Lucy Smith Shares Insights on UK Content Week’s Role in TV and the Future of MIP London

EXCLUSIVE: MIP London Looks to the Future Amid Growing International Interest

As London prepares for its significant international TV week, Lucy Smith, director of MIP London, expressed her enthusiasm for the city and its potential to host pivotal television events.

Smith described next week’s London TV Screenings and MIP London events as two of the "three big moments" in the annual TV distribution calendar, alongside the LA Screenings in May and MIPCOM in Cannes in October. She noted that MIP London complements the sales-oriented focus of the London TV Screenings.

“There is definitely a desire from international industry execs to be part of this,” Smith said. “When you talk to people in the industry about big moments in the calendar, it is now February in London, the L.A. Screenings in May, and MIPCOM in October. They want in on it, and we give them a way to join.”

With approximately 1,600 executives from 74 countries signed up for MIP London, Smith and her team at RX France are at a crossroads. Their two-year contract with the Savoy Hotel and the adjacent IET London conference center concludes after this year’s event. Speculation abounds regarding whether MIP London will continue in its current location, shift to a new venue, or cease altogether.

“We will always look at the event and see how it goes and what happens, and what the feedback is from clients when we come out of it,” Smith stated. “Right now, the focus is going to be on delivering the best possible event for MIP London. It will probably take us a few weeks to finalize and decide any decisions for the following year.”

Smith acknowledged that scheduling decisions may be influenced by other events in the city. “We had an initial two-year agreement, but we’re also aware we’re alongside the London TV Screenings, so the ball is not necessarily in our court anyways,” she added.

MIP London is set to commence on Sunday and will run for three days, partially overlapping with the more established London TV Screenings, which features over 40 individual company events this year.

“We’re bringing in all those areas that are not covered by the London TV Screenings,” Smith highlighted, referring to new sessions on podcasting, microdramas, creator content, branded content, and a kids’ content summit for 2026.

Despite some market observers questioning the value of MIP London—launched last year following the conclusion of the annual April confab MIPTV—Smith believes that the event’s focus on emerging entertainment formats can elevate the entire industry.

“We’re trying to be complementary,” she said. “We moved the dates forward a day to be more concentrated in the early part of the week so we’re not head-on with the Screenings. It’s not a competitor event.”

Keynote speakers at MIP London will include environmentalist and broadcaster Chris Packham, who, along with Sofia Pineda Ochoa, will present their film Greenwashed. Other highlights include discussions featuring Sidemen Entertainment head Victor Bengtsson and podcasting insights from YouTube’s Pedro Pina and Tony Pastor of Goalhanger.

Smith remarked on last year’s excitement generated by keynote speaker David Beckham, noting that “this year we have big moments in each key area.”

State of the Market

The landscape of international TV conferences often reflects the broader distribution market. Smith acknowledged ongoing challenges in the industry, suggesting that MIP London could facilitate connections across various sectors amid these shifts.

“What everybody is looking for are opportunities to meet with different parts of the industry and explore new ways of collaborating,” she explained. “That’s what we bring to the market—opportunities to invest in new areas and engage with potential partners."

Smith added, “Content is out there, and people are bringing it to market. The London TV Screenings schedule is jam-packed, and we’re talking to buyers while matching clients. There is still a lot of business, and there are moments in the year where it comes to the forefront, which is precisely what is happening now.”