SEÑAL NEWS 212 | SERIESMANIA 2024

FIFTH SEASON DEVELOPS A MULTI-PRONGED APPROACH

SERIES MANIA 2024, AN ESTABLISHED GLOBAL SPOT

INTER MEDYA FEATURES

SERIES MANIA 2024

$30.3

BILLION DOLLARS WAS THE GLOBAL BOX OFFICE REVENUES REACHED DURING 2023, ACCORDING TO AMPERE ANALYSIS RECENT FIGURES.

BARBENHEIMER

BBC STUDIOS TAKES BRITBOX INTERNATIONAL FULL OWNERSHIP

30%

WAS THE INCREASE OF THE GLOBAL BOX OFFICE REVENUES LAST YEAR.

17%

BOX OFFICE REVENUES ARE STILL 17% BELOW THE MARKET’S PRE-PANDEMIC VALUE IN 2019.

This phenomenon, which featured lively online engagement and double-feature screenings, helped Warner Bros. Discovery’s “Barbie” and “Universal’s Oppenheimer” generate a total of $2.4 billion globally between them.

In a historic deal, BBC Studios acquired the entirety of BritBox International, a specialized British content platform. The arrangement includes the acquisition of a 50% stake in British network ITV, estimated at £225 million. BritBox International is a streaming service specialized in British content scripted content. The service has grown subscribers by over 300% in the

past four years, surpassing 3.75 million subscribers, and has an enterprise value of around £500 million. •

NICO HOFMANN AND JAN MOJTO JOIN FORCES

Nico Hofmann, the longtime head of UFA, joins forces with Beta Film CEO Jan Mojto and producer Jan Wünschmann to produce German and European series and films for the international market. Hofmann and Mojto are connected by half a lifetime of production. With “The Tunnel,” the duo pioneered the TV event genre in Germany in the early 2000s, and they worked together in two dozen television and film productions. •

BANIJAY UK ACQUIRED A STAKE IN IMMOVABLE STUDIOS

Banijay UK acquired part of Immovable Studios, co-founded by hiphop artist, bestselling author, and social entrepreneur Akala and his long-time business partner and talent manager Chanelle Newman. The investment, part of the Banijay UK Growth Fund, and includes a first look with distributor Banijay Rights. The business is committed to growing its slate, focusing on premium scripted and non-scripted content. It has a pipeline of developments, IP options, and talent partnerships with a range of global talent, networks and platforms. •

REDBIRD IMI BUYS

ALL3MEDIA IN A RECORDBREAKING TRANSACTION

RedBird IMI has agreed to acquire television production and distribution company All3Media from its joint owners, Warner Bros. Discovery, Inc., and Liberty Global Ltd. for £1.15 Billion. Jeff Zucker, CEO of RedBird IMI, will become the chairman of the All3Media board. Jane Turton (CEO) and Sara Geater (COO) will continue to lead the company for RedBird IMI. This is the fifth investment for RedBird IMI and its largest to date. All3Media, based in London, has 50 production labels, including Studio Lambert, Raw, Two Brothers Pictures, Silverback Films, New Pictures, and Neal Street Productions. •

FREMANTLE TO ACQUIRE ASACHA MEDIA GROUP

Fremantle has entered into a conditional purchase agreement to acquire the global production studio Asacha Media Group and its portfolio of labels based in France, Italy, and the United Kingdom. The deal will see Fremantle acquire Asacha from Oaktree Capital Management, L.P. Asacha comprises eight distinct labels across scripted, unscripted, and feature films. These labels are Kabo Family (France), Mintee (France), Srab Films (France), Picomedia (Italy), Stand By Me (Italy), Arrow Media (United Kingdom), Red Planet Pictures (United Kingdom), and Wag (United Kingdom). Headquartered in Paris, France, Asacha will continue to be run by Co-Founder and Group CEO Gaspard de Chavagnac. •

