CAN YAMAN - Thin Ice Seven Worlds, One Planet Keshet CEO Avi Nir - TVBIZZ Magazine
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NATPE MIAMI 2020
Thin Ice
Seven Worlds,
One Planet
Keshet CEO
Avi Nir
CAN
YAMAN
True Daydreamer
A WORD FROM THE EDITOR
IN THIS ISSUE TEAM
EDITOR-IN-CHIEF
GEORGI R. CHAKAROV
georgi.chakarov@tvbizz.net
EDITOR
Yako Molhov Georgi R. Chakarov
Editor-in-chief
DESIGN
Anastas Petkov,
Ivanka Borisova
MARKETING
Reinventing the business: enter AI
Stanislav Kimchev
sales@tvbizz.net
CONTRIBUTORS
Yako Molhov
Maria Chiara Duranti
Minko Todorov
Alexandra Shutova
12 Keshet CEO Avi Nir Juxhina Malaj
Evgenia Atanasova
PUBLISHERS
TVBIZZ Magazine is
owned by TVBIZZ Group
and published for all
major international TV
markets. TVBIZZ Group
owns and operates CEETV
30 (www.ceetv.net) and
TVBIZZ (www.tvbizz.
n a recent Ernst & Young study 34% of the
polled 358 media and entertainment exec-
decision-making skills – all of these qualities
have typically not been associated with Auto-
net). TVBIZZ Magazine is utives said that they fear their company mation and AI. But think again. How do you cut
available online at www. will not survive the next five years unless costs, maximize efficiency, reinvent a business
tvbizzmagazine.com they reinvent their business. Unsurprisingly, model thru innovation and keep up a level of
close to a third said they are not sure what top-notch expertise while having to analyze tera-
areas they should prioritize. Still, the analysts bytes of data in an ever-changing environment?
identified three main directions: operational The people running Warner Bros. came to the
excellence, innovation and talent and skill exact same conclusion and a few days ago the
development. Additionally, some 46% identi- Hollywood press revealed that they will be using
fied automation as the single most important Cinelytic’s algorithms to make decisions regarding
tactic for cost savings. marketing and distribution (and possibly green-
20 Seven Worlds, One Planet 38 Looking at all the areas mentioned above,
being a manager myself, I can’t help but
lighting, according to some sources) of films.
What would that mean for Warner’s business re-
notice that all of them could be implemented mains to be seen, but the decision in itself means
with just one strategic move - deployment of a revolution for the whole industry and should
Artificial Intelligence. In the E&Y study, AI is help media and entertainment execs around
mentioned just once, among the drivers of the world to embrace such innovations easier.
change in the industry. There is no mention Because there will come a point when they will no
of integrating it within the workflow of the longer be able to cut staff, hire the best talent, in-
companies who feel they need to move away vest more in skill improvement and still maintain
from traditional models. a profitable business. As technology evolves, the
This is hardly surprising knowing that market trends are changing faster and faster and
among all other industries out there the Me- no human being can keep up with that pace.
dia & Entertainment sector remains the most Imagine Netflix without algorithms... AI
people-centric, with a focus on creative talent, already controls our entertainment, soon it will
practical knowledge, weight of experience and control our business as well. ■
22 Thin Ice - The hard-hitting reality of Climate Change
www.tvbizz.net
4 / TVBIZZ MAGAZINE / NATPE MIAMI 2020 5 / TVBIZZ MAGAZINE / NATPE MIAMI 2020
THE BIG GAME THE BIG GAME
US TV ad spend slides under $65 billion Peak TV tops 500, Netflix output jumps
with 50%
For the first time since 2015, the US television ad spend totaled less
than $65 billion, dropping to $64.3 billion in 2019, according to FX Networks counted a total volume of 532 U.S. scripted original
GroupM. Meanwhile, digital got over $112 billion; this number will dramas, comedies and limited series for 2019, up 7% yoy. Earli-
jump to $126.5 billion this year. TV is expected to get $60.3 billion er, Variety Insight reported that Netflix released 371 new shows
in 2024. 4gv78 in 2019, up 54.6% in one year, beating he number of original se-
ries that the entire U.S. TV industry released in 2005 (the last
year Netflix managed to exceed the TV industry’s total).
Cowell signs new five- Jeff Shell takes over at BritBox U.K. expansion Telefe celebrates 30 Globo to cut thousands of Seth MacFarlane swaps
year deal with ITV NBCUniversal undermined by Sky cold years on air jobs Fox for NBCUniversal
ITV announced a new five-year Jeff Shell officially became CEO of NBCUni- shoulder
Telefe premiered two shows in Jan- According to reports in the Brazilian me- Seth MacFarlane, the creator of
commissioning deal with Syco En- versal on Jan. 1, replacing Steve Burke who BritBox, the British-themed SVOD found- uary marking the start of the cele- dia, Globo is preparing a new restruc- Family Guy, American Dad!, Ted and The
tertainment and Thames. The agree- spent nearly nine years at the helm of the ed in the United States in 2017, has encoun- brations around its 30th birthday. turing plan which could see up to 2.500 Orville, has signed a multiyear pro-
ment extends ITV’s successful and company. Burke will serve as chairman of tered a significant roadblock expanding the The broadcaster will launch the re- people lose their job at the company. The duction deal with NBCUniversal,
long-standing relationship with the company for eight months, then retire service in the U.K. The joint venture be- vived Hole in the Wall (El Muro Infer- cuts come as a result of the merging of putting an end to his 21-year long co-
Cowell which will see him and his on Aug. 14, following the Summer Olym- tween the BBC and ITV has reportedly been nal) on January 13. This is the fourth the various operations of the broadcast- operation with 21st Century Fox. Ac-
shows, including Britain’s Got Talent pics in Tokyo. Shell headed NBC Entertain- unable to add content from Comcast-owned edition of the show after it pre- er. The number of 2.500 people was men- cording to a source familiar with the
and The X Factor, appear exclusively ment and Universal Pictures for nearly a satellite TV operator Sky. BritBox counts miered in 2008. The other proposal tioned by an internal source of UOL. This deal, its value is estimated at no less
on the channel until at least 2024. year before he got promoted. around 670.000 subs in the U.S. of the channel is Divina ComidÛ (Come corresponds to 16% of the 15.000 Globo than $200 million.
