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ZDF Studios

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ZDF Studios
FormerlyZDF Enterprises (1993–2022)
Company typeSubsidary
FoundedJanuary 1, 1993; 32 years ago (1993-01-01)
Key people
Markus Schäefer[1] (president and CEO)
ParentZDF
Websitewww.zdf-studios.com

ZDF Studios GmbH (formerly known as ZDF Enterprises, stylised as ZDF.enterprises) is a wholly owned German production and distribution subsidiary of the German television network ZDF that is known for the creation and exploitation of ZDF's programming internationally outside of Germany. They also handled programming acquisitions, co-productions and distribution with other production companies around the world. It was founded in 1993. Until March 31, 2022, it was known as ZDF Enterprises. It is located at the ZDF broadcasting center in Mainz-Lerchenberg and had three offices in Munich, Cologne and New York

History

[edit]

In July 2007, ZDF Enterprises announced they had acquired a 50% majority stake in Bavaria Film's independent television production subsidiary Bavaria Fernsehproduktion. The latter's previous parent, major German film production and distribution company Bavaria Film, spun off their television production arm into an independent subsidiary within Bavaria Film, in order for them to become a management holding company. The acquisition of a 50% stake by ZDF Enterprises had turned Bavaria Film's television subsidiary, Bavaria Fernsehproduktion, into a joint-venture production subsidiary, with ZDF Enterprises co-producing and handling international distribution of the company's projects outside of Germany.[2]

In January 2011, ZDF Enterprises acquired a 49% minority stake in factual entertainment and documentary production division Studio Hamburg DocLights from NDR's Hamburg-based film and television production and service company Studio Hamburg Production Group (who they founded the division one year earlier in 2010), establishing a partnership with the two production companies. The former would co-prooduce and distribute Studio Hamburg Doclights' productions, as Studio Hamburg Production Group continued to hold a 51% stake in documentary division Studio Hamburg DocLights, alongside Jörn Röver, Michaela Hummel and Andreas Knoblauch, who continued to head the factual studio as CEOs.[3]

In late January 2012, ZDF Enteprises (who bought Studio Hamburg's documentary division Studio Hamburg Doclights in January 2011) established a joint-venture distribution sales unit with NDR's Hamburg-based film and television production and service company Studio Hamburg Production Group, called Studio Hamburg Enterprises. This joint-venture distribution company acquired rights to ZDF Enterprises' programming catalouge, including the ZDF and ARD libraries, with the two companies handling 50% of their joint-venture distribution unit. ZDF Enterprises' former head of merchandising Peter Lang and former Studio Hamburg head of home entertainment Jens Uwe Welge led the joint-venture distribution sales unit.[4] The two production and distribution companies, ZDF Studios (which was renamed from ZDF Enterprises) and Studio Hamburg Production Group, rebranded their joint-venture distribution unit as OneGate Media ten years later in September 2022, with the name referencing the latter's roots in Hamburg.[5]

On June 6 2017, ZDF Enterprises expanded their operations into the UK distribution market by acquiring a 32% minority stake in British factual production and distribution company World Media Rights. This marked ZDF Enterprises' first investment in the British production and distribution company outside of Germany. World Media Rights CEO Allan Griffiths continued as CEO of the British factual production and distribution company through ZDF Enterprises.[6]

In January 2019, ZDF Enterprises expanded their operations into the Netherlands by announcing their acquisition of Dutch unscripted production and distribution company Off the Fence, thus giving ZDF Enterprises their own Dutch production and distribution subsidiary. Off the Fence's CEO and founder Ellen Windemuth continued operating the company under ZDF Enterprises.[7]

In April 2022, a day after the rebranding of ZDF Enterprises to ZDF Studios, ZDF Studios announced a partnership with Belgian production and distribution group Studio 100 through the latter's Munich-based German international distribution division Studio 100 Media (now Studio 100 International) to jointly launch an new international channel brand. This would bring ZDF Studios' kids & family programming library, such as Australian television series H2O: Just Add Water and Find Me in Paris, with Studio 100's kids & family programming catalogue under one streaming channel brand, Pash. This was launched on Amazon Prime Channels in the UK, Italy and Spain, with the two companies planning to launch their joint venture channel brand in other territories.[8]

Filmography

[edit]