LEONINE STUDIOS LAUNCHES A NEW LABEL, HEADED BY JOCHEN KOESTLER

Germany’s Leonine Studios expanded its production division and launched the new label Leonine Documentaries, to be headed by Jochen Koestler. Alongside Koestler, who has been Executive Vice President of Non-Fiction at Leonine Studios since January 1, 2024, Executive Producer Janek Romero and Line Producer Andreas Tuerpe are responsible for developing and producing all Leonine Documentaries

projects. The three executives have already worked in various roles on acclaimed documentaries such as “Jan Ullrich - Der Gejagte” (Prime Video), “Der Anschlag - Angriff Auf Den Bvb” (Sky), and “SchickeriaAls München Noch Sexy War” (Prime Video). •

GLOBO TO LAUNCH NEW ORIGINAL SERIES AT SERIES MANIA

The Brazilian company will present new releases during Series Mania. In addition to the new and final season of “We Are Five,” Globo will showcase “Living On A Razor’s Edge,” the only Brazilian production selected in the Berlinale Series Market this year, “The End,” “The Brazilian Mafia,” “The Life Ahead,” “Justice: Life Is Not Fair,” and “Anti-Kidnapping Unit.” “We want to strengthen our presence in Europe since it’s a strategic territory for Globo. We have started the year well in the region at the Berlinale,’ and we have already confirmed our presence on MIPTV in April,” said Gabriel Doria, Content Distribution & Partnerships at Globo. •

INTERVIEW

"SERIES MANIA HAS BECOME THE PLACE TO MEET AND DISCOVER THE BEST SERIES FROM AROUND THE WORLD"

FRANCESCO CAPURRO, DIRECTOR OF SERIES MANIA FORUM, PRESENTS

THIS YEAR'S EDITION DETAILS, AND ANALYSES THE EVENT'S EVOLUTION.

Series Mania Forum returns to Lille with an edition that will congregate A-list executives from 60 countries to discover and discuss best-class international series. Señal News spoke with Francesco Capurro, Series Mania Director, to talk about the event's highlights and its evolution.

Series Mania 2023 broke its attendance record. What are the expectations of this year's edition?

"For this year's 7 th edition, Series Mania Forum is expected to return stronger and bigger than ever, expecting over 4.000 professionals from 60 countries. All five continents will be represented this year with 18 international delegations. The Series Mania Forum is truly one of today's premiere meeting places for TV executives looking for new projects and talent. Over three days, the Forum will bring together the industry's decision-makers and all the European and international series community: the best fiction buyers, commissioners, distributors, producers, authors, institutions, and agents. New this year, Series Mania Forum is expanding within Lille Grand Palais, with new 3000 m2 exhibition and networking zones offering even more meeting spaces for participants and exhibitors and even greater comfort.

The Business Square joins the Delegates'Delegates' Hall and the Business Lounge, both of which are fully booked this year with over 60 exhibitors, including All3Media, Banijay, BBC Studios, Beta Film, Cineflix, France Televisions, Fremantle, Gaumont, Globo, ITV Studios, Mediapro, Mediawan, Newen, NHK, Nippon TV, Red Arrow, and ZDF Studios. Finally, we will have a new Buyers Lounge, as we are expecting more buyers this year."

What will be the highlights of the Series Mania Forum?

"The Series Mania Forum will present the 'Coming Next From…' France, Spain, Italy, Québec, Korea, Finland, and Norway. Furthermore, 'Content Showcases' will be powered by Netflix, Disney+ EMEA, BBC Studios, Max Originals, Sony Pictures Television, Mediawan, and Movistar Plus. Many round tables, masterclasses, and keynotes will invite the debate on a wide range of subjects like coproductions, financing, docu-series, and the use of AI. Launched last autumn, the 'Best Marketing Initiative Award' will reward the best BtoB and BtoC marketing campaigns. We will have co-pro pitching sessions on the

first day and pitches from emerging talent from Israel, Taiwan, Saudi Arabia, and Africa."

What have you learned about the series industry during all these years of organizing the event?

"One major industry trend is the surge of streaming, prompting the exploration of fresh collaboration approaches between streamers and traditional TV broadcasters. This exploration aims at co-financing shows and strategically sharing broadcasting windows, creating a complementary framework to reach a larger audience. In addition, books and podcast adaptations are the new trend in an increasingly competitive ecosystem and a saturated content market. That is why Series Mania Forum introduces its brand-new IP Market, which focuses on literary adaptations, podcasts, and short formats. This new program offers industry professionals new opportunities to connect with literary agents, publishers, and podcast creators."

