European TV Series

"A program made in Europe is extremely attractive for European networks."

Traditionally, a European TV Series is a fundamental value of prime-time slots of European TV channels. Despite many American series that are winning positions on the European market, local drama dominates the top rated fiction in Western European Slots.

Diverse TV series work perfectly on the European market. Traditionally, TV series that offer a positive image of heroes are very popular. At the same time, following the success of the American series "Lost", a new interest appeared in TV series that combined mysterious and supernatural events. Police series are always in demand and obtain good ratings. TV Series that offer positive images also obtain good audience ratings. Latin American telenovelas influenced the traditions of the production of series, and served a catalyst for the creation of high quality European telenovelas and soap operas.

In France, uniquely, an audience of more than 10 million viewers of French TV fiction was in the top 10 on TF1! Viewers watched the reappearances of favorite heroes of long running popular television series ("Une famille formidable ", "Julie Lescaut ", etc) including the new series "R.I.S. Police Scientifique". In Italy, local productions with the combination of police, detective, historical and drama series, and mini-series, covered prime-time slots of Italian TV channels during the first semester of 2006. Prime-time slots in the UK, Spain, and in Italy were also mostly covered by homemade series that were devoted mostly for family audiences.

Indeed, a European made program is extremely attractive for European networks. What do the masters of European series think about the popularity of this genre and what are the coming trends in production and broadcasts of series in Western Europe ? Miracle Screenings posed this question to television professionals.

Patricio Teubal International Sales Manager MEDIATRADE - R.T.I. Italy

What are the coming trends in broadcast of TV Fiction in Western Europe ?

I will answer about Italy in particular which is the market I know better. The trend in Fiction is to produce more series (between 12 and 24 episodes per season) rather than miniseries and TV movies, for the prime time slots. Series bring high ratings for a longer period of time, and provide better cost-benefit performance than short hour's productions. With regards to the day time, only soap operas are specifically produced for these slots and will continue during the short to mid term. Results are satisfying, although I don't think broadcasting slots will be added to those already existing.

48 Hours

What Western European countries are the most important for your sales?

France (including French Speaking Europe) is clearly our main market in Western Europe, followed by Spain. We also do some business in Germany, Greece, Portugal and Netherlands but at a lower income level.

Do you have titles on air in Western European countries?

We have several of them. I'll mention just a few examples: In France our series "Police District" ("Distretto di Polizia") has been on air for the past couple of years on TF1 and will continue next year; in July 2006 M6 put on air our teen series "Performers " ("Grandi Domani") and will soon broadcast our newly released in Italy "48 Hours" ("48 Ore"); AB Group recently transmitted "Seasons of the Heart" ("Le Stagioni del Cuore"), a love story series produced during 2004. Other series we have already sold in France but that haven't been broadcasted yet are: "Crime Evidence" ("RIS"); "Laws of Love" ("Cuore contro Cuore"); and "Red Code" ("Codice Rosso") which still has to be released in Italy too. In Spain some of our religious fiction has been broadcasted by Telecinco, such as "Karol" and "Padre Pio", both of them miniseries. The Localia network just acquired from us "Elisa", an epic series with unique success in Italy ; and "My Daughters " a recently released series with great ratings for us.

Do you have titles on air in prime-time in Western Europe ?

Prime time slots are usually covered by local productions or American series (although not much). Our series are usually broadcasted in the morning, daytime or late night slots. TF1 bought from us the re-make rights of "Crime Evidence" ("RIS") and broadcasted in prime time their local version, reaching a 42% share average, which was an incredible success for them and a great satisfaction for us.

What new titles will you bring to MIPCOM 2006?

In the upcoming MipCOM, Mediatrade will be presenting an array of titles to suit all tastes and programming needs. "Red Code" is an exciting new series about the captain of a fire squad that has survived tragedy - and still has the willpower to form a new squad, challenging fate and a vicious pyromaniac... In "Family Storm 2" the Dominici and Fumagalli families are back, with more friendly conflict between these amusing families, united by the marriage of their children. A yuppie lawyer and his adorable autistic brother, an unlikely pair that solves baffling cases in the most unexpected ways, while trying to come to terms with diversity: "About My Brother". World War I unites the lives of a poor miner turned sergeant and a beautiful general's daughter, where courage and humanity must prevail to help them beat the odds. proving that "Love Sees no War". Rome, 1999: "A Political Target", a government advisor, is murdered by terrorists. The real story of breathtaking events leading to the defeat of terrorism in today's Italy. If your ideal man is engaged to your best girlfriend, you can get her a new perfect man to fall in love with. But who, in the end, is really "The Perfect Guy" for you? A tour operator, a sly restaurant owner, an aspiring actress, a would-be producer, are all swindlers and swindled in this hilarious Italian-style comedy, where "The Easy Money" increases at every change of hands and everyone is caught in this spiraling web.