Television

[edit]
Title Years Network Notes
Tabaluga 1997–2004 ZDF
Seven Network (Australia)		 co-production with Yoram Gross-EM.TV, EM.Entertainment and Victory Media Group
Laura's Star 2002–2011 ZDF
SF 1 (Switzerland)		 co-production with Rothkirch-Cartoon Film (season 1), Bauhaus Medien (season 1), Mondo TV (seasons 2–3) and Mondo Igel Media (seasons 2–3)
Wicked Science 2004–2006 Network Ten (Australia) co-production with Jonathan M. Shiff Productions
Dragon[9] 2004–2007 ZDF
Treehouse TV (Canada)
EBS (South Korea)		 co-production with Cite-Amerique, Scopas Medien and Image Plus
Shaolin Wuzang[10] 2005–2006 ZDF
France 3 (France)
Jetix Europe
TV 2 (Denmark)		 co-production with Les Cartooneurs Associés and Fantasia Animation
H2O: Just Add Water 2006–2010 Kika
Network Ten (Australia)		 co-production with Jonathan M. Shiff Productions
The Killing 2007–2012 DR1 (Denmark) co-production with DR
Fun with Claude[11] 2009 ZDF
Playhouse Disney UK (United Kingdom)		 co-production with Dot to Dot Producitons, Red & Blue Productions and Dinamo Productions
Igam Ogam 2009–2013 ZDF
Channel 5 & S4C (United Kingdom)		 co-production with Calon and Telegael (season 2)
Le Petit Nicolas[12] 2009–2010 ZDF
M6 (France)		 co-production with Method Animation, M6 Studio, LuxAnimation and DQ Entertainment
Millennium 2010 SVT1 co-production with Yellow Bird, Nordisk Film, SVT and Film i Väst
Dance Academy 2010–2013 ZDF
ABC1/ABC3 (Australia)		 co-production with Werner Film Productions and Australian Children's Television Foundation
The Jungle Book[13] 2010–2020 ZDF
TF1/Piwi+ (France)		 co-production with DQ Entertainment, MoonScoop (seasons 1–2), Ellipsanime Productions (season 3) and Les Cartooneurs Associés (season 3)
Sherlock Yack 2011–2012 ZDF & Kika
TF1 (France)		 co-production with Mondo TV France
My Phone Genie[14] 2012 Kika
CITV (United Kingdom)		 co-production with MoonScoop, Talent Television and Telegael
The New Adventures of Peter Pan[15][16][17][18] 2012–2016 ZDF[19]
France 3 (France)		 co-production with Method Animation, DQ Entertainment, Story Board Animation and De Agostini Editore
The Fall 2013–2016 ZDFneo
BBC Two (United Kingdom)
RTÉ One (Ireland)		 co-production with Artists Studio and Fabels Limited
Reef Doctors[20] 2013 Network Ten/Eleven co-production with Jonathan M. Shiff Productions
Mako: Island of Secrets 2013–2016 ZDF
Network Ten/Eleven (Australia)
Netflix (Worldwide)		 A spin-off of H2O: Just Add Water by Jonathan M. Shiff
co-production with Jonathan M. Shiff Productions
Wendy[21] 2013–2014 ZDF co-production with Red Kite Animation and August Media
The New Adventures of Lassie[22] 2014–2020 ZDF
TF1 (France)		 co-production with DreamWorks Classics, Superprod Animation and DQ Entertainment (season 1)
The Skinner Boys: Guardians of the Lost Secrets[23] 2014–2017 Super RTL
9Go! (Australia)		 co-production with SLR Productions, Telegael Teoranta, Home Plate Entertainment (season 1) and Top Draw Animation (season 1)
Sam Fox: Extreme Adventures 2014–2015 Eleven (Australia) co-production with SLR Productions and Kojo
H2O: Mermaid Adventures 2015 ZDF
France 3 (France)
