On behalf of TVMAS and ONLY TELENOVELAS, Fiction & Formats magazines, we would like to specially acknowledge those who believed in this initiative when back in 2003 we held the first event in Miami, many of whom continue to participate every year. It is important to mention that with the Second Summit in Barcelona, thanks to our joint efforts, we managed to bring up in mass media the boom of telenovelas in an important market like Spain, which had been stagnant. The major networks were present expressing why they were not interested in telenovelas, and the debate focused precisely on the fact that they did not satisfy the audience or programmers. Today we see telenovelas that have burst, and have recovered rating and share in the market – examples of the path that Machos, Pasión de gavilanes and other telenovelas followed before winning over their space on the screens of this country.

And this is how, with your will and participation, not only markets are recovered, but there are also reflections on the business, improvements in product quality and opening of new markets. Last year we held our Third Summit again in this country, in this same room, here in Madrid. The debate focused on globalization and the opportunities that Eastern European and Arab markets offer, not only for telenovelas but also for other fiction contents. Another main subject was the digital blackout in Europe and its incidence in the development of the business.

This year we will go in depth on the powerful business of fiction formats and how to encourage canned products’ acquisitions, as well as the future challenges posed by new distribution platforms. The purpose is that during these two days we discuss the business of formats in greater detail and foster diligently the global positioning of telenovelas and short and long series.

According to the program, we have a distinguished panel of speakers from different sectors connected with the fiction business and coming from various parts of the world. We will thus try to generate an atmosphere of analysis between the speakers and the audience on aspects as vital as: markets, trends, production and programming schemes, and business models. Specially exploring the many highways offered today by this great and wonderful business. Let’s hope that this Fourth Summit leaves us the best judgment for the adoption of industry and development policies, and allows us to explore the main factors that can contribute to a better working order for this sector of the entertainment business.

We thank all companies and business people that have made this Summit possible since 2003.