2024 LA Screenings Report
A debrief from the Independent Screenings held at the Fairmont Century City.
The 2024 trend of uncertainty carried over into the usually bustling LA Screenings. This year's event was smaller, with fewer attendees roaming the halls. The lobby and bar weren't the usual mob scene, but there was still a strong presence from South American and Turkish companies. It was great to see KOCCA and the group of Korean broadcasters and production companies, even though their Korean showcase from past years was absent.
We were excited to be part of the Japanese contingent, which was attending for the first time. Major broadcasters like TV Asahi, Kansai Media, and TV Tokyo showcased their bold, innovative unscripted formats that have put Japan on the formats map. Buyers were especially interested in Japanese drama remakes, which are gaining serious momentum. Perhaps the success of "Shogun" (not to mention "One Piece," "The Boy and the Heron," and others) has sparked wider interest in Japanese-centric content.
US networks and streamers were still present, but their priorities have shifted. Fewer sought original unscripted content, with many more interested in drama remake rights for the US market. Everyone's looking for creative solutions to finance projects. "Co-production" and "co-development" – buzzwords in recent years – are finally translating into action. The media landscape is evolving, forcing everyone to find new partnerships and make new deals.
Buyer preferences continued the retro trend, but with a few twists. Young adult (YA) content remains highly sought after, and notably, the procedural drama is back. Buyers were actively hunting for procedural dramas with remake rights, including those in the usual medical or legal settings. Thrillers saw less demand than in previous years. Many buyers believe viewers will increasingly want upbeat, escapist content to counterbalance the negativity in the news.
There were fewer calls for large-scale, purely physical competition shows. More buyers expressed interest in game shows with interactive elements and a return to studio settings. This contrasts with previous markets where outdoor settings were favored. With US audiences drawn to shows featuring celebrities, producers were eager to find formats adaptable to include them as contestants or players.
Next on our agenda are INSCA, the unscripted format alliance in Seoul, and then the Asian Creative Academy Awards roundtable in Manila.
As always, we'll share our insights from these events to keep you up-to-date on the Asian TV landscape.