Netflix (Worldwide)		 co-production with Les Cartooneurs Associés, Jonathan M. Shiff Productions and Fantasia Animation
Based on the live-action series H2O: Just Add Water by Jonathan M. Shiff
Captain Flinn and the Pirate Dinosaurs[24] 2015 Kika
9Go! (Australia)		 co-production with SLR Productions, Telegael and Top Draw Animation
Robin Hood: Mischief in Sherwood[25][26] 2015–2019 ZDF
TF1 (France)
Disney Channel France (France) (seasons 1–2)		 co-production with Method Animation, DQ Entertainment (seasons 1–2), Fabrique D'Images (season 1), De Agostini Editore (season 1) and KidsMe (season 3)
Scream Street 2015–present CBBC (United Kingdom) co-production with Coolabi Productions
Ku'damm 56 2016–2021 ZDF co-production with UFA Fiction
Seven and Me[27] 2016–2019 France 3 (France)
Rai Gulp (Italy)		 co-production with Method Animation, AB Productions, DQ Entertainment, Nexus Factory and Rai Fiction
Find Me in Paris[28] 2018–2020 ZDF
Disney Channel France & France 4 (France)
Disney Channel Italy (Italy)
Hulu (United States)
ABC Me (Australia)		 co-production with Cottonwood Media, BE-Films, UMedia, and Paris Opera
The Bureau of Magical Things 2018–2021 Kika/ZDF
Eleven/10 Shake (Australia)		 co-production with Jonathan M. Shiff Productions
Apollo's Tall Tales[29] 2019 ZDF
France 5 & TiJi (France)		 co-production with Method Animation, Bidibul Productions and PGS Entertainment
Heirs of the Night[30] 2019–2020 NDR & Kika[31]
NRK1 (Norway)
NPO 3 (Netherlands)		 co-production with Lemming Film, Hamster Film, Maze Pictures, Maipo Film and Scope Pictures
Agent Hamilton[32][33] 2020–2022 ZDFneo
C More & TV 4 (Sweden)		 co-production with Dramacorp Pampas Studios and Kärnfilm
Dead Still[34] 2020 Acorn TV
CityTV (Canada)		 co-production with Shaftesbury Films and Deadpan Pictures
Space Nova[35][36] 2021–present Super RTL
9Go & ABC ME/ABC Family (Australia)		 co-production with SLR Productions, Giggle Garbage and Australian Children's Television Foundation
Huss[37][38] 2021 ZDF
Viaplay (Scandinavia)
Kanal 5 (Sweden)		 co-production with Yellow Bird
ANA. all in[39] RTVE Play (Spain) co-production with DeAPlaneta and Tornasol
Theodosia[40] 2022–present ZDF
Salto/France 4 (France)
HBO Max[41]/BYUtv[42] (United States)
Globoplay (Brazil)		 co-prodcution with Cottonwood Media, BE-Films and UMedia
Silverpoint ZDF
CBBC (United Kingdom)		 co-production with Zodiak Kids & Family Productions UK
The Enchanted Village of Pinocchio[43] 2022 France 5
Rai Yoyo (Italy)		 co-production with Palomar, Rai Ragazzi and ZDF Studios
Spellbound 2023–present ZDF
France 4 (France)
Hulu (United States)		 co-production with Cottonwood Media
Grisù[44] 2023–present Kika
Rai YoYo & Rai Play (Italy)		 co-production with Mondo TV, Mondo TV France and Toon2Tango
Pirate Academy[45] 2024–present ZDF
M6 & Canal J (France)		 co-production with Method Animation, Toonz Entertainment, Telegael and KidsMe
The 3 Musketeers[46][47] 2025–present ZDF
France 4 (France)
RAI (Italy)		 co-production with Method Animation, Palomar and Rai Kids
Weiss & Morales[48] 2025 ZDF
La 1 (Spain)		 co-production with Portocabo and Nadcon

