Viewpoints: sales strategies

Oliver Kreuter Head of Distribution Bavaria Media Television

Can you tell us about your activities in Western Europe ?

Bavaria Media Television has long since played a number of roles in the Western European TV landscape.  Known by many clients as a reliable provider of quality TV programming, with great ties to the important national players, our company also engages in international co-productions.  Best example: Our title "1200° - The Truth Will Survive" was realized together Sat1 and ORF, Italy 's Mediaset as well as Hungary 's RTL Klub and Slovakia 's TV Markiza.  Since last year, Bavaria Media TV is also engaged in offering its most successful fictions as formats for local adaptation.

Cuban Love Story

What were your most important sales in 2006?

"Storm of Love", which we introduced as 'the first telenovelas from Bavaria ' has certainly been a success both in terms of ratings, as well as in international sales. Apart from Germany, "Storm of Love" is airing in Austria, Latvia, Estonia, Lithuania, Slovakia, and in Canada, while in Italy, "Storm of Love" became a ratings hit. The long-running family series like "Zoo Doctor" or the German crimes series "Vienna Crime Squad" were placed in almost all major European territories. Apart from series, our event programs like "A Pirate's Heart" have seen great success with buyers in Europe, the Middle East and Asia.

What titles do you currently have on the air in Western European countries?

"Storm of Love" regularly scores high ratings in Germany (over 30%) and in Italy (over 25%).
(Numbers for other programs are hard to come by, since we would have to ask the channels)

What new titles will you bring to MIPTV 2007?

We have a rather exciting selection of new titles from all over Europe in store for MIPTV. With "Genesis", a hard-hitting crime series created for Spain 's Cuatro TV, we have not only a stylish and gripping new show, but also for the first time, a Spanish original program on our slate. "Bitter Tropics" is sweeping drama about slavery, passion, and survival, filmed against the lavish backdrop of the French Caribbean. And with "Tempest of Love", we are continuing and building upon the success of telenovelas from Bavaria. In addition, Bavaria Media TV is bringing a number of brand new TV-Movies to Cannes : while "Cuban Love Story" will cater to everyone in search of romance, "Unforgotten" is a dense thriller about a man haunted by his past....and there are many more TV-movies to be discovered.