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"A buoyant mood among TV executives at the MIPCOM sales event has suggested positive times ahead for the industry, although broadcasters are still favouring safer bets. Coming to a close yesterday, the four-day conference in Cannes, France, saw top TV buyers and representatives from around the world coming together to discuss new properties and acquisitions. According to reports, this year&amp;#039;s event enjoyed a high turnout and also a generally positive mood among participants, despite the current economic downturn. Digital Rights Group boss Christina Willoughby told AFP: &amp;quot;It seems the economic climate for broadcasting is picking up. The mood is buoyant and people are positive and more upbeat compared with the spring show.&amp;quot; However, Willoughby cautioned that &amp;quot;everything is ratings driven&amp;quot;, with buyers wanting to see if a show has already worked, and where, before making a commitment. Feelgood programmes such as family entertainment and comedy all proved popular with buyers due to a belief that viewers want to be cheered up during the tough times.  Bernard Villegas, director of consultancy of media information agency The WIT, revealed that reality TV is no longer as popular as it once was, but has instead changed focus.  &amp;quot;Reality TV no longer promises the moon and the stars,&amp;quot; he told AFP. &amp;quot;Instead, it addresses issues people are really concerned about and tries to come up with solutions.&amp;quot; A survey conducted by The WIT showed that talent contests are still the most popular reality TV formats around the world, including recent UK launches Move Like Michael Jackson on BBC Three and Virgin1&amp;#039;s Restaurant In Our Living Room. &amp;quot;Reality TV is today&amp;#039;s staple audiovisual fare and children have grown up used to that,&amp;quot; said Villegas. &amp;quot;And now that everyone is even more focused on budgets, the decision to go for expensive fiction or a much less expensive reality show is a foregone conclusion.&amp;quot; ITV Global Studios has also been at the event touting two new properties - a remake of The Prisoner and police drama Identity - along with its long-standing favourites, such as Coronation Street and Marple.  Speaking to Digital Spy, ITV Studios&amp;#039; director for global TV distribution Tobi de Graaff said that the company feels &amp;quot;very positive&amp;quot; about the future of its global operation. &amp;quot;Internationally, broadcasters are taking less and less risks on launching new shows and ideas. We provide them with proven and trusted shows which have been successful in one or more of the toughest TV markets in the world, but we also supply them with information about how best to market the show and when to schedule it,&amp;quot; he explained. &amp;quot;Good examples of this are our recent successes with Come Dine With Me, which is now produced in 16 countries, including Australia, Germany and France, as well as dramas like Lewis, which became a primetime hit this summer in Germany and France.&amp;quot; "^^<http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema#string>
<http://www.digitalspy.com/media/news/a181317/mipcom-brings-buoyant-mood-to-industry/>