MIPCOM Cannes closed its 2025 edition this week with organizers hailing a pivotal moment for the global television industry, as the creator economy and digital talent moved to the center of the market for the first time.
“This represents the biggest change for MIPCOM in a generation,” said Lucy Smith, director of MIPCOM Cannes and MIP London. “We put the creator economy at the heart of the market, welcomed YouTube to its first major presence, and hosted our first summit on brand-funded content. With the succession of deals announced this week, this feels like a turning point for the industry.”
YouTube’s participation, including a dedicated showcase for creator-led projects, highlighted how the platform’s influence now extends beyond short-form video to large-scale entertainment production. This shift has been reflected in several high-profile creator partnerships, led by old-school TV giants including the BBC, Fremantle and Banijay Entertainment.
Banijay took advantage of the market to unveil its latest initiative in creator-led sports entertainment, launching FC Failliet/Finesse (FCF), a Dutch professional football club co-founded with digital creators Ilias Vietto, Aimane Charbon and Kleine John. The team, developed through Banijay’s Southfields label and NXT division, broadcasts its matches and content online, attracting more than 22 million views to date.
BBC Studios has also expanded its creator-focused operations, announcing new partnerships with Pedro Pina, YouTube’s head of global partnerships, to co-develop content blending native digital formats with the BBC’s production infrastructure. Both deals signaled a broader convergence between traditional production and creator-led storytelling.
In a deal announced on Tuesday, production and distribution giant Fremantle announced a new partnership with social media specialist Viral Nation, teaming up on a series of shows led by YouTube creators.
Beyond digital innovation, the market has seen renewed dynamism in scripted and unscripted sales. Banijay Rights secures key international deals for BBC and HBO co-production Half manRichard Gadd’s follow-up to his Netflix hit Baby reindeerstarring Gadd and Jamie Bell, will be sold to Stan in Australia and Crave in Canada. The six-part drama, produced by Banijay UK’s Mam Tor Productions, follows two men through four decades of friendship and estrangement in Glasgow and is set to debut in 2026.
Radial Entertainment, the new global distributor managing FilmRise and Shout! Studios, announced a major licensing deal for Conanacquiring exclusive U.S. on-demand streaming rights to all 11 seasons of Conan O’Brien’s late-night series. The deal grants Radial Entertainment SVOD, AVOD, EST, TVOD and diginet rights to the show, which originally aired on TBS from 2010 to 2021.
Highlights of the previous MIPCOM deal saw Cineflix Rights secure a new round of deals on darkly comedic capers. Sunny nightswith the series starring Will Forte and D’Arcy Carden already picked up by ITV in Britain, by Bell Media in Canada and ProSieben in Germany, among other deals.
Other major sales activity includes ITV Studios landing format deals for Lonely and strong unscripted sales in catalogs from Lionsgate and Banijay, signaling a rebound in global distribution.
Many new projects have also been announced, including Mattel’s next project. Magic 8 ball Television series, directed by The sixth sense pilot M. Night Shyamalan; a television adaptation of Dana Elazar-Halevi’s bestselling young adult book series Secret mission from Dean Devlin’s Electric Entertainment; And Miraculousa global theatrical feature film based on a hit children’s animated series Miraculous – Tales of Ladybug and Cat Noir, of the Mediawan/ZAG Miraculous Corp. joint venture.
Organizers have confirmed that the 42nd edition of MIPCOM will return from October 12 to 15, 2026, preceded by MIPJunior on October 10 and 11. The second edition of MIP London will take place from February 22-24, 2026, maintaining a focus on multi-genre programming and creator-led content.
