TV Real April 2024

TVRE AL

Distributors Survey / E. Chai Vasarhelyi & Jimmy Chin

Get in the Game

The factual space has had a smattering of breakout, buzzy hits over the last few years, the kinds of shows that generated gaspworthy, OMG moments that set social media ablaze around the world.

Whether it’s the Planet Earth franchise, Tiger King or Murdaugh Murders: A Southern Scandal, it’s clear that a well- told stranger-than-fiction crime tale and David Attenborough can always be counted on to move audiences.

The fall of last year saw that the story of an iconic athlete can be as much of a revelation, as audiences across the globe eagerly tuned in to get an insider’s view of David Beckham’s life—at least as much as the legendary footballer wanted Net flix audiences to see. Beckham is just one of a wave of sports documentaries popping up on major platforms, reflecting the latest battleground in the quest to attract and retain subscribers. And with the UEFA EURO 2024 and the Olympics happening this summer, you can expect to see a lot more activity in this space.

FEATURE JUST THE FACTS

Amid significant shifts in the broader media business, leading distributors share insights on navigating the latest developments in the factual sector.

The Oscar-winning filmmaking duo talk about the inspiration behind their new National Geographic series Photographer Ricardo

Meanwhile, as I heard from leading distributors in my survey on the state of the factual business, the usual key genres remain in high demand, namely true crime, natural history, factual entertainment and science. Unscripted commissions are down, as is the case with every other genre, as streamers rethink their content spend and broadcasters contend with diminished budgets amid the ad crunch. Acquisitions, meanwhile, are expected to see an uptick as channels and platforms seek more cost-effective ways to engage with audiences. AVOD and FAST are still crucial spheres to be operating in, but both require well-thoughtthrough distribution strategies to ensure no monetization opportunities are left on the table—and producers are adequately compensated for their creativity. Amid what BossaNova Media’s Paul Heaney referred to as a “reset,” factual distributors seem to be emerging largely unscathed.

This edition of TV Real also features E. Chai Vasarhelyi and Jimmy Chin, the duo best known for their Oscar-winning documentary Free Solo , discussing the six-part series Photographer for National Geographic, taking an in-depth look at the creative process of several renowned photographers. “It’s bringing to light stories that people don’t always get to see or hear about,” Chin told me.

Finding new and innovative ways to tell true stories will be top of mind for producers and distributors as they convene in Cannes this April. As will the future of MIPDoc itself. Mansha Daswani

INTERVIEW

E. CHAI VASARHELYI & JIMMY CHIN

Albatross World Sales

Buffalo Bill—The Inventor of the Wild West / Parents in the Wild / The Secret Knowledge of Animals

Among the titles on offer from Albatross World Sales, Buffalo Bill—The Inventor of the Wild West tells the story of the titular underdog adventurer and showman who blurred the boundaries between truth and fiction and invented the romanticized version of the Wild West that everyone knows. Parents in the Wild brings viewers into the world of wildlife parenting and what it takes to ensure offspring survival. The Secret Knowledge of Animals delves into research projects around the world that reveal the secrets that shape animals’ lives and behaviors. Lisa Anna Schelhas, sales director, says, “Will animals show us the way out of the next pandemic? Can we deduce patterns in the development of climate change and natural catastrophes from their migration routes? We will find out in this documentary.”

APT Worldwide

“We’re the place to go to for high-quality documentaries.”

—Lisa Anna Schelhas

Confluence / Beneath the Polar Sun / America the Bountiful

The top program highlights from APT Worldwide include Confluence, a three-part series exploring the ways art, science and technology come together to spark creativity. It spotlights engineer and artist Zoe Laughlin, fashion designer Iris van Herpen and violinist Joshua Bell, among others. Beneath the Polar Sun, another APT Worldwide title, follows an Arctic expedition that gets caught in collapsing ice, revealing the disasters that can occur when the planet’s global cooling system doesn’t work properly, “an aspect of climate change that isn’t often explored but impacts us all,” says Judy Barlow, executive VP of international sales. America the Bountiful, meanwhile, “is a feast for the eyes, giving international viewers a look at the food and traditions in the heartland of America instead of the typical tourist destinations,” Barlow says.

BossaNova Media

“APT Worldwide is bringing a strong slate of new science, art, nature, history, food and travel programs to MIPTV.”

