S. Korean TV programs win large contracts in France, Hong Kong fairs

SEOUL, April 28 (Yonhap) -- South Korean companies have signed deals worth US$11.16 million to export their broadcasting content at MIPTV 2016, the world's biggest TV and digital content market, early this month, the government said Thursday.

The combined sales of South Korean broadcasting content were up 16 percent from last year's event according to the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism and its affiliate the Korea Creative Content Agency.

The KBS 2TV military-romance TV series "Descendants of the Sun" was sold to Israel during the event in addition to some 30 other countries that forged deals. "Oh My Venus" and "The Return of Superman" of KBS, and "Pretty Woman" of MBC were sold to Middle Eastern countries such as Iran, Iraq, Israel and Jordan.

MBC's upcoming drama "W" was exported to the Philippines even before its local release scheduled for the second half of this year, the authorities said.

Some 11,000 visitors, 4,200 buyers and 1,550 exhibitors took part in this year's MIPTV held on April 4-7 in Cannes, France, according to the agency. For South Korea, 34 broadcasting content and animation companies joined.

The government also said that 23 Korean broadcasting firms inked export deals worth $12.74 million during the Filmart, an international TV and film market held on March 14-17 in Hong Kong.

sshim@yna.co.kr
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