Viewpoints: sales strategies

Lucy Hellier Sales Executive Granada International United Kingdom

What are the coming trends in prime time programming in Spain ?

The most significant development is the growth of factual entertainment in Spain.  The launch of new terrestrial channels such as Cuatro and La Sexta, that are skewed to younger audiences and edgier, has compounded this trend. Cuatro is already starting to commission international formats.  Gossip shows during the day and late night talk shows continue to do very well in mainstream schedules and primetime blockbuster movies are still very much in demand.

Brainiac

Do you have programming on in prime time in Spain and if so what are the ratings?

A local version of "Brainiac" - our very successful science format - will launch on Saturday nights in primetime on Cuatro in March.  We don ' t have the ratings for this yet but we know Cuatro is extremely excited about the show.  Also "My Teen ' s a Nightmare" ("SOS Adolescentes") recently started airing on Friday nights in primetime on Cuatro and made a solid 10% showing performing above the channel average on its first broadcast on 9 February. 

Perennial hit entertainment format "Surprise Surprise" ("Sorpresa Sorpresa") was a regular hit series on one of Spain ' s main free to air channels Antena 3 until 1999.  The channel brought the show back to screens in for two specials January 2007 and it was a huge hit.  Four new episodes have just been commissioned which will run in spring 2007.

In terms of ratings the second part of "Sorpresa Sorpresa", which aired at 10pm on 7th January 2007 on Antena 3, easily won its slot against one of the top local long running dramas "Aida" on Telecinco.

Have you noticed an increased demand for European and US fare on Spanish channels?

The launch of Cuatro and La Sexta has meant that our programming is definitely more in demand.  These channels are able to take more risks and are acquiring British drama, event documentaries, topical documentaries and factual entertainment formats.  However we continue to have success with other Spanish channels and have recently sold our landmark documentary " I Shouldn ' t Be Alive " to TVE - Spain ' s main public broadcaster - and Canal + has acquired the full series of Prime Suspect starring Golden Globe winner Helen Mirren.  Granada International ' s extremely successful Hollywood TV movies continue to sell mainly to Telecinco, TVE, Localia, Antena 3.

What is the main content of primetime in Spain ?

Firstly it is important to understand that primetime in Spain is 9.30pm to midnight.    Local drama is much more important to Spanish broadcasters than programming from the UK and the USA and we see the sale of our scripted formats as an opportunity to move further into Spanish prime time schedules.  Blockbuster movies, reality and talk shows however all dominate the schedules in addition to scripted programming.   And we are continuing to offer entertainment formats as well as event documentaries and high impact, glossy dramas to all the channels in Spain.

What new programming will you bring to MIPTV?

We will be launching a wide range of programming at MIP but shows that we believe will be particularly of interest in Spain include brand New Hollywood TV Movies: " And She Was ", " Lipstick ", " Party Never Stops ", entertainment: " An Audience With Lionel Ritchie ", factual: " Extreme Rescue ", " Perfect Disaster ".