—Judy Barlow

Museum Mysteries / The Push / The World’s Biggest Cruise Ship

BossaNova Media’s Museum Mysteries “is effortlessly intentional,” says Holly Cowdery, head of sales. The title takes audiences into museums across the U.K., France, Spain and Germany, telling the stories of some of the objects and artifacts they closet. The Push aims to raise awareness of domestic honor killings, calling on governments to address this complex and often hidden issue. The story “will resonate with audiences around the world,” adds Cowdery. The World’s Biggest Cruise Ship takes a peek into a recent ship launch from the Royal Caribbean. The title offers a mix of engineering entertainment, unique visuals, heartfelt stories from crew all over the world and escapism as it explores the record-breaking Icon of the Seas, which entered service in January 2024.

“MIPTV will be an important market for us this year as we consolidate the development work we’ve done with our producer community.”

—Holly Cowdery

The World’s Biggest Cruise Ship

Confluence

Parents in the Wild

GRB Media Ranch

Tupac: 187 / God & Country / Stealing Churchill

GRB Media Ranch heads to MIPTV with a raft of factual highlights, including the 5x60-minute docuseries Tupac: 187 (w.t.). Nearly 30 years on from Tupac Shakur’s murder, he may finally receive justice when an accused Las Vegas man stands trial. However, the question remains whether the right man was caught. The company also has on offer the documentaries God & Country and Stealing Churchill (w.t.). God & Country “reveals the dangerous implications of Christian nationalism distorting the U.S. Constitution and Christianity itself,” says Sophie Fer ron, president. Stealing Churchill explores the heist of a famous Winston Churchill portrait from Ottawa’s Château Laurier that shocked the global art community and still remains unsolved. The nature of the case adds intrigue to the documentary, which delves into the world of art theft.

NHK Enterprises

Frontiers

The new documentary series Frontiers is on offer from NHK Enterprises. Two 50-minute episodes have been completed so far. “How Smart is AI?” explores the projects that are popping up all over the world to build the ultimate artificial intelligence. The program engages a generative AI robot in conversation. “Beyond all the mind-boggling technology is a glimpse into the surprising nature of human intelligence,” says Shin Yasuda, senior producer for international co-production in the content value development center. “The Discovery of Opal on Mars” analyzes the significance of NASA’s 2022 finding of an opal on the planet, which suggests new findings on the presence of water there. “Takashi Murakami: Always Chasing a Dream” is set to be completed soon, while the company is looking for co-producers for further episodes.

Passion Distribution

Frontiers

“As we continue to expand, we’re eager to meet with both producers and buyers.”

—Sophie Ferron

“The all-new documentary series takes a deep, intellectual dive into the mesmerizing world of cutting-edge science, space, history, art and more.”

—Shin Yasuda

Gold: A Journey with Idris Elba / Help! We Bought a Hotel / Churchill’s Forgotten War

The 90-minute documentary Gold: A Journey with Idris Elba, a highlight of the Passion Distribution slate, sees A-list actor Idris Elba take audiences on an adventure that explores the meaning of gold and how it has shaped cultures, religions and entire economies around the world. “Featuring a global star, this is a premium, continent-hopping documentary exploring the universal story of gold,” says Nick Tanner, director of sales and co-productions. “The production values, access and talent set it apart.” Also on the company’s slate, the six-part Help! We Bought a Hotel is an aspirational lifestyle series fol lowing daring entrepreneurs taking on the challenge of running a hotel. Churchill’s Forgotten War is a one-hour documentary that charts the actions of Winston Churchill at the beginning of World War II.

“We’re focused on providing mainstream yet distinctive unscripted content, participating in the creation of new projects and expanding the success of existing IP.”

—Nick Tanner

Gold: A Journey with Idris Elba

PBS International

The Choice 2024 / A.I. Revolution / Fly with Me

The Choice 2024 , directed by filmmaker Michael Kirk, headlines PBS International’s political lineup. The program explores in-depth biographies of U.S. presidential election candidates through interviews with those who know them personally and publicly. A.I. Revolution delves into what artificial intelligence is really doing, despite seeming to think, speak and create like real human beings. Leading experts explain what the technology can and cannot do today, as well as what may be ahead in fields from medicine to environmental preservation. Fly with Me tells the story of the pioneering women who became flight attendants at a time when single women were not allowed to do such simple things as eat alone in a restaurant, own a credit card or get a prescription for birth control.

Terra Mater Studios

Raptors—A Fistful of Daggers / Katavi / Healthy Cities—More Than Human

The miniseries Raptors—A Fistful of Daggers, from Terra Mater Studios, tells the story of how raptors conquered the globe. The blue-chip three-part Katavi plays out in an African landscape untouched by humans: Katavi National Park in southern Tanzania. Healthy Cities—More Than Human, available as a 2x50-minute miniseries and a 1x90-minute special, explores how biodiversity, cities’ ecosystems and our own health are affected by today’s trend toward rapid urbanization. The documentary visits cities all over the globe that are not only adapting to modern challenges but taking into account what exactly makes a city livable for all, offering what Sabine Holzer, head of specialist factual, calls “a charming, fresh perspective.” The company is also highlighting titles such as Wild Cape Town.

