Three senior BBC and BBC Studios executives will take the stage at MIPCOM Cannes 2026 to discuss how major entertainment properties can grow from original ideas into global franchises capable of travelling across platforms, territories and generations.
Kate Phillips, Chief Content Officer at the BBC, Zai Bennett, BBC Studios CEO and Chief Creative Officer Global Content, and Shelley Macintyre, BBC Studios CEO Brands & Licensing, will participate in the headline session From Idea to Global IP: Building Brands That Last.
The conversation will take place on October 13 from 12:00 to 12:30 in the Grand Auditorium, during MIPCOM Cannes, which runs from October 12 to 15, 2026 at the Palais des Festivals.
Using franchises including Bluey, Doctor Who, Dancing with the Stars and BBC Earth as case studies, the executives will examine how successful intellectual property develops beyond its original format and reaches international audiences.
From content development to global franchises
The session will look at the full lifecycle of entertainment IP, starting with original development and continuing through international expansion, licensing and brand extensions.
Another focus will be the role of fan communities in extending the life of established properties. As audiences increasingly move between television, streaming platforms and other forms of entertainment, rights holders must find ways to develop brands that remain relevant across different markets and generations.
The discussion will also consider how broadcasters, producers and distributors can identify new opportunities around existing and emerging IP while continuing to support the storytellers responsible for creating it.
For MIPCOM, the topic reflects a wider shift in the international content business. Strong intellectual property increasingly provides companies with opportunities that extend beyond traditional programme sales, including licensing, consumer products, partnerships and new forms of audience engagement.
Lucy Smith, Director of MIPCOM CANNES and MIPJUNIOR, said that building enduring global brands has become both a major challenge and an opportunity for the entertainment industry. She pointed to the BBC’s portfolio of internationally recognised franchises as an example of how intellectual property can be created, expanded and sustained over time.
MIPCOM expands its 2026 conference programme
The BBC session forms part of an expanded conference programme at MIPCOM Cannes 2026, bringing together executives, creators and innovators to discuss the trends and partnerships shaping the international entertainment business.
Alongside its conference programme, MIPCOM remains primarily a global content market, connecting studios, broadcasters, streaming platforms, distributors, creators, brands and technology companies.
According to the organisers, the 2026 edition will bring together professionals from more than 100 countries, reinforcing Cannes as a meeting point for companies looking to distribute content, develop partnerships and build entertainment properties for international audiences.
The BBC conversation adds a strong franchise-building focus to this year’s programme, highlighting how the value of successful content increasingly depends not only on reaching viewers, but also on creating intellectual property that can continue to grow across markets, formats and generations.
Continue reading: MIPJUNIOR Broadens 2026 Focus to Tweens, Teens and Digital-First IP