Dine with Me). employees.
2020 will be the year of AVOD platforms
TVN changes president again
Ampere Analysis predicts that 2020 will be the year of AVOD as free ad Just under a year in his mandate, Bru-
models start to build scale and roll-out internationally. Such services no Baranda announced in late December
currently cover between 3-6% of US online households. The trend is ex- that he is resigning from the position of
plained with the dwindling catalog of classic shows on SVOD services, President of TVN Chile. He explained the
while library content will be the backbone of platforms like Peacock. decision with a conflict between his pro-
fessional and personal activities. He was
replaced by Ana Holuigue Barros.
The Voice is the most-watched PT show of the decade
NBC’s The Voice is the most watched primetime single-network entertainment 34% of M&E execs fear for future
show of the decade, according to viewership data from Nielsen. Through the of business without invention The Nanny becomes a
2010s, The Voice has generated more than 562 billion gross viewer impressions, the Broadway-bound musical
most for a primetime series airing on a single network in the decade. TBS’ rerun An Ernst & Young study has laid bare the
of The Big Bang Theory was second with 552 billion, followed by CBS’ NCIS with 445 scale of the challenges awaiting the sector
Fran Drescher’s classic sitcom The Nanny
billion gross viewer impressions. over the next five years. The report found
will be turned into a Broadway musical.
that 50% of media and entertainment ex-
This was announced by Drescher and Peter
ecs no longer believe they can contin-
Marc Jacobson who created the TV show for
Streaming fatigue detected in the U.S. and the U.K. ue with traditional business models. 34%
Sony Pictures. The class-clash comedy aired
were openly skeptical as to whether their
The majority of Americans (59%) are not willing to pay more than $20 a month on CBS from 1993 to 1999, earning 12 Emmy
companies would continue to exist in five
for streaming TV services, according to The Trade Desk. Furthermore, 75% of con- Award nominations over six seasons.
years without radical reinvention.
sumers will not pay more than $30 a month. The researchers said these results
highlight the subscription fatigue threshold for TV streaming services which
was also observed by Mindshare in the U.K. where 57% say that it’s hard to
choose what to pay for. If you are not a member of our global TV industry network, don’t be the last to know
what happens now. It’s time to join TVBIZZ. Visit www.tvbizz.net. You can also download
our free apps for iOS and Android and browse the headlines on your device.
6 / TVBIZZ MAGAZINE / NATPE MIAMI 2020 7 / TVBIZZ MAGAZINE / NATPE MIAMI 2020
OUR STAR OUR STAR
CAN YAMAN
True Daydreamer
By Stanislav Kimchev
In less than a year, Can Yaman has turned into one of the biggest rising stars of the
international showbusiness. His appearance in public draws huge crowds of loving
fans all over the world. The Turkish actor’s innate charisma, great sense of humor,
laid-back character and sharp intelligence would immediately turn you into a fan
of his, even if you have no idea who he is.
I had a chance to meet the man in person during his promotional tour of Cannes
for his hit series Daydreamer. I mean tour because even before his arrival his fans Can Yaman was born in 1989 to
parents of Albanian and North Mace-
had occupied the Nice Airport and all key locations in Cannes in the hope of seeing donian origin. After finishing the Italian
him live. On social media you could see old ladies nearly fainting when the Turkish High School in Istanbul, he graduated
star stood next to them. It felt like Cannes Film Festival and not an industry event from The Law Department of Yeditepe
University in 2012. His attorney practice
like MIPCOM. So, I tried to avoid the topic of business as much as possible in this
lasted only six months and he made
short, but special interview. his acting debut in the series Gönül İşleri
in 2014. He got his first starring role in
2015 hit İnadına Aşk. He also starred in
Hangimiz Sevmedik and Dolunay, but his
breakthru came in the summer of 2018
with the premiere of Daydreamer which
turned into an instant hit for Star TV.
The role earned him a number of Turkish
and international awards for best actor,
including E!’s 2019 Top Leading Man Award.
He is the first actor from a non-English
show to win this international poll.
8 / TVBIZZ MAGAZINE / NATPE MIAMI 2020 9 / TVBIZZ MAGAZINE / NATPE MIAMI 2020
OUR STAR OUR STAR
an, it has been a fantastic
year for you and Daydream-
er. You have become an
international superstar,
congratulations! Why do you think
this story appeals to viewers
around the world?
Nowadays on Netflix or the other
services, there is no rom com at all in
the United States or in the world. But
there are series like Ozark or Lucifer or I
don’t know Dark or Stranger Things or Black
Mirror or House of Cards. Different kind
of series right now. Rom com is still
very precious, but nobody does that
at all. Old rom coms are like - the guy
is ugly, the lady is beautiful. The guy
chases her. But here it’s different. The
guy is something else and the girl is
something else. They’re all handsome
and beautiful and they’re all hilarious.
They improvise. In general, comedy
is done by the support cast. It’s like a
pure, true down to earth love story. The
love story is adorable there, and the
comedy is adorable. There’s love and
the characters are all questioning who
they are.
Your screen partner is Demet
Özdemir. You play her boss and you
fall in love with her. Was it chal-
lenging to work together?
It wasn’t challenging it was like
more liberating stuff, because for
the first time in my life I played
with an actress that I was so calm, I
was so confident with, because she
was very talented, and she was very
much into improvisation, which I
liked a lot as well, but sometimes it
is risky - your partner can’t impro-
vise sometimes. But Demet is so tal-
ented. We were like 60% sometimes
improvising in the series, we were
changing the script and we were
just rolling. You know what I mean?
