Unprecedented European pubcaster collaboration for drama
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John Moulding
| 17 October 2023
2 Unprecedented European pubcaster collaboration for drama
Eight broadcasters have launched the largest ever co-production and distribution collaboration in Europe covering premium drama, with ZDF, NPO, VRT, SVT, DR, YLE, NRK and RÚV onboard. Called ‘New8’, the group will create eight TV series a year, starting now.

“New8 is a unique achievement for European public service broadcasters and their audiences,” declared Hans-Jørgen Osnes, Head of International Financing Drama at NRK when the initiative was announced last week (at MIA – Mercato Internazionale Audiovisivo 2023). Elly Vervloet, International Drama Expert at VRT, said: “By exchanging content that is built on the partners’ public service ambitions, we can strengthen our offer to our local audiences and create a bigger impact in the international media sector.”

Frederieke Leeflang, Chair of the Board at NPO, says: “At a time when there is increasing competition for the eyes and ears of European viewers, this is a logical step as public broadcasters, especially when it comes to efficient use of public money. We are convinced the quality of European fiction will benefit from the exchange of knowledge and experience between all these partners.”

The eight broadcasters have entered into an agreement that will initially last for three years. The first series will be greenlit this year, ready for distribution in 2024. The content will be made available across multiple European territories, largely reflecting the home markets of the broadcasters involved.

The broadcasters and territories covered, in more detail, are: ZDF (Germany), NPO (The Netherlands), VRT (Belgium), SVT (Sweden), DR (Denmark), YLE (Finland), RÚV (Iceland), and NRK (Norway). The content will also appear in Austria and Switzerland.

Simone Emmelius, SVP International Fiction at ZDF, declares: “New8 will strengthen the public service broadcasters throughout Europe and give their audiences a unique access to bold, modern and innovative high-end drama from all the partners. With ZDF on board, New8 gains one of the most experienced international co-production partners for its network. Hopefully New8 will also unite the audience and strengthen bonds between Europeans.”

New8 is based on an existing trust-based Nordic collaboration. “For years, the Nordic public service broadcasters have exchanged their best dramas. Each broadcaster decides which of their series is the best and therefore which should be distributed by their Nordic neighbours,” a spokesperson for the group explained. Examples given from the Nordic collaboration include ‘Exit’ and ‘The Thin Blue Line’ – both of which have achieved large audiences outside that region.

“The Nordic public-service companies have a long history of successful collaborations and in these turbulent times we want to take this way of working to the next level,” explains Anna Croneman, Head of Drama at SVT. “We are incredibly happy to join forces with such powerful partners as ZDF, VRT and NPO to be able to offer our audience even more high-end drama.”

Henriette Marienlund, Head of fiction at DR, adds: “We wish to strengthen the Nordic and European collaboration on creating, distributing and financing quality series. We have succeeded in creating a local position in a market dominated by international streaming services.”