ZDF Studios

“We’d love to talk about co-production possibilities, as we’re bringing many new projects to the market.”

—Sabine Holzer

Time: A Journey Through Thousands of Years / The Lost Women Spies / Wild Talk

ZDF Studios’ Time: A Journey Through Thousands of Years analyzes long-term studies to see the effect time has on our lives, possibly making moments of joy rare. The program asks: Could we all escape from the time trap and have more happiness? The Lost Women Spies , a docudrama series about female British spies during WWII, is also on offer. Some survived, but some were captured, tortured and killed by the enemy. Currently in production, the six-parter is scheduled for completion in spring 2024. The new wildlife series Wild Talk reveals how animals communicate. The title “explores the latest exciting research on animal communication that decodes the complex languages of animals and discovers that they are just as talkative as humans,” explains Ralf Rückauer, VP Unscripted.

“Our catalog contains a wide selection of excellent documentaries created by talented producers and renowned coproducers.”

—Ralf Rückauer

Katavi

Taking place from June 18 to 20, 2024, the inaugural edition of the TV Real Festival will feature keynotes and panels with leading executives and creatives discussing the world of unscripted, from lifestyle, factual entertainment and docs to non-scripted entertainment and game-show formats. It will be streamed live and available on-demand on TVRealFestival.com.

For sponsorship opportunities, please contact Ricardo Guise at rguise@worldscreen.com or Dana Mattison at dmattison@worldscreen.com.

E. Chai Vasarhelyi & Jimmy Chin

Creative collaborators and life partners, E. Chai Vasarhelyi and Jimmy Chin have produced a raft of projects for National Geographic in the five years since Free Solo landed them an Oscar win for best documentary. At Little Monster Films, the filmmakers have been bringing their unique lens to a wide array of topics, from a Northern Thailand cave rescue expedition in The Rescue to SpaceX and NASA’s first joint spaceflight in Return to Space. In National Geographic’s Photographer (also streaming on Disney+ and Hulu), Chin and Vasarhelyi profile several acclaimed photographers, exploring the art of their craft. By Mansha Daswani

TV REAL: Tell us how Photographer for National Geographic came about.

CHIN: This is the series we have been talking about, dreaming about, for years. I’m a National Geographic photographer. I’ve always been extremely inspired by my peer group, by any of the photographers who are able to make it in this world as photographers, because I know what it takes. We wanted to explore the passion, obsession, craft, creativity and vision it takes to make it as a photographer. We knew we had access to the best of the best image makers. That is something we want ed to leverage. There are all these incredible stories behind these images. Every image is a story. But the stories behind the images are fascinating and unique. People often take what goes into these images for granted. Chai has pointed out many times that more photographs have been taken in the last two years than in the history of photography. Everybody has a phone. But to make an iconic image—to get into these places and put yourself in these situations to capture images that can change the world—requires so much. That’s what we wanted to bring to life. You have to be so passionate about your subjects. You make so much sacrifice and take risks— physically, mentally and emotionally—to get to these places and capture these images. And you have to obsess. We’re pulling back the curtain and letting people see what it takes to do it, but also getting to know these photographers. We have these incredible photographers who also have their own stories. Learning how they got to where they are and why photography has been their outlet in life is something we are fascinated by.

TV REAL: You’re getting such great insights from these photographers. What’s been the approach to those interviews?

VASARHELYI: We are really lucky that we love what we do. It’s also really fun to be in your 40s and have worked at something for over 20 years. There’s a real comfort level in the process for us. You’re a warm light. You are interested and engaged. If we’re having a good time and enjoying the conversation, our participants are, too.

CHIN: It’s also a lot about trust. You have to establish and build a lot of trust. Some of the films we work on take years to make, and you build that trust. In some people, it takes a while to peel the onion and get through all the layers. The beauty of these longitudinal projects that we work on is you get that time to go deeper. That’s the type of work that we love to do and appreciate. It’s also the work that we appreciate in the directors that we were able to bring on to this project. This project was kind of an experiment. We took some of the greatest, most iconic photographers and paired them with the greatest nonfiction directors that we could find. We really trusted them to see what they could come up with.

VASARHELYI: It’s a testament to Nat Geo’s vision. They allowed us and the filmmakers the freedom to make these bespoke films that honor the photographers’ visions. Photographer showcases such a diverse group of individuals and types of photography. It was a real pleasure to have the space and creative resources to honor these photographers.