A great chemistry…
Extraordinary chemistry between her
and me. That’s why Daydreamer has
been one of the greatest rom coms
because you can feel the improvisation I love how passionate you are when thing - I was into reading a lot. I studied and I liked a lot learning stuff, solving How about TV? What are your favor- the Netflix series are really different,
there and the characters are so orig- you talk about this! in an Italian high school and I was into problems in law. But then when I was an ite shows? but I’m more into this old stuff, down
inal. For example, my character has It’s like my kid, this show, I love it! languages. I have a real good memory. intern, I figured out that the practice is I watch a lot. I try to watch all kinds to earth stuff. What are the characters
been this style icon with the way he I can remember words easily, and I was a lot different from theory. Especially in of series and movies. I like old stuff like? Like House or like the guy in Prison
dresses, and all these accessories are Another thing: we all know you as a reading well, and I was a successful Turkey, there is a lot of corruption going of all the American series like Califor- Break who is very smart. I’m more into
being worn right now in Turkey and star actor, but you are also a lawyer. student. Also, I’m а social person and I on. I started at PwC as an attorney. But nication, How I Met Your Mother, Friends, watching characters instead of the
all over. I was like one particularly hell How did that happen? was into convincing people you know, there they were all into their computers House, Prison Break. The new US series are show. If I adore the character, if I relate
of a rom com thanks to this harmony, Well, being an actor is like a dream, but not just in Turkish but in other languag- and all, and I was hyperactive, and I was more into fiction, fantasy, technology. to the character, I watch the series, or I
chemistry between the actors. when it comes down to studying some- es as well. So, I decided to study law going crazy and I just wanted to go out. Different stuff right now. All of it, all watch the movie. ■
10 / TVBIZZ MAGAZINE / NATPE MIAMI 2020 11 / TVBIZZ MAGAZINE / NATPE MIAMI 2020
CEO TALKS CEO TALKS
Keshet
Breaking records at home and abroad
2019 has been an excellent year for Keshet Media Group. In Israel, Keshet 12 not only remained the most-watched channel but
increased its viewing share with the whopping +35% to 27.5% primetime share. At the same time, the company’s international
business continued to grow at an impressive rate with new operations in Germany and a record volume of commissions both in
the UK and U.S. where Keshet Studios now ranks as the biggest non-major studio in terms of new productions.
In this exclusive interview, Avi Nir, CEO of Keshet Media Group, tells Georgi R. Chakarov that they aim to keep this momentum in
2020 with proven hits and new shows and series in Israel as well as even more international productions. Avi Nir is the CEO of Keshet
Media Group which he joined
in 1993 and has been heading
since 2002. Nir is the master-
vi, what were the main ing a large volume of new content, undergone many changes over the mind behind the huge success
drivers of Keshet’s growth while continuously refreshing exist- last couple of years but the viewing of the biggest Israeli media
last year? ing content. public keeps choosing Keshet 12, company. He also launched
On the international stage, reinforcing its position as the most Keshet International with the
goal to turn local hits into inter-
we’ve had a record year, with two In Israel, Keshet 12 not only re- watched channel in Israel. The on-
national ones – like Showtime’s
US network drama pick-ups and a affirmed its leadership but also going challenge for us is to continue
Homeland (Executive Produc-
number of shows breaking through increased its viewing share in 2019 to create content that can provide
er), which won an Emmy for
on global streamers and premium with the impressive 35%. Congrat- viewers with added value compared Outstanding Drama, and global
services. For us, HBO’s Our Boys is one ulations! How do you explain this to what the streaming services and talent format sensation Rising
of the most important shows we’ve success? other channels are offering. Star. Nir has received numerous
produced. Also, the output of Green- It is this strategy - of introducing accolades, including Television
bird was the highest to date, bolster- new content while refreshing shows What will be the main highlights Personality of the Decade and
ing our biggest ever MIPCOM slate. that are engaging audiences - that for Keshet in early 2020? Will you Executive of the Year. Since
At home in Israel, we’ve created the has undoubtedly driven this growth. launch new titles besides the al- 2017 he regularly appears in the
leading broadcast channel by launch- The linear TV market in Israel has ready proven hits? annual Variety500 as the only
entry from Israel.
We are renewing successful original
formats such as What a Wonderful Country,
Master Class and Rising Star, alongside
new seasons of international hits such stant search of the next big thing also developing new gameshows that shows for the upcoming year. Expect
as Ninja Warrior, Married at First Sight, and have learned it has no specific might be a part of our slate in 2020. more news in the coming months.
MasterChef; and factual entertainment genre definition. The Israeli audi- We also witness the increasing success
titles such as Uvda, Imposters and Fair & ence is very open to new ideas, but of studio variety shows, with original We know that the TV advertising
Square. those ideas have to be adapted and formats like Night Club, which has re- market is challenging. How is Kes-
We are introducing a number of personalized to the Israeli viewers’ cently returned for a new and successful het handling the ad spend drop and
new scripted drama and comedy DNA. It’s not a simple task and we season. It will be interesting to follow the increased competition from the
series, including 24/7 Parents, a sitcom don’t always succeed, but we always that trend in 2020. tech giants and the streamers?
led by two of the biggest stand-up try to think from the viewers’ per- 2019 was a record year for us in terms
comedians in the country, and Home spective. You decided not to make a second of TV ad revenues in Israel. The main
Grown - a hilarious family comedy season of 2025. Will you use the reason is our ability to attract a very
that takes place in a village. We’ll be What were the key international studios of the show for new produc- significant share of the Israeli audience
announcing more new shows over the content trends that you have ob- tions? with our content, both on Keshet 12
coming months. served and how do they compare to We are discussing it internally. It will and also on mako. It is a fierce battle
what is happening in Israel? depend on whether there will be a with the tech giants but our ability to
It looks like competition reality The global trends this year include meaningful break through, as well as simultaneously gather large audiences
formats have become the preferred gameshows, and shiny floor variety the question of cost effectiveness. and create a mutual experience is a rare
choice of the Israeli audience. Will entertainment. In Israel, we can see the commodity for advertisers.
you continue to rely on this genre? stronghold of reality and talent shows Are you planning to increase the
Formats of that kind are indeed very like Rising Star and MasterChef in the ratings. volume of the series you are airing? Are you planning to launch a
relevant to the Israeli audience, but Gameshows are less common although Any upcoming projects you can streaming service yourself?
it cannot be said categorically. It we are bringing Deal with It! back to Israeli mention? At Keshet, we already have mako, the
The Baker and the Beauty depends on the show. We are in con- TV screens this year after a break. We are I’ve already mentioned our variety of leading video platform in Israel, in
12 / TVBIZZ MAGAZINE / NATPE MIAMI 2020 13 / TVBIZZ MAGAZINE / NATPE MIAMI 2020
CEO TALKS
Our Boys
which we are continuously upgrading being selected at the Sundance Film mainly on scripted?
and evolving its’ technological and Festival. Plus, there’s Our Boys (HBO), We have well over a dozen projects in
content foundations. As a business, and Dead Girls Detective Agency (Snap), production or paid development with
we are always open to considering now in its fourth series. various streamers and broadcasters in
different models and platforms. Germany, the UK and the US. The ma-
What will be Keshet International’s jority are scripted titles possibly because
Let’s talk about your international strategy for growth in 2020? Will we have a strong heritage in sharing
business. Keshet has grown ex- you focus more on in-house develop- stories with international audiences.
ponentially on the international ment or look to acquire third-party
scene in recent years to become the content for distribution? Have you considered opening new
leading Israeli content creator with The TV market is constantly evolv- lines of business like streaming or
offices and productions in the US, ing and as is our way, we are already international channels?