How has the event evolved since its first edition?

"Series Mania has truly become the place where industry professionals come to meet and discover the best series from around the world. Our goal is to connect the international industry to pursue our three major objectives: bring out new talent, encourage international coproductions, and reflect together on the industry's challenges and future. Series Mania offers the best series from the European and international scene."

By Romina Rodriguez

 Francesco Capurro

 Can Okan

T“THE 'NEW GENERATION TURKISH SERIES' HOLDS GREAT POTENTIAL FOR GLOBAL DISTRIBUTION”

CAN OKAN, FOUNDER AND CEO OF INTER MEDYA, DESCRIBE THE STRATEGY BEHIND THE NEW CONTENT DEVELOPMENT OF THE TURKISH COMPANY.

urkey's Inter Medya is featuring a new rising category on its catalog: the "New Generation Turkish Series," mini-series produced specifically for streaming platforms that brings different interpretations to traditional Turkish dramas. Señal News spoke with Can Okan, Founder and CEO of Inter Medya, to describe the company's new development.

How would you define the global potential of "The New Generation Turkish Series"?

"’The 'New Generation Turkish Series' is a brand we brought to life in 2021. Our goal by launching it was to highlight the aspects of these series that differentiate them from classic Turkish dramas regarding subjects, production, and structure. The 'New Generation Turkish Series' are mostly produced for digital platforms, with short seasons of six to eight episodes, sometimes as short as 20-45 minutes, featuring bold and brave stories shot with a cinematic approach. We named these edgy productions 'New Generation Turkish Series' as a playful nod to the significant legacy Turkish dramas have created worldwide. The journey of classic Turkish content on the global stage has been ongoing for years. Mini-series have entered our lives in recent years, coinciding with the rise of digital platforms. While these series tell different stories, they draw inspiration from Turkish dramas and have successfully carved out their niche by offering a fresh interpretation of Turkish storytelling. So, although mini-series belong to a different genre, they are still content that carries the Turkish DNA. The presence of this content has supported our sales to digital platforms and contributed to our successful journey alongside classic Turkish dramas, enriching our catalog and expanding our global reach. The 'New Generation Turkish Series' undoubtedly holds great potential for global distribution, as Turkey is the world's leading non-English content exporter."

Why did you decide to start working with this genre, together with global streaming platforms?

"Especially during the pandemic, the number of digital platforms in our customer portfolio increased rapidly. Our customers began to launch digital ventures and we became familiar with independent local platforms. The same happened in Turkey. Very successful local players began to emerge and projects produced for these platforms started to happen. Additionally, global digital platforms increased their acquisition and production efforts in Turkey. So, Inter Medya could not remain indifferent to this trend. We focused our distribution on digital platforms, which we have been successfully continuing for years, and we have conducted the necessary strategy to expand our content library. To meet the demands of our customers, we have undertaken the international distribution of many mini-series. Without fear, we took a step to venture into this growing business and, so far, it has been a consistently positive process for us. The global demand for the 'New Generation Turkish Series' is growing but we are confident that our mini-series will contribute significantly to the global impact of Turkish content."

What are the latest deals and developments that Inter Medya has worked out with global players?

"We licensed our mini-series 'Interrupted,' by Tims&B Productions, and the TOD Original series, 'Dreams and Realities,' to Italy's Mediaset. 'Interrupted' has also been sold to Morocco and Thailand. Moreover, after being licensed to Globo in Brazil, 'Naked' quickly became the most-watched content in its debut week and maintained top viewership for weeks. After that, 'Naked' has also been licensed to Poland and Thailand. We also closed deals for 'Interrupted,' 'Respect,' and 'Behzat Ç' across the MENA region, Venezuela and the U.S. Hispanic market. Recently, we entered into an exclusive agreement with Gain, one of Turkey's leading digital platforms, to distribute all current and future content streamed on the platform. This agreement has significantly expanded our mini-series catalog, adding titles such as '10K Steps,' 'Running Errands,' 'Hamlet,' 'Actually You Are Free,' and 'Crinicals.' Moreover, we have recently added the platform's latest production, 'Like There Is No Tomorrow,' starring global stars Tuba Büyüküstün and Halit Ergenç.

