Upbeat mood among buyers reflected in early, brisk sales

This spring’s major TV industry trade fair MIP TV in Cannes (1 to 4 April) has gotten off to a very positive start for ZDF Enterprises, with brisk sales and great interest from buyers. With the centennial of the sinking of the Titanic coming up soon, the documentary on the real heroes of the ill-fated ship, “Saving the Titanic” (1 x 90’), is still steaming ahead, as can be seen in sales to Canada’s CBC, France’s Planète, and Slovakia’s STV, which, along with Croatia’s HRT and Austria’s ORF, also acquired the drama miniseries “Titanic” (2 x 90’).

Factual reality continues to generate great interest among buyers, with Canada’s Shaw Media purchasing the third season of “Alaska State Troopers” (13 x 60’) and France’s Planète the “Delta Divers” (2 x 45’). The rights for Werner Herzog’s high-profile, award-winning programs on death-row prisoners “Into the Abyss” (1 x 90’) and “Death Row” (4 x 60’) have been secured in Italy by Discovery Italia, and acquired by Belgium’s VRT and Discovery Nederland. “Death Row” has also been picked up by Poland’s Ale Kino/Canal+. Contracts for other packages of documentaries have been inked with TV3 Catalonia and France 5.

A mainstay of ZDF Enterprises’ drama portfolio is crime series, and buyers are being tempted not only by the nail-bitingly exciting new Danish-Swedish series “The Bridge” (5 x 110’) (Ale Kino/Canal+ Poland), but also by the original top-selling Danish mystery series “The Killing,” whose first season (20 x 60’) went to Italy’s Rai 4 and Croatia’s HRT. Australia’s SBS secured the rights to another Scandinavian crime series, “The Protectors” (2nd season, 5 x 100’).

Among ZDF Enterprises’ colorful palette of children’s programs, particular interest is being generated by the latest Jonathan M. Shiff production “Lightning Point” (26 x 26’), which was bought by Portugal’s SIC, Finland’s YLE, Hungary’s MTVA and Turner Broadcasting System Europe Ltd. for German-speaking Europe.

Next to sales of the Australian series “Dance Academy”(52 x 26’) to Slovakia’s STV and Hungary’s MTVA, the detailed, appealing website to “Dance Academy” was also acquired by Nickelodeon USA. As to animation, the 3D-animated “Jungle Book” (1st season: 52 x 11’) was purchased for Austria by ORF and the 2nd season (52 x 11’) by Turner Broadcasting System Europe Ltd. For German-speaking Europe, along with “Roary, the Racing Car” (52 x 10’).