UK and Germany. Are you planning responding to this shift with a stronger Outside of Israel, we are focusing on
to make further investments into focus on the supporting the production what we do best – distribution and
new markets? side of our business. In addition to production.
We are always open to new opportu- the commissions already mentioned,
nities, if they make sense to us as a Keshet Studios has also recently picked How do you see the future of the
business. 2019 was a great year for our up orders for Skinny Dip (Quibi), The Vault business now that digital and
international production hubs, with (NBC), and Clues (CBS), more shows to streaming platforms are taking the
Tresor launching their new scripted be announced over the coming months upper hand from TV in terms of
arm, Keshet Tresor Fiction, as well as across the business. consumption and ad spend?
adapting Keshet’s Masters of Dance for Are you looking to secure more We already have strong relationships
ProSieben. In the UK, Keshet Produc- fresh investments into your inter- with many of these platforms – mil-
tions secured five series orders, includ- national content business? lions of viewers around the world
ing one with a major global streamer We are always looking to develop new have been enjoying shows such as The
that we’ll be announcing shortly. In partnerships. Recent successes include Baker and the Beauty, When Heroes Fly,
the US, Keshet Studios is now the #1 our co-development partnerships with Commandments, Autonomies, Stockholm
non-major studio with “two for two” NTV, which created Drive Master, and and Dead Girls Detective Agency on them
for both TV - The Baker and the Beauty Prisoner Number One with Telemundo. for some time. Our job is to connect
(ABC) and Lincoln Rhymes: Hunt for the audiences around the globe with
Bone Collector (NBC) – and film, with The How many projects are you cur- great stories, so we’ll be looking to
Sound of Silence and Save Yourselves! both rently developing? Is the focus now build on these successes in 2020. ■
14 / TVBIZZ MAGAZINE / NATPE MIAMI 2020
NEW DISCOVERIES NEW DISCOVERIES
Seven Worlds, One Planet
A global ‘blockbuster’ series like fascinating. For example, how does the
Andes mountains affect the animals in
Seven Worlds, One Planet has a unique the Amazon rainforest, or how does the
ocean currents circling Antarctica affect
responsibility to educate people about the penguins living there? Advances in
the use of drones have also, for the first
what is really going in the natural world
The epic spectacle of one Planet Earth time, really enabled us to film intimate
and spectacular wildlife moments that
were never possible before this series.
You are producer of the South America
BBC Studios Natural History Unit’s from arguably the most recognizable episode - the most species rich conti-
latest monumental production Seven face of natural history content? nent on Earth. What were the biggest
Worlds, One Planet captivated the UK Working with Sir David Attenborough is challenges for you and your team
a humbling experience. Even at 93 years during production of the episode?
viewers at the end of 2019 and started
of age, he still has a wonderful child- South America is so rich with wildlife
conquering the small screens across the like curiosity about the world which is that one of our first challenges was
globe in mid-January. The documentary inspiring. He wants people to believe deciding which stories to leave out! Po-
masterpiece was shot over 1794 days the words he’s saying when they hear tentially the most dangerous shoot was
across 41 different countries with a crew them. Watching him over the years has to film Angel Falls in Venezuela. The
taught a lot of us in the wildlife film- highest single-drop waterfall in the
totaling over 1500 people. Sir David At-
making industry about making our mes- world, we knew the only way we could
tenborough, the face and voice of Seven sage to our viewers as true as possible. show it properly was to film it from a
Worlds, One Planet, will not only tell helicopter. We couldn’t fly in through
fascinating stories about the wildlife on Could you share more about your the capital city Caracas but had to drive
our planet, but also turn people’s atten- latest project Seven Worlds, One overland from a far corner of Brazil. We
Planet? arrived at the end of the wet season, so
tion to the growing problems created by
Seven Worlds, One Planet is one of the most the mountains were covered in swirling
climate change. ambitious series we have ever tried clouds, making it dangerous for flying
Dr. Chadden Hunter, the producer to make at the BBC. To give viewers a the helicopter. We had to pack survival
of the South America episode, talked thorough journey across all 7 continents supplies in the helicopter (sleeping
with Yako Molhov about the immense we’ve had to cover every square inch of bags, emergency food, etc.) in case we
land on earth. We’ve tried hard to focus got stuck in sudden clouds and had to
scale of this production, the challenges
on new stories. Unusual and fascinat- make an emergency landing on top of
he faced during shooting and also how ing animals rarely seen before, their one of the flat-topped mountains.
they tried to balance between making a extraordinary survival techniques and
‘spectacle’ and delivering the message of what that can tell us about the different What is the role of big productions
challenges of living on each continent. like Seven Worlds, One Planet? Are they
important environmental issues.
We also want to showcase the spectac- primarily entertainment projects?
ular landscapes, weather systems and What are the main messages that you
environmental issues of each continent. try to convey to international viewers
So, the series certainly feels ‘epic’ in in these times of climate crisis?
