was basically ignored and as for the day devoted to Green TV, CABLE-ready's Gary Lico said it best: "Every time I see a green TV-tagged show, I do the ecological, sensible thing and turn the TV off."

MIPCOM also set records in terms of the number of participating companies, number of exhibitors and countries represented. Roughly 4,585 firms from 105 countries were present at the Palais, compared to 4,216 companies from 98 countries in 2006--an increase of nine percent. The number of exhibiting companies rose 10 percent to 1,801, up from 1,641 companies last year. In addition, international buyers also turned out in greater numbers, with 4,242 acquisition execs this year, up from 3,847 in 2006.