CHIN: It’s not a formulaic approach. Like Chai said, we wanted to make them bespoke. Each one had to speak to the creativity, vision and passion of each of the photographers.

TV REAL: Tell us about your relationship with National Geo graphic and the creative freedom you’ve found to tell the stories you want to tell.

VASARHELYI: We’re really lucky to have them as partners. Especially for me as a female filmmaker, it’s been a real privilege to be able to work under Courteney Monroe [president of National Geographic Global Networks] and Carolyn Bernstein [executive VP of global scripted content and documentary films]. In four years, we have made seven films with Nat Geo. It’s a really nurturing and empowering relationship.

CHIN: It’s part of their mission to expand people’s understanding of the human experience. That’s a well we go back to often. It’s bringing to light stories that people don’t always get to see or hear about.

Terra Mater Studios’ Dethroned.

JUST THE

FACTS

Amid significant shifts in the broader media business, leading distributors share insights with Mansha Daswani on navigating the latest developments in the factual sector.

You’d be hard-pressed to find a sector of the content business that isn’t feeling the poststreaming-wars-meets-economic-anxiety pressure points that have been building over the last year. But for the most part, those in the non-scripted business are feeling reasonably confident about charting a course through 2024’s choppy waters.

“The often mentioned ‘reset button’ has been well and truly pushed—we are now coming out of the other side,” says Paul Heaney, CEO of BossaNova Media. “We are in a higher risk landscape without doubt, so, obviously, the rewards are greater too. But we are talking factual, so it’s all relative in that regard. The BossaNova team is finding it very encouraging right now; projects from all areas of the content spectrum are coming our way, budgets big and small, one-offs and series, and the subject matter is showing signs of widening—it needs to! We were in danger of everyone crowding into a few subgenres and fighting for attention.”

Of course, budget cuts are across the board, observes Anne Olzmann, the managing director of Albatross World Sales. “With the market in turmoil, many of our contacts have been let go, and teams have been reduced, so the remaining buyers now have an even bigger workload. Therefore, the commissioning and acquisition processes have become much slower all over the world, which is quite frustrating for all parties involved. There also seems to be a major shift from commissioning to acquiring more.”

Natalie Lawley, managing director of Escapade Media, is feeling bullish about her company’s factual distribution segment. “The overall feeling is that factual content has been experiencing a boom, which will continue for the foreseeable future,” she says. “Escapade has seen some significant

moves in the factual space over the past six months. Our clients are very specific about what they want and why they want certain projects, which is working well for Escapade’s presale model. We can work with innovative finance models and look to get the project into production faster.”

SAVING THE PLANET

Terra Mater Studios is eagerly tapping into global demand for natural history content, spurred partly by audiences’ increasing concern for the environment.

“As climate change and environmental issues become more pressing, people are more interested in learning about the natural world and the species that inhabit it,” reports Sabine Holzer, head of specialist factual at Terra Mater. “This increased environmental awareness can drive viewership and engagement with content that educates and informs about these topics. Simultaneously, natural history content provides a form of escape in our fast-paced and often stressful modern society. Watching serene and beautiful natural scenes can have a calming effect, which is appealing to many viewers. Natural history content is often seen as both entertaining and educational, making it a popular choice for people who want to learn while they watch. Last but not least, many natural history documentaries now focus on global stories, showing how interconnected our planet is. This resonates with a more globally conscious audience interested in understanding their local environment and the wider world—and goes hand in hand with the aforementioned awareness and escapism.”

Terra Mater Studios is capitalizing on this consumer interest with a new FAST channel, Terra Mater WILD, in partnership with Autentic Distribution. It has rolled out on key platforms in German-speaking territories, including

Samsung TV Plus, Amazon Freevee and Pluto TV. “The channel is still young, but its performance already underscores the immense popularity of this kind of content, so we are exploring further expansion into new territories and platforms, catering to the insatiable curiosity of nature audiences around the globe,” Holzer says. “We also run our own YouTube channel with exclusively produced content that has already garnered more than 67 million views and will soon reach 500,000 subscribers.”

FAST TIMES

AVOD is, indeed, becoming a more important distribution window for IP owners, and FAST, the buzzword for the entire business in 2023, is a vital part of that mix.

“It’s still a bit of a buzzword, and it has moved on from being merely that as the big guns move in with more FAST offerings,” BossaNova’s Heaney says. “It is generally singleIP focused, so something we are very conscious of. The operators are making good offers for the right content.”

Albatross’s Olzmann observes, “FAST is here to stay, and FAST channels are growing. However, when it comes to docs and factual, they are also starting to look very similar in each genre. Many decision-makers are currently bulkbuying non-exclusive rights, so one program can be on 20 different channels. It will get harder to stand out as a FAST channel, and we’ll probably see streaming platforms become more selective of the FAST channels they take on.”