its scope. Over the course of 3 years a A global ‘blockbuster’ series like Seven
core team of about 30 crew members Worlds, One Planet has a unique respon-
ventured to all corners of the globe to sibility to educate people about what is
bring back the most spectacular wildlife really going in the natural world, the
hadden, you grew up in North colors and spectacular variety of life in media before that, but I soon realized footage on earth. good and the bad. But for us filmmakers
Queensland, Australia. Did on the reef made it the most magical the power television had to reach and it’s a very tricky balance to get right. The
Australian nature and wild- world I’d ever seen and as a student I move huge numbers of people in positive How does this series differ from majority of viewers come to big glossy
life affect your decision to was desperate to learn more about it. ways. My PhD was probably read by 4 other similar BBC productions like nature documentaries for escapism and
become a marine biologist? people but the early films I made reached Planet Earth, Frozen Planet, etc.? entertainment. If we filled every minute
Growing up in the lush tropics of You have worked on such hits as Planet millions of viewers. It became clear to me In previous series we have focused on of every episode with stories of climate
North Queensland had a huge impact Earth II, Frozen Planet and Wild Arabia. that if I wanted to save the wildlife I was animal behavior quite intensely, some- change disaster, palm-oil deforestation
on my life-long passion for na- When did you decide to “jump” from studying then media, and especially tele- times I feel missing the bigger picture. or over-fishing we would lose most of our
ture. Rainforest and wildlife were all your academic work to become a pro- vision, would be the most powerful tool. But in Seven Worlds, One Planet, by explor- viewers. So, it’s a matter of attracting
around us growing up, plants would ducer at the BBC Natural History Unit? ing one entire continent per episode, viewers with awe and wonder for the
Dr. Chadden Hunter
grow so quickly the jungle would come When I was studying gelada baboons You have worked with Sir David At- we’ve been able to look at how the geol- natural world and then finding inter-
through the kitchen window. And in Ethiopia for my PhD a number of
Producer of the South America episode tenborough on Frozen Planet and Planet ogy and weather of each continent un- esting and captivating ways to explore
with the Great Barrier Reef just off film crews visited my field site to make of Seven Worlds, One Planet Earth II, and now on the newest project derpin the animal’s behavior. So, we’re environmental issues. We’re trying to
shore, our school holidays were spent films about my research project and my Seven Worlds, One Planet. What are the giving the animal ‘action’ a broader con- make viewers care without paralyzing
snorkeling and scuba-diving. The monkeys. I’d never thought of a career most important lessons you learned text which I think makes it even more them with despair. ■
20 / TVBIZZ MAGAZINE / NATPE MIAMI 2020 21 / TVBIZZ MAGAZINE / NATPE MIAMI 2020CLIMATE CATASTROPHE CLIMATE CATASTROPHE
Thin Ice
© Saga Sig/Yellowbird. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
Thin Ice was created by Søren Stær-
mose and Lena Endre. The script was
co-written by Birkir Blær Ingólfsson,
Jónas Margeir Ingólfsson and Jóhann
Ævar Grimsson. Cecilie Mosli served as
concept director, with Thale Persen and
Guðjón Jónsson directing the shooting in
Iceland and Greenland, respectively. The
8x45’ production was shot over ten and a
half weeks.
The series deals with the burning issues
of Arctic changes and international
geo-politics. The story kicks off with a
research vessel, under attack outside
Greenland. At the same time, the Arctic
Council is trying to sign an agreement
that prohibits environmentally harmful
oil drilling in the region. The attack puts
the agreement in jeopardy.
member states - US, Canada, Denmark
Lena Endre in Thin Ice
(without Greenland), Iceland, Norway,
Sweden, Finland and Russia - are having
on the agenda “Do we have to exploit it or
ow did you come up with the how to fight climate change - the most not because of already sufficient carbon
idea to create Thin Ice? drastic challenge mankind will face. Yet, emissions?” The international super-
After having shot a feature for the world’s emissions of greenhouse gas- powers’ interests of getting these oil
Yellow Bird in Cuba and Öland ses continue to rise, seemingly without licensees from Greenland with different
Thin Ice
called Echoes from the Dead, I and my main any real action to prevent it. The structure masterplans behind closed doors is turn-
protagonist Lena Endre (we actually also of our political system has failed us - and ing the meeting upside down. Besides
worked together in the Millennium trilogy that’s a frightening fact. We wanted to that, the hope of many Greenlanders
by Stieg Larsson) sat down and talked show how politicians are seemingly side- to have independence one day, being
about what engaged us in life – because tracked, pursuing immediate short-term able to have own economy in place for a
we know that it takes a couple of years be- interests and their own public image, possible big oil deal. Furthermore, we try
fore it will be realized. We did find out our and thus prevented from ever being able to show “the balanced and the unbal-
common interest for the global warming to properly address the bigger and more anced relationship to Denmark” for the
The hard-hitting reality of Climate Change and the climate change in the Arctic Sea.
She was the ambassador for an environ-
pressing issues like the future of the
planet. It’s not corruption - but rather a
questions of identity. It’s a drama thriller
where we for the first time have hoovered
mental organization and I mentioned my human frailty and our inability to con- Greenland or all their acting talents and
interest in Greenland – after having lived front threats that aren’t immediate. the whole TV show takes place on the
there for a year - when I was a soldier. I To pick Greenland means a complexity East Coast of Greenland. Thanks to our
also went on a big trip to the northwest of many aspects. The melting ice opens best PR and Marketing associate - the US
A new super production from Yellow Bird/Banijay Group (the creators of Stieg Larsson´s Millennium trilogy) - is set
of Greenland a couple of years ago. BUT up the possible exploitation of the im- president Donald Trump – he did put a
to push the topic of the fatal consequences of climate change in a political world which fails to take overdue actions. what a journey - it took me 6 years to fi- mense natural resources of texoil. That’s world focus on Greenland with his wish
Actually, the term ‘climate change’ seems quite outdated in 2020 when even ‘climate crisis’ seems too soft as a real nally develop and finance this project and why the story takes place during some of “a real estate” deal with Greenland.
catastrophe is taking place in the realms of ‘eternal ice’ of the Planet. start shooting Thin Ice in January this year. dramatic days at a high-end political Thin Ice is all about the above.
meeting at The Arctic Council, where the
As the creators of Thin Ice tell Georgi R. Chakarov, this is the most important issue that the world is facing now and What will be the main topic of the You shot the production during the
a series like that could inspire people to change in order to protect the global eco system. The story will reveal the story: climate change or political coldest period in Greenland but still
depressing and hopeless reality which the people of Greenland face as the ice melts down and incompetent poli- corruption?
