CANNES, France, Oct 14, 2007 (AFP) - India is rapidly becoming one of the world's media powerhouses, making leaders of the global entertainment business attending last week's MIPCOM audiovisual trade show sit up and take notice.

'The media companies in India have readied themselves, they are now powerful and I think that they are ready to take on the world,' Paul Johnson, television director for the show's organiser Reed MIDEM, told a press conference in this southern French city.

CANNES, France, Oct 12, 2007 (AFP) - 'Think global, act local' has been a corporate catchphrase for years. Now it's catching on across the entertainment business as television goes head on with Internet and mobile phone newcomers to find new ways to win viewers.

Rich Ross, influential head of Disney Channel Worldwide, summed up the need for community content at the MIPCOM audiovisual trade show Friday.

'We're not just interested in exporting US content, we're also committed to producing local content,' he said at a keynote conference.

CANNES , France, Oct 10, 2007 (AFP) - As new eco-themed programmes sprout across TV networks worldwide, media experts say the shows must entertain if they aim to help save the planet.

The need to up the entertainment-factor in shows designed to preserve the environment was highlighted at a conference during the MIPCOM audiovisual trade show taking place in this Riviera city.

Media companies 'have the potential to get people to join in,' said senior BSKyB exec Ben Stimson. 'But we need to inspire them to make the world a better place.'

CANNES, France, Oct 9, 2007 (AFP) - Feel-good family shows where the neighbours decide who's buying the house next door, single mothers seek a soul mate, and kids take over a school for a month, will be lighting up TV screens in the next months.

Kid-power, family-based reality shows and dumbed-down game shows with big cash prizes are due to hit screens around the globe, prominent industry watcher Virginia Mouseler of The Wit said Tuesday at the annual MIPCOM audiovisual trade show.

CANNES, France, Oct 9, 2007 (AFP) - Plans to produce a global movie to promote world peace at a one-off event next year titled 'Pangea Day' are coming together, according to the organisers.

'Movies alone can't change the world but the people who watch them can,' Egyptian-American documentary film-maker Jehane Noujaim, who dreamt up the idea, said at the MIPCOM audiovisual trade fair taking place in this southern French city.

CANNES, France, Oct 8, 2007 (AFP) - Cyber playgrounds for digitally-savvy kids look set to be the cool new space after global broadcasting giant, the BBC, unveiled its children's online virtual world at the MIPCOM audiovisual trade show taking place in southern France.

Children 'don't want passive viewing experiences any more,' Marc Goodchild, who heads the BBC's Children's Interactive and On-Demand, told a MIPCOM conference. 'They want to recreate their playground experiences at home.'

CANNES, France, Oct 8, 2007 (AFP) - Cyber playgrounds for digitally-savvy kids look set to be the cool new space after global broadcasting giant, the BBC, unveiled its children's online virtual world at the MIPCOM audiovisual trade show taking place in southern France.

Children 'don't want passive viewing experiences any more,' Marc Goodchild, who heads the BBC's Children's Interactive and On-Demand, told a MIPCOM conference. 'They want to recreate their playground experiences at home.'

CANNES, France, Oct 4, 2007 (AFP) - It's never been better for television fans worldwide. As TV explodes onto a host of new screens the race is on to find more great programmes to capture an increasingly savvy audience.

And with thousands of TV content buyers due to attend this year's 23rd influential MIPCOM audiovisual trade show kicking off Monday, there should be something new for the world's couch potatoes.

'I believe this is the most exciting time for the content and creative industries,' said Paul Johnson, television director for the show's organisers Reed MIDEM.