Film

[edit]
Title Release date Distributor Notes
The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo 27 February 2009 (Sweden and Denmark)
1 October 2009 (Germany)		 NFP Marketing & Distribution
Nordisk Film (Sweden and Denmark)		 co-production with Yellow Bird, Nordisk Film, Filmpool Stockholm-Mälardalen, Sveriges Television, ZDF, Film i Väst and Spiltan Underhållning
The Girl Who Played with Fire 18 September 2009 (Sweden and Denmark)
4 February 2010 (Germany)
The Girl Who Kicked the Hornets' Nest 27 November 2009 (Sweden and Denmark)
3 June 2010 (Germany)
The Four Times 28 May 2010 (Italy) Cinecittà Luce (Italy) Invisibile Film, Ventura Film, Vivo Film, Coproduction Office, Caravan Pass and Altamarea Film
Dance Academy: The Comeback[49][50] April 7, 2017 ZDF Enterprises
StudioCanal (Australia)		 co-production with Werner Film Productions, StudioCanal and Australian Children's Television Foundation
Alice-Miranda Friends Forever[51][52] December 2, 2019 ZDF Studios
ABC Commercial (Australia)		 co-production with SLR Productions
Alice-Miranda: A Royal Christmas Ball[52] October 15, 2021

References

[edit]
  1. ^ Ramachandran, Naman (April 12, 2022). "Markus Schaefer Takes Over as President, CEO of ZDF Studios, Succeeding Fred Burcksen". Variety.
  2. ^ Meza, Ed (July 5, 2007). "ZDF buys stake in Bavaria subsid". Variety.
  3. ^ "ZDFE Takes Stake in Factual Producer". Worldscreen. January 18, 2011.
  4. ^ "ZDF and Studio Hamburg launch new sales unit SHE". Asia-Pacific Broadcasting Union. January 30, 2012.
  5. ^ "Studio Hamburg Enterprises rebrands as OneGate Media". Broadband TV News. September 22, 2022.
  6. ^ Middleton, Richard (June 6, 2017). "ZDFE buys stake in World Media Rights". C21Media.
  7. ^ White, Peter (January 8, 2019). "Germany's ZDF Enterprises Acquires 'Love & Hip Hop' & 'Kendra On Top' Distributor Off The Fence". Deadline Hollywood.
  8. ^ "Studio 100 Media Partners With ZDF Studios for Amazon Prime Channels (EXCLUSIVE)". Variety. April 1, 2022.
  9. ^ "Dragon stalks Mipcom". C21Media. September 9, 2004.
  10. ^ Kenny, Joanne (October 27, 2005). "ZDF fiction programming proves popular". C21Media.
  11. ^ "ZDF, Disney onboard Claude". C21Media. August 1, 2008.
  12. ^ Brookes, Emily (September 9, 2008). "France's Little Nick heads for TV". C21Media. Retrieved October 23, 2024.
  13. ^ Buxton, Martin (March 30, 2009). "DQE, ZDF line up Jungle Book series". C21Media.
  14. ^ DeMott, Rick (April 5, 2011). "Moonscoop, Talent TV, Telegael Call Up My Phone Genie". Animation World Network.
  15. ^ Stuart, Mimi (April 13, 2010). "DQ inks deal with France TV". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved October 26, 2024.
  16. ^ Sarto, Dan (April 14, 2010). "'The New Adventures of Peter Pan' Coming to TV in 3D". Animation World Network. Retrieved October 26, 2024.
  17. ^ "Global Co-production Preps New Adventures of Peter Pan". Animation Magazine. April 15, 2010. Retrieved October 26, 2024.
  18. ^ "DQ, Method, ZDF Set 3D Peter Pan Series". Animation Magazine. October 5, 2010. Retrieved October 20, 2024.
  19. ^ "DQE in co-production deal with ZDF Group for Peter Pan". Indian Television. October 4, 2010. Retrieved October 26, 2024.
  20. ^ Delany, Colin (May 8, 2012). "Jonathan M Shiff Productions wraps Reef Doctors; begins Mako Mermaids". Mumbrella.
  21. ^ Dickson, Jeremy (February 8, 2012). "Red Kite to animate Wendy". Kidscreen.
  22. ^ Wolfe, Jennifer (2015-06-02). "Year-End Earnings". Animation World Network. Retrieved 2018-09-10.
  23. ^ Knox, David (8 October 2012). "The Skinner Boys animated series for Nine". TV Tonight. Retrieved 22 May 2022.