The topic is of course climate change
Now the ice is were the effects of global warming
visible?
ticians simply wonder what to do with the island’s resources. Executive producer Søren Stærmose developed the
and how it affects the Arctic. But more gone. And the Yes, very much so. We had scheduled our
idea together with Lena Endre and was joined for this interview by writers Birkir Blær Ingólfsson and Jónas Margeir importantly the story focuses on the in- shootings in Tasiilaq, East Greenland af-
Ingólfsson and director Guðjón Jónsson. competence of the political system to deal Greenlandic ter pouring through satellite photos and
with climate change. We’ve seen how the data about ice and snow around Tasiilaq
leaders of the world sit through meeting
people are - what? to make sure we would be there when the
after meeting after meeting, discussing It’s hard to say. sea was frozen, and the ground covered
22 / TVBIZZ MAGAZINE / NATPE MIAMI 2020 23 / TVBIZZ MAGAZINE / NATPE MIAMI 2020CLIMATE CATASTROPHE CLIMATE CATASTROPHE
in snow. Using this data from the past, they are literally killing them, because
© Saga Sig/Yellowbird. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
we were confident we would get the best the dogs can’t earn their keep anymore.
conditions for shooting but something The number of dogs in Greenland has
abnormal happened. Suddenly, all the dropped incredibly in the last few years.
sea-ice broke up and disappeared in one And that tells us that the way of living
day and snow receded from the moun- for Greenlandic people is changing
tains. We don’t know if it ever happened completely. They used to be the purest
at that time before in Tasiilaq, but at least hunting culture in existence, using their
it was a screaming inconsistency with all dogs to hunt on the ice sheet. Now the
Søren Stærmose our data and satellite photos. ice is gone. The dogs are gone too. And
We had to move our shoot further the Greenlandic people are - what? It’s
Executive producer
North to a town called Ittoqqortoormiit. hard to say. In a way, they are left with-
Even there, climate change was very visi- out identity because of climate change.
ble. The sea-ice, which normally would be The entire identity of the nation seems to
solid at that time of year, was all frac- revolve around ice and the cold - and it’s
tured and broken up. The town had also both a pure and beautiful identity. And
been dealing with starving polar bears now it’s melting away, literally.
wandering into town in search of food in This is just one aspect of how climate
far greater numbers than before, due to change affects Greenlanders. The purpose
the lack of sea ice which is their primary of the series is to explore these issues
hunting ground. The town has a quota more thoroughly. And also, how climate
for how many polar bears they can kill in change affects Greenland politically, This Ice is a Yellow Bird production in copro-
Birkir Blær Ingólfsson duction with Saga Film, TV4/C More, France
self-defense when they wander into town which is a whole new chapter in itself - TV with the support of DR, NRK, YLE, NRK,
Writer every year. They had long since used up explored in detail in the series itself. RUV, Lumiere, Nordic Film & TV Fond and
all that quota and when we were there Creative Europe Media Programme
they were forced to try to scare the bears Have you cooperated with climate
away without shooting them. experts while developing the proj-
During our filming in Greenland we ect? What have learned during the
also met with Sirius sledge soldiers, who process? Why did you decide to go into the in Nordic homes and given the perfect
are Danish policemen that patrol the Yes - and it was frightening. We had ‘hard topic’ of climate change? Have timing of the series I am sure it will.
northern part of Greenland on dogsleds. many meetings with climate experts you made similar shows before?
They told us that the sea ice had broken while developing the project. And of We are always looking for drama series Is TV4/C More planning to do more
up underneath them further north than course, we read extensively about the sub- that are relevant to a broad Nordic projects related to saving nature
ever before, so they had to call for help. ject. In short, we learned that everything audience and I think it’s fair to say that and the life of indigenous people?
An Icelandic plane flew up to fetch the seems to be going to hell - and that no one climate change is a subject that is gain- We are looking for projects that have
Jónas Margeir Ingólfsson
men and dogs and get them back to is really doing enough to prevent that. ing many peoples’ attention, interest, the potential to attract a broad audience
Writer
headquarters - which is something that Our writers even kind of just gave up all worries and also some hope right now. with local relevance and the highest pro-
has never happened before. hope. The more you understand about Therefore, we believe Thin Ice will attract duction quality. As long as we can check
climate change - the more frightening Josefine Tengblad the interest of our viewers. This follows a those criteria, it doesn’t matter if the
How is global warming affecting the and depressing it becomes. The world has Head of Drama at TV4 and C More long tradition at TV4 and C More of tack- overall theme is a murder case, a family
lives of the people of Greenland? lost this battle, even before it has started ling contemporary subjects in a scripted crisis or climate change. We commission
The world is getting warmer. But the to fight it. It was depressing and fright- and dramatized context. One of our series to entertain and spark feelings
Arctic is warming up at twice the rate ening for the writers. But it reinforces our biggest international success stories so for our large audience - not based on a
of the rest of the world. Obviously, that belief that the subject of our series is the far has been Modus that centered around political agenda. We are also proud to
has consequences. For example, the most important issue in the world. hate crime. Recently, we have seen Grey- be giving a glimpse into the life of the
sea doesn’t freeze around Greenland, osefine, Thin Ice will zone centering around terrorism, Moscow population in Greenland.
making Greenlandic sled-dogs obsolete. Do you believe that series like Thin Ice undoubtedly be among the Noir which in some ways described the
Guðjón Jónsson Which is interesting because the Green- can make both politicians and ordi- biggest highlights of the year complex political situation in Russia, As an organization how is C More
Director landic people have depended on the dogs nary people change their thinking and for TV4/C More with a star- and Blinded, our latest series, showing and TV4 involved in preventing cli-
for survival for hundreds of years. Now habits in order to stop the pollution? studded cast and famous director, how a bank crisis affects human beings mate change? Will there be a special
Of course, we’d like to hope so. That’s the but can you tell us what else makes it and the society at large. awareness campaign during the
reason for making the series. But it’ll take stand out among other productions? broadcast of the series?