By Diego Alfagemez

TRAVIS WEBB, FIFTH SEASON’S SVP SALES, AMERICAS, HEADS SALES

FOR THE COMPANY’S SCRIPTED AND UNSCRIPTED CONTENT IN THE UNITED STATES, CANADA, AND LATIN AMERICA, AND DETAILS FIFTH SEASON’S GLOBAL EXPANSION STRATEGY.

Last year, global film and TV studio Fifth Season tapped former Netflix executive Travis Webb as SVP Sales, Americas. Since then, he has been spearheading sales activity for the company’s premium slate of scripted and unscripted content in the United States, Canada, and Latin America markets. In conversation with Señal News, the executive detailed the offer and explained the company's strategy.

Which challenges does your role as SVP of Sales in the Americas present?

“Fifth Season is a significant producer and distributor of global premium content for leading streaming and television platforms. We were formerly known as Endeavor Content and are now under our new branding of Fifth Season, with shareholders including Korea’s CJ ENM, Japan’s Toho International, and Endeavor. In 2023, we successfully expanded our slate of premium returning series, which included ‘Wolf Like Me’ S2 (Peacock US and Amazon Latin America), ‘Run the Burbs’ S3 (CBC Canada and Hulu US), and a new installment of Agatha Christie’s ‘Murder is Easy’ (BritBox

“WE HAVE A MULTIPRONGED APPROACH TO OUR

CONTENT OFFERING AND SALES STRATEGY”

US). In 2024, we will be delivering new seasons of Tokyo Vice’ S2 (HBO Max), ‘Life and Beth’ (Hulu) and ‘Nine Perfect Strangers’ (Hulu US and Amazon Latin America). In 2023, we also faced the same challenges as the rest of the industry with the strikes impacting us all. We are delighted that agreements have been reached and our production has restarted on many projects.”

Gaitan, a leading Colombian actress, about three women and their struggle to overcome their mistakes of the past and create a better future. This year will also see the launch of ‘Strife,’ a comedic drama series from the producers of ‘Nine Perfect Strangers.’ This show follows the journey of a modern, imperfect woman and publisher from a lounge room blogger to a force in women's media.”

What are clients demanding right now?

How would you describe Fifth Season’s current sales strategy?

“We have a multi-pronged approach to our content offering and sales strategy. While we offer premium content in all genre categories, we have had a recent focus on strong female-led dramas, true crime stories, and best-in-class international content with great female leads. We have always sought content that champions female creatives and diversity through its storytelling and production – it is a fundamental part of how Fifth Season advocates for diversity and equality within our industry. In 2024, we will be launching ‘Wild Cards’, a crimesolving procedural with a comedic twist featuring a captivating conwoman, Vanessa Morgan (known for her role in ‘Riverdale’), and ‘Sight Unseen’, a crime drama with a sightimpaired female hero, authentically cast and created by two female producers. In addition, we have ‘Second Chances’, led by Carolina

“In addition to true stories, buyers and audiences increasingly seek content with strong, diverse female characters. We are focusing on bringing premium content in this genre, such as ‘Best Interests,’ a Jack Thorne BBC One limited series, which received critical acclaim and resonated with audiences worldwide thanks to its gripping storyline and Sharon Horgan's masterful performance. Similarly, we introduced ‘One Night,’ a fast-paced mystery with three powerful female leads starring Jodie Whittaker, who is best known for playing the lead role in ‘Doctor Who’ for five years, and Yael Stone, best known for her portrayal of Lorna Morello in Netflix's ‘Orange Is the New Black.’ This year, we are also introducing ‘Friends Like Her’, a psychological drama set in New Zealand that explores the friendship and fallout between two women in a nightmare surrogacy scenario. The series features incredible lead performances by Morgana O'Reilly and Tess Haubrich.”

By Federico Marzullo

 Travis Webb