Adaptations and CoProduction Projects the Engine of the European Production Market

Over the last few years Europe has been witnessing an increased demand for local TV projects (including co-productions). That was emphasized by Nassima Boudi representing Eurodata TV Worldwide (France) who was one of the speakers at the conference–screening Format Show held in the course of KYIV MEDIA WEEK 2014 which has been launched today, on September 15^th. According to the data provided by the expert Great Britain is ranking 1^st today among European exporters of the TV content. However, one  should not overlook another trend: broadcasters show an ever growing interest for products originating from Scandinavia and Central and Eastern Europe. On the other hand European broadcasters are paying ever closer attention to the content produced by Turkey and Israel.

Nassima Boudi emphasizes considerable potential inherent in European series produced by representatives of a few countries. According to the expert The Transporter, a thriller series is a great example to illustrate the statement, since it involves filmmakers from Canada, France, USA and Germany. Each episode gathers about 8 million viewers. The Transporter is in its second season now. No less awaited was Leo Tolstoys’ Anna Karenina adapted for TV as a co-production by Italy, France, Spain, Lithuania and Germany. Suffice it to say that the producers have not been disappointed with the results. Gomorrah – an Italian-French co-production project has been quite a success with the rights to it being sold to more than 50 territories and the US will make a local adaptation.

The TV series adaptation as a trend has been given a new impetus over the last years. France and Great Britain were quite successful in adapting Bron/Broen, a Scandinavian series aired under the name of Tunnel. A local version of the Ukrainian series the Sniffer will soon be aired on TF1 (France) and it is only last week that Kanal 2 (Estonia) showed the local version of The Kitchen (RUS Kuhnia), a Russian made series.

According to the Eurodata Worldwide research 33 European produced TV series were sold as formats in 2013 which is 50% higher than the respective number in 2012. Moreover, 40% of all sales account for the European market. 

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