The more you a lot more effort than just one series. It Thin Ice will definitely be one of many What will viewers learn about cli- We will not be doing any special aware-
understand about will require a complete restructuring of
the system the world has built around
highlights in our 2020 slate and we are
very eager to present it to our viewers
mate change and politics from the
series?
ness campaign during the broadcast
of the series. This is because we have
climate change - the consumption. Every single person in the in February. Besides an A-list cast and It is important to point out that Thin no intention of starting a political
world will have to do their part and agree crew, the series also portrays many Ice is fictional, but with parallels to campaign. Our only goal is to offer
more frightening to the cause. If the series can lead a few different contemporary subjects at the the real world. In terms of learning, our viewers a thrilling adventure in
people to that conclusion and in that way same time, making it a thrilling adven- I just want to clarify that it is not a a fiction world related to many very
and depressing it inspire change, if only in a few house- ture in a beautiful environment for a documentary. However, I hope it – as contemporary themes, climate change
being one of them. ■
becomes. holds - at least we’ll be closer to a solution. broad audience to take part of. all our dramas – will spark discussions
24 / TVBIZZ MAGAZINE / NATPE MIAMI 2020 25 / TVBIZZ MAGAZINE / NATPE MIAMI 2020INSIGHTS INSIGHTS
Yes Studios
Secrets of success of Israeli drama
Launched less than two years ago, Yes Studios already ranks among the biggest exporters and creators of con-
tent coming out of Israel. Recent international success stories include Your Honor for Showtime and Applause
Entertainment in India, 68 Whiskey – a remake of Ta’agad currently filming for the Paramount Network, multi-
ple award-winning On the Spectrum and Magpie, as well as global phenomenon Fauda.
Danna Stern, Head of Yes Studios, tells Stanislav Kimchev what makes Israeli drama content so successful
internationally and what new projects her company is currently developing in Israel and around the world.
anna, we’ve all witnessed directly to that sort of programming. the producers, from the writers,
the success of not only We have experience, but most impor- from the creators to do the same
fiction but also formats tantly, we have great storytellers and for their project. And we often find
coming from Israel. Why is we have very interesting lives. Also, ourselves on the international part
Israeli content so successful, espe- success begets success. I think going of the business, which is what I run,
cially drama series? back, if we go back to In Treatment, being called in earlier and earlier Asylum City
© OHAD ROMANO. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
We’re all doing very well. And not which was already probably 13-14 and earlier to meet with writers.
just us. There’s a lot of producers years ago, its success opened the way And I keep saying, no, please don’t,
doing some excellent work. One of for Israeli drama, and we got Home- because if it’s a good show in Israel,
the basic reasons is we all have to land and Fauda. we will take it and we will make it a know with characters that you know; Another one of our very successful
produce. We have to spend money on great show internationally too. But any attempt to do it otherwise is projects has been On the Spectrum,
Hebrew-language programming due Do you also consider the interna- everybody wants to be international. unnatural. It’s not going to be great which won every award this year;
to regulations and there’s a contin- tional potential of a project when So, I wish I could say no, absolute- storytelling. Series Mania, Monte Carlo, Seoul
uous stream of production coming commissioning it? ly not. But there’s more and more Drama and now it has a U.S. adap-
in and we’ve been at it for a really I want to say no, but that’s not en- of that going back and forth. But Yes Studios has many successful tation on Amazon as a pilot and I’m
long time. Our platform has been tirely true because it’s there. Once the basic thing is, you have to have and award-winning series like sure there’s going to be more oppor-
producing original content for nearly you’ve succeeded, there’s a natural shows that you know, in a language the global phenomenon Fauda and tunities with this show.
20 years and 8% of our income goes expectation from the channel, from that you know, a country that you many others. What are your new-
est projects that you are currently What are the budgets of your
working on and what have been shows? Danna Stern is head of Yes
your most-successful projects in Our budgets on a big, big drama Studios overseeing sales, distribu-
2019 so far? would be around $240-260K. A small- tion and development of premium
It’s hard to say just one year because er half-hour show would be about a Israeli content for international
this is a long process. And even with $150-160K. We have comedies that platforms. An international TV
Fauda, which premiered in 2015, sea- are a little bit cheaper because they veteran, in her previous role at Yes,
she was directly responsible for the
son three just launched a few weeks are shorter and they’re mostly shot
multichannel provider’s exclusive
ago. It’s still an ongoing project for on location. Unlike the U.S., for
in-house channels and managed
us. We just announced a remake example, where they do it in blocks,
content and acquisitions strategies
in India. We’re going to do another and it’s much more expensive. The for the platform’s channels and
remake soon in Europe somewhere, way we produce is much, much SVOD offering. She also serves as a
which is going to be announced cheaper. But like everywhere our commissioning editor of documen-
later. budgets are rising. tary and factual programming.
Your Honor had its Season 2 this Stern is a member of the Interna-
year, but next year we’ll go into Most of your drama projects are tional Television Academy.
production with adaptations in Ger- current and contemporary. Have
many, France, Italy and Russia. This you planned exploring other
year we did adaptations in India and genres as well?
they’re shooting the US version right You’re absolutely right. We’re doing
now, which will premiere in 2020. a lot of contemporary things that
Fauda
There’s a lot going on. feel relevant and urgent and deal
26 / TVBIZZ MAGAZINE / NATPE MIAMI 2020 27 / TVBIZZ MAGAZINE / NATPE MIAMI 2020INSIGHTS INSIGHTS
© Guy Raz, Yes Studios. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
© Ohad Romano. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
© Guy Raz, Yes Studios. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
On the Spectrum Magpie
Just for Today
with the here and now as far as its services all seem to be really differ- tionally. I don’t know what Peacock Tel Aviv. We partnered with Erez International Film Festival and has Is Yes Studios working exclusively
themes. We on the studio side are ent from each other. I think the real are doing yet on international level. Aviram, a very talented writer that been featured in numerous festivals. with the Yes pay TV platform or do
working on a period piece right now, battle, if we want to use military Again, I think they’ll be U.S. centric we worked with while distributing It’s a very intricate, very smart drama you have projects for other net-
but it’s a European piece that has terms, is for awareness. How are because they’re such big broadcasters his series The Good Cop which Netflix about prisoners and a halfway house works in Israel?
