Viewpoints: acquisitions strategies

Victoria Stubbs
Programming Executive
Electric Sky
United Kingdom

What are your acquisition strategies?

Keeping on top of current trends in programming is crucial. Print, online media and attendance at markets are the best way to stay informed and updated. Keeping a dialogue going with a producer is the best way to be on top of new productions and feedback from our sales team is important, as they know what broadcasters currently have an appetite for.

Wildlife Nannies

What products are you looking for?

As an independent factual distributor, we look for a diverse range of programming. We are always looking for long running lifestyle series'and strong one-offs with international appeal. We work with producers from all over the world and are keen to hear from producers offering factual programming ranging from fashion and travel to crime and history. A big seller for us from a non-UK based producer in 2007 was "Wildlife Nannies" (20 x 30'), which was a Context TV Production for ZDF and Voom.

What were your key acquisition deals in 2007?

Last year we added an entire new genre to our catalogue – "Performance" which encompasses opera, ballet and musical arts. This has led to further acquisitions in 2008, such as "Strictly Bolshoi" from Ballet Boyz Productions (1 x 75') and "Carmen" (1 x 85') from The Royal Opera House and Opus Arte. 2008 has also seen one of our most exciting acquisitions which tell the story of the only know female autistic savant twins in the world; "The Most Extraordinary Twins in the World" (1 x 60') from Somethin'Else will be available as a pre-sale at MIPTV.

What are your plans for MIPTV?

In terms of acquisitions, MIPTV is a great place to meet independent producers who are looking for representation, but for the most part MIP is a market for sales. Our sales team will be promoting our new releases which include; "Dead Art" (10 x 30') which is a fascinating series from Engel Entertainment, shot in HD, exploring the art and beauty of cemeteries. We also have "The Man Who Had Minutes to Live" (1 x 60') from Renown Pictures, which is the heart-warming story of a family raising funds for their father's life-saving operation. "The Hunt for the Texas 7" (1 x 60') from Wild Dream Films is the story of seven armed and dangerous inmates who escaped from a maximum-security prison in Texas on December 2000.