Viewpoints: acquisitions strategies

Orsetta Violante Balsamo
Acquisitions
Endemol Italia

What are your acquisitions strategies?

Our acquisitions strategy responds to Endemol Italia' s current role of format (scripted and non- scripted) leader supplier for both major networks and growing satellite channels in the Italian territory. It concentrates on searching within the International market big hits and innovation, with a careful eye on the particular tastes of Italian viewers. For the purpose, we rely on strong consolidated relationships with main format distributors and, of course, on the advantage provided by the synergies with the other companies of the Endemol group. Needless to say, good timing in acquisitions is fundamental.

Format acquisitions has most recently become more demanding, due to the exponential growth of the International format market, explicit with reference to light entertainment and also impressive with regards to scripted formats.

Beauty and the Geek

What formats are you looking for?

For major networks we mainly search successful game shows and Prime Time studio-based shows (reality, talent, people and variety), targeting the family audience and the 25-54 age group. We also look for low budget and non studio-based shows for satellite channels.

What foreign formats did you buy this year?

The third party formats acquired and produced this year, have been "Beauty and the Geek" ("La Pupa e il Secchione"), where for the first time reality successfully met comedy, the summer hit "Identity" ("Soliti Ignoti"), "Unan1mous" and "Let's go Shopping".

What are your acquisition plans?

We cannot go into the details of our acquisitions plans, but I can anticipate that something good is in store!