nothing to do with Israel. The story you made aware of what to watch there. Comcast is so huge. They want remade with Tony Danza and Josh before they integrate back into soci- That’s a really good question. Initially
inherently is about the founding and how within this unbelievable to make sure they’re not losing any Groban last year, and also licensed ety. It’s beautifully done. when we started, we said, oh, we’d be
of the Jewish state, but it doesn’t abundance of content, and how do ad revenues to Facebook and Google. the original Hebrew version which is And another show we’re looking open to everyone. Then we realized, as
take place in Israel, and it is not in you make the right decisions for you I think localization is hard. I think available on the service globally. We forward to taking out is Magpie, a small boutique operation we need to
Hebrew. It takes place 120 years ago. as a content viewer. How is content understanding the regional markets are already working with partners a great crime thriller about two focus on setting up the infrastructure
That’s going to be our first period delivered to you? Is it traditional, is extremely complex. Netflix figured in Germany on local version set in brothers, one recently released from and get that right first. And I think
drama. or digital marketing? Is it word of it out, but it took them some time. Berlin. We are setting up deals pretty prison after 17 years in jail where he now, two years in, I feel like we’re in
I can tell you things we won’t do so mouth? Is the algorithm going to do They are now setting up offices every- much everywhere there are shared / learned to be a jailhouse informant. a good place to pick up third-party
much of - I’m not sure we’ll do a lot all the work? I think that’s the real where. Berlin, Paris, London, Am- co-workplaces and thankfully there’s And he’s learned a lot of the tricks material where it makes sense, where
of horror. I don’t think we need a lot challenge for anybody right now in sterdam, Seoul, Singapore, Tokyo. I a lot and it’s going to be a fun little of the trade. He’s a small guy, very we can really add value; I think in
of that. I think television for us does this business. With the new players think it’s the only way to do it. If you international show. unassuming, unthreatening. And he areas of co-production, co-financing,
want to feel realistic. We probably coming in, they all have very differ- want to be international, you have to On straightforward distribution this also has a stutter, but he’s extremely formats, adaptations where we’ve
also won’t produce sci-fi, just be- ent international agendas. We kind have feet on the ground and now you year has been great as far as Your Hon- smart. And he uses the power of his been extremely strong, I think there’s
cause we don’t have the budgets. of know where Netflix are as they have to have a local team. or, which is, I’m glad to say, coming mind and a lot of tactics to manip- definitely opportunities. And we look
have had an international agenda for to the CEE region on Pickbox. We’ve ulate everybody along the way. And to work with partners that we like and
We are now in the times of the a while. Amazon are focused on key You have also invested in a dis- also done deals for that show pretty when he’s released, he tries to work like us. It’s all about people. Ultimate-
“streaming wars”. What are your big markets. Disney+, for now, seem tribution arm. What is included much everywhere: Brazil, Poland, his way back into his family and his ly, the projects we end up picking up
expectations from the new play- to be very focused on the U.S. market in your catalog? Can you mention Sweden. Asylum City, which is also brother’s love. We’re just packag- are the ones where the people involved
ers on the SVOD front? Will they and for a very specific audience; they some recent deals? coming here, has gone everywhere, ing that for the U.S., which is often have that passion, and it’s a long mar-
be picking up and commissioning seem to be skewing young. As for We distribute everything our including Australia. We’ve sold shows where we start strategically. It’s a athon so you end up working together
Israeli shows? HBO Max, they don’t seem to have a broadcast platform produces, and we to Albania for the first time this year. lucrative market and potential broad- for years. So, yes, I think we’re at a
So first of all, it’s a very important, very defined international strategy have a full mandate to find stories It’s been fascinating to learn and casters and platforms may want to time where we think we can take on
relevant topic and multi-faceted as yet. I think they’re focused on the that we want to tell and set them up meet people from all these places. license for multiple territories. Once more projects. We do have infrastruc-
right now. I don’t like calling it U.S. launch and will be for a while, internationally. One of the projects Coming up we have two new big that’s done, we are going to take this ture, but they have to make sense and
streaming wars. It’s not. You can’t and they’re going to try to figure out that we’re doing now, for exam- series this year; Just for Today, which out everywhere else. We’ve also just we have to bring really value. It’s not
have one service and just call it a what they’re doing there and what- ple, is based on our own experience has won the Jury Prize at Series Mania started filming several new shows just about having a big catalog, it’s
day with only one “winner”. These ever opportunities there are interna- working at a shared workspace in and the Grand Prize at the Zurich for next year. It’ll be fun. having the right catalog. ■
28 / TVBIZZ MAGAZINE / NATPE MIAMI 2020 29 / TVBIZZ MAGAZINE / NATPE MIAMI 2020NEW HIT NEW HIT
Your Moment nuska, Floor, how did you
get involved in the develop-
ment of the Your Moment?
We have been working for
ABS-CBN since the start of Pinoy Big
Brother. At that time, we were still
From the Netherlands to the Philippines coming to a screen near you working for Endemol International. In
2006 we started Fritz Productions and
since then we have been involved in
the final casting of Pinoy Big Brother. Two Anuska Ban Floor van Hofvegen
In a rare example for global television, Dutch and Filipino partners joined forces to create a brand- years ago, ABS-CBN asked us to develop Dutch Fritz Productions Dutch Fritz Productions
new talent format and two years later Your Moment was born. Launched in November in the Philip- together an international format.
pines, the show is already attracting the interest of broadcasters from all over the world turning Your
Was it an easy decision to start working
Moment into one of the hottest new titles on the international market.
on this project? What were your first
steps? did it take you first to fine tune the year ago, it became more serious and
Georgi R. Chakarov spoke with the format creators about the complexities of creating such a big It was not easy to start working on this format and later to turn it into a together with the creative team of
production working from both sides of the world. Anuska Ban and Floor van Hofvegen from Dutch project because the culture is different, live-action production? ABS-CBN we developed Your Moment.
Fritz Productions and ABS-CBN executive producer Reily Pablo L. Santiago Jr. were happy to share and the communication is not always Set designer Dirk Debou created the Last February, there was a go from the
easy because of the distance between immense set with the rotating tribune channel and in April the set designer,
how the whole development process evolved and what are some of the elements that make Your
Amsterdam and Manilla. The first steps for the jury and the audience. Rolf the set construction designer and the
Moment a unique production.
were to create a Dutch team of special- Meter, the director and co-creator, light designer went for the first time
ists for the brainstorm meetings. We took care of the look and feel of the to the Philippines to explain the set
created a small team consisting of a format and the content together with and the lighting plan. We hired a mu-
director, a set designer and us two. the creative team of ABS-CBN and sic director and a graphic designer for
Fritz Productions. Later on, we asked the graphics and the voting system. In
Tell us more about the people who a light designer from the Netherlands June, we taped the first episodes in the
helped create the show. How long to join us and a graphic designer. A brand-new studio of ABS-CBN. In total
30 / TVBIZZ MAGAZINE / NATPE MIAMI 2020 31 / TVBIZZ MAGAZINE / NATPE MIAMI 2020You can also read
