FRAPA WELCOMES INFLUX OF TURKISH AND KOREAN MEMBERS
- Spike in FRAPA membership reflects strength of emerging territories
- MIP Formats based mini summit expanded to meet the demand
FRAPA, the Format Recognition and Protection Association, has reported a marked increase in new members from emerging format territories, with Turkey and South Korea leading the charge. The two countries now represent 15 % of FRAPA’s total worldwide membership, with format registrations via the association’s Format Registration Service seeing a 10% increase in the last 12 months.
For the past 20 years, the breakdown of FRAPA’s membership by country has closely tracked the leading format-exporting markets, notably the US, the UK and the Netherlands. However, a knock-on effect of the international market’s increasing openness to foreign-language drama is a growing demand for non-scripted programming from non-traditional format territories.
More than 20 Korean format companies are represented within FRAPA by the Korea Creative Content Agency (KOCCA), a government body that oversees and co-ordinates the promotion of the Korean content industry.
Prominent among FRAPA’s Turkish members is film and TV production company Sera Film Services, whose recent hits include the Turkish remake of South Korean format Better Late Than Never (Grandpas Over Flowers). A long-standing FRAPA member, Sera Film is currently celebrating 30 years in the industry. The company’s founder and general manager Idil Belli said: ‘Sera Film is one of the pioneers of the format industry in Turkey we believe there’s a clear need for an organisation that aims to help and navigate industry regulation. We’ve been a member for a quite a few years and of course we welcome increased numbers from Turkey – a very creative country with a young talent base. The business between Korea and Turkey has led to further opportunities in other Asian territories such as Japan and the Philippines – as we increase our global reach, FRAPA’s support becomes ever more important.’
Jan Salling, co-chair of FRAPA and head of BBC Studios Nordic Productions, said: “The spike in our membership from two of the hottest format territories of the moment — South Korea and Turkey — is a measure of the value placed on FRAPA’s registration and membership services by format creators in emerging markets. Joining the FRAPA community not only opens international doors, but it also provides real protection in a global market where IP infringement remains a very real threat. Cultural exchange is on the rise and our industry is leading the way. These are exciting times but, without mutual respect, trust and shared values, the formats industry will struggle to thrive.”
In recognition of its rapidly expanding membership, FRAPA is augmenting its annual members meeting at MIPTV in Cannes with a ‘mini summit’. The event, which is free to MIPFormat delegates, will feature sessions on key trends and a look at the wish lists of the world’s format buyers and commissioners.
FRAPA is also seeking to provide more networking opportunities to its increasingly diverse membership. In line with its mission to make the format industry more sustainable, it is also set to upgrade its on and offline resources.
