Beta Film will enlarge co-partnerships

Christian Gockel
Vice President Sales & Acquisitions
Beta Film
Germany

What are your sales strategies for 2009?  

For all of the industry, 2009 will be a difficult year. Especially during such a period, we work even closer with our clients. We try to travel as much we can; thereby understanding programming needs better and finding new ways of cooperation. We are also looking more into co-partnerships with production companies and other media companies. During MIPTV 2009, we will be announcing our new company called "Autentic", which will enlarge our documentary business.

We are hard at work at increasing our turnover concerning new media business, and will strive to remain a key major content player.

What are the most important countries for your sales?

Italy, Spain, Germany and France are still our key territories; however, Poland and Russia have become more and more important. Such Eastern European territories are also needed to finance large budget television events. Last year, we co-produced "War and Peace" together with TV Channel Russia. For 2010, we are developing a 24 million Euro event miniseries with the national Polish TV Station TVP. We are very enthusiastic to have such important partners on board.

Can you name your titles that performed well on international television channels in 2008?

Our inimitable Series "Rex, a Cop's Best Friend" with new seasons 9 and 10 will be seen in more than 60 countries in 2009. It is probably still number one. European Series worldwide. We are currently working on a new season 11 for 2010. Important 2009 sales - pillars for Beta have been the new American Series "Border", "Heartland" and "Wild Roses". For all the series we are proud to have seasons renews for 2009. Also, classic titles like the unforgettable trilogy of SISSI has been sold and broadcasted on main Stations worldwide. Therefore, many clients will be happy to see that we are presenting a wonderful Biopic of Romy Schneider, this year in Cannes.

What new products will you offer buyers during MIPTV?

For MIPTV 2009, we have a significant mix of programming. Examples are the action, catastrophe movie "Fireball" starring Ian Somerhalder, the American Drama Miniseries "November Conspiracy", a Suspenseful plot between the JFK conspiracy, an enigmatic flight and a series of murders stretching to today.

Italian Feature Film "Il Divo", which was in Competition in Cannes, and high budget German Feature films like "North Face" telling a dramatic struggle for survival based on historical events at the most dangerous rock face in the Alps, or "A Woman in Berlin", a story based on the diary of a young woman in Berlin during 1945. During the last weeks of the war, suffering from hunger, but also hoping for a new beginning.

Also exceptional is our series line up with 24 episodes of "Romanzo Criminale", an astonished story in Rome during the late 70s. The capital of a country torn by ruthless left-wing terrorism and rampant corruption, or "The Rheinbergs", a new European prime time "Dallas" with 21 hours in production.

North Face