And, Olzmann reports, while AVOD revenues have been on the rise for years, “we need to sell many more hours for the same revenue.”

Heaney echoes this sentiment: “In terms of financing, we are being totally pragmatic; with barely 1,000 hours, we need to ensure we are delivering the highest fees for our producers. AVOD is catching up here, but we have high expectations.”

Escapade’s Lawley adds: “We have been working with the larger AVOD players for some time now, so I would not say they are playing a greater role. In conjunction with other rights, we are working with them to try to monetize all rights a project offers. I can say that we are certainly seeing higher revenues from the AVOD players coming through.”

WISH LISTS

While windowing and financing strategies continue to evolve, rights owners remain focused on the topline concern: making sure they have the types of content the market demands.

Heaney identifies three key areas of interest: “A franchise with great access that could return, old favorites that can scale up and deliver even more episodes across a year and noisy signature singles and short-run series to prevent churn and attract a subscriber base.”

Olzmann boils down the overall commissioning sentiment in the market now to: “Bigger, better, fewer. This can be good for distributors of finished programs in the short term, but this also means fewer programs available in the long run.”

In terms of what buyers are looking for, meanwhile, Olzmann observes: “There seems to be a tougher acquisitions ‘grid,’ resulting in very stiff rules with fewer and fewer exceptions to the rules. For example, there are buyers who buy natural history programs—which shouldn’t include any humans. And by this, they not only mean interviews but even any signs of civilization, which is

BossaNova’s slate of returning series includes Highway Cops, now in its eighth season.

Passion Distribution arrives at MIPTV with a second season of Stacey Dooley Sleeps Over USA

quite a paradox, considering the most pressing theme of our time: the human impact on the planet. Hybrid programs mixing different genres don’t work as well anymore. They have never done great, but it feels like they tend to work even less. On the upside, the demand and slots are there, and documentaries are very popular with the audience. However, we need to observe the market constantly and carefully and be ready to reevaluate our strategy.”

Escapade’s Lawley points to the sustained interest in true-crime shows but stresses that they must “offer something different, whether it be a different way of telling the story, a different and new approach or new updates on well-known crimes. We have also seen a need for content covering history, antiques and renovation.”

Lawley also reports an increased interest in “enhanced acquisitions,” noting: “Since commissioning and acquisitions budgets around the world are tighter than ever, by offering our clients an enhanced acquisition position, we

have been able to complete budgets efficiently and provide original content to various partners. This model has been working well for Escapade.”

Reflecting on the overall trend in license fees, Albatross’s Olzmann notes: “With budget cuts for almost all linear TV buyers, the license fees are overall lower per hour. At the same time, AVOD and FAST clients are becoming more established and have started offering license fees.”

BossaNova’s Heaney observes that fees have been largely stable, “but as the content prism has narrowed, if it hits the spot, perhaps there’s more chance of getting a higher fee than last year as many buyers are going for the same thing.”

THE ROAD TO CANNES

As the industry convenes in Cannes, the big question for many attendees will be about the future of MIPDoc and MIPTV. Speculation looms that the annual spring market will head elsewhere or end its storied 60-plus-year run.

“MIPTV is a crucial opportunity for us to connect with partners from all over the world, with a particular focus on European relationships,” says Nick Tanner, the director of sales and co-productions at Passion Distribution.

“MIPTV has always been a set date in our calendars,” Olz mann says. “Together with MIPDoc, it has been one of the most important events for us and our buyers, but this has changed since the pandemic. We noticed less interest from buyers to come to Cannes in April in recent years, and MIPDoc hasn’t been nearly as successful as before the pandemic. It is quite costly for a market, and unless MIPTV can attract more buyers, we will need to reevaluate the scope of our attendance.”

“It feels like this is the last MIPTV now,” Heaney says. “It makes sense that while everything else in the industry has changed, why shouldn’t the markets do the same? Cannes had the monopoly forever, and now that’s over. Lon don TV Screenings and MIPCOM are the two essential markets; everyone else should form an orderly queue behind them. MIPTV is not the only dying market, so don’t take it personally, RX Global, but it is a message to all markets to listen to and watch the customer base at the earliest stage and take nothing for granted, as well as to make an effort to spend the money to pay for the key buyers to attend. RX Global has done this over the years, but if it drops off, it’s over.”

Wildlife is a strong suit at Albatross World Sales, with a lineup that includes Scandinavia.

Rose Gold is a new feature-length sports documentary on offer from Escapade Media.