New corporate structure based on program genres increases efficiency

Fred Burcksen, ZDF Enterprises' COO, announced the company's MIPTV line-up today: "MIPTV signals the official international launch of the new operative corporate structure that has been put in place to offer a better, more efficient service to our clients. ZDF Enterprises is now organized in four divisions which are each responsible for a specific genre: ZDFE.junior, ZDFE.drama, ZDFE.factual and ZDFE.entertainment. Each division also handles international projects, from the acquisition of rights up to all the facets of sales and distribution. At MIPTV, we offer high-caliber programs in all genres - from mischievous mermaids to chaotic cooking."

This spring, ZDFE.junior revisits a winning formula that includes mermaids, sun and adventure: “Mako Mermaids” (26 x 26’ + 1 x 90’), a fun new series for youths by Jonathan M. Shiff (H2O – Just Add Water). In addition to mischievous teen mermaids, there’s also a merman to spice things up. Also on the kids’ agenda is the third season of “Dance Academy” (13 x 26’ new episodes), when the young hopefuls realize their dream of dancing – or choose a new direction in life. The CBBC coproduction “Wolfblood” (26 x 26’) continues to attract buyers in search of werewolf/vampire themes for tweens and teens. The animated “Wendy” series (26 x 26’), in turn, aims at younger girls who love stories about horses, friendship and romance.

In ZDFE.drama, always in demand are good drama series with a light touch, like “House Husbands” (10 x 60’), a Melbourne-set dramedy about four modern families with one thing in common: the men stay home to raise the kids. On a more serious note, our collection of Scandinavian crime series continues to grow with “Dicte” (5 x 90’ / 10 x 45’), in which an intrepid woman reporter not only write about crime, but investigates as well. The universally popular Inspector Sarah Lund is also back in action in the rainswept Copenhagen of “The Killing,” now in its third season (10 x 60’ / 5 x 116’).

While Gillian Anderson pursues a brilliant serial killer in Belfast-based “The Fall” (5 x 60’ / 3 x 90’), the TV movie “Cybergeddon” (1 x 90’) pits an FBI agent against a ruthless cybercriminal. Other drama highlights at MIPTV include “Reef Doctors” (13 x 45’), a family series about a clinic that serves Australia’s Great Barrier Reef; “Lost in Borneo” (1 x 90’), an eco-drama from the jungle of Borneo; and “Death of a Pilgrim” (2 x 115’ / 4 x 58’), a thriller about the search for the assassin of Sweden’s Prime Minister Olaf Palme in 1986.

ZDFE.factual's library continues to grow at a brisk pace. Topping this spring’s new offerings is the six-part documentary “Last Secrets of the Third Reich” (6 x 50’), which features previously inaccessible archival material and alters the way we see the Nazi era. Just in time to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the beginning of World War I in 1914 comes “Doomsday” (3 x 50’), which incorporates newly rediscovered b&w footage that was meticulously colorized. America’s response to terrorism is the central theme of a trio of documentaries on the CIA (“CIA Confidential,” 2 x 50’), the National Security Agency (“Inside the NSA,” 1 x 50’) and on how New York City deals with the threat of terrorism (“Counterterror NYC,” 1 x 90’).

Also awaiting buyers at MIPTV are “Cosmic Encounters” (1 x 50’), the first TV documentary shot in space in 3D; the story of Curiosity, the “Martian Mega Rover” (1 x 50’); and the adventures of the sailor who inspired Daniel Defoe in “Robinson Crusoe’s Treasure Island” (1 x 50’). Exciting new additions to our “tough-guy” factual series include “Bomb Hunters” (10 x 50’), which follows the real-life adventures of daredevil teams who must detect and dispose of buried munitions that failed to explode; also requiring a steady hand and nerves of steel are the “Swamp Men” (1 x 50’) who make close encounters with crocodiles in Florida. Eagerly anticipated is Season 4 of “Alaska State Troopers” (20 x 50’ new), Season 3 of the prison series “Hard Time” (8 x 50’ new) and Season 2 of the gas and oil hunter saga from Canada’s North, “Licence to Drill” (6 x 50’). In “Navajo Cops,” (7 x 50’) we join the specially trained police officers who must keep the peace in the largest Indian reservation in North America. Whoever is looking for a light documentary series can’t go wrong with the “Rocket City Rednecks” (20 x 30’), the exploits of a group of real-life redneck geniuses who apply backwoods know-how to big questions in science, technology and engineering.

Heading our roster of popular formats in our new Entertainment division is “Wanna Bet?” (1 x 186’), an exuberant mix of talk, game and variety elements held together by a charismatic host, now with a refurbished concept that mingles feats, dares and celebrities in an even more exciting way. “Quiz Show” (1 x 120’), as the name suggests, requires good general knowledge, as well as cleverness, strength and endurance.

In ZDFE.entertainment's “Your Song” (16 x 25’ + 1 x 100’), aspiring young songwriting talents up to the age of 18 get a chance to present their original songs to a TV audience. Also for kids are “Challenge” (1 x 28’), which combines the online world with classical TV entertainment; and “Web vs. Celeb” (1 x 25’), a webcam show with a celebrity.

With food formats being highly popular on TV today, ZDFE.entertainment is proud of “Money Meals” (1 x 55’), in which a three-course meal must be prepared in 45 minutes; “Kitchen Battle” (1 x 45’), in which six ambitious amateur cooks engage in lively competition at the stove; and “Lichter! Lafer! Luscious!” (1 x 45’), where celebrities learn the tricks of expert cooking with German star chefs Horst Lichter and Johann Lafer.