  24. ^ Milligan, Mercedes (September 9, 2013). "SLR Greenlights 'Captain Flinn' Series". Animation Magazine.
  25. ^ "DQE, Method Team for 'Robin Hood: Mischief in Sherwood'". Animation Magazine. April 6, 2011. Retrieved October 20, 2024.
  26. ^ Arrent, Chris (April 7, 2011). "DQE and Method Animation Partner for 3D "Robin Hood – Mischief in Sherwood' Animated Series". Cartoon Brew. Retrieved October 26, 2024.
  27. ^ Keslassy, Elsa (October 1, 2015). "Mipcom: AB Intl. Distribution Launches First French Hybrid Series 'Seven And Me'". Variety. Retrieved October 27, 2024.
  28. ^ Hopewell, John (April 1, 2017). "MipTV: Cottonwood, ZDF's 'Find Me in Paris' Closes With Disney, FT, ABC Australia (EXCLUSIVE)". Variety.
  29. ^ "PGS Secures New Presale Partners for 'Tall Tales' Series". Animation World Network. January 28, 2019. Retrieved October 20, 2024.
  30. ^ Barraclough, Leo (December 17, 2015). "Luc Besson's EuropaCorp Teams with Maze Pictures on 'The Crimson Rivers' TV Series". Variety. Retrieved June 7, 2025.
  31. ^ "Hot Picks: Heirs Of The Night". Broadcast Now. October 10, 2019.
  32. ^ Barraclough, Leo (October 19, 2019). "Spy Thriller 'Agent Hamilton' Receives Greenlight for Second Season". Variety.
  33. ^ Lindstedt, Moa (2019-08-13). "Nya "Hamilton" färdigställs – efter allvarliga skadan". www.expressen.se (in Swedish). Retrieved 2024-09-10.
  34. ^ Clarke, Stewart (May 30, 2019). "Acorn TV, Ireland's RTE Team for Morbidly Comic Drama 'Dead Still'". Variety.
  35. ^ Knox, David (5 February 2019). "Space Nova kids series for Nine, ABC". TV Tonight. Retrieved 15 April 2024.
  36. ^ Dickson, Jeremy (February 9, 2019). "SLR's Space Nova takes off with commissions". kidscreen.
  37. ^ "NENT Group recruits 'Huss' as next original drama production". Ciscon News. November 29, 2019.
  38. ^ Hopewell, John (May 17, 2021). "'Millennium' Producer Yellow Bird's 'Huss' Brought Onto the Market by ZDF Enterprises (EXCLUSIVE)". Variety.
  39. ^ Herruzo Martínez, Ignacio (30 June 2020). "'Ana Tramel. El juego': el reparto completo de la serie de Maribel Verdú en TVE". Diez Minutos.
  40. ^ Hopewell, John; Keslassy, Elsa (February 25, 2021). "Cottonwood, ZDF, ZDFE, HBO Max, Globo Set 'Indiana Jones'-Style Live-Action Kids Series 'Theodosia' (EXCLUSIVE)". Variety.
  41. ^ Keslassy, Elsa (April 3, 2022). "ZDF Studios, Federation's Kids Series 'Theodosia' Acquired by BBC, Among Other Deals (EXCLUSIVE)". Variety. Retrieved July 19, 2022.
  42. ^ Stalcup, Jamie (31 Aug 2023). "New Deals for Theodosia in Europe & the U.S." TV Kids. Retrieved 31 Aug 2023.
  43. ^ Dickson, Jeremy (February 18, 2021). "ON Kids & Family expands TV slate". Kidscreen. Retrieved October 20, 2024.
  44. ^ "ZDF, Toon2Tango fly with new series". Kidscreen. November 18, 2020.
  45. ^ "12 Animated Shows to Track at MIPTV". Animation Magazine. April 13, 2023. Retrieved October 27, 2024.
  46. ^ Spry, Jeff (October 18, 2022). "Method Animation and Palomar Unite Swords for New 'Three Musketeers' CG series". Animation Magazine. Retrieved October 23, 2024.
  47. ^ Batey, Neil (October 19, 2022). "All for one as Method Animation, Palomar collaborate on The 3 Musketeers for kids". Retrieved October 23, 2024.
  48. ^ "RTVE inicia el rodaje de 'Weiss & Morales'". RTVE (in Spanish). 29 March 2024.
  49. ^ Bodey, Michael (22 April 2015). "Dance Academy film wins SA funding". The Australian. Retrieved 9 July 2015.
  50. ^ Knox, David (23 April 2015). "Dance Academy comeback on the big screen". TV Tonight. Retrieved 6 May 2016.
  51. ^ Knox, David (8 October 2018). "Alice-Miranda shines bright for Nine". TV Tonight. Retrieved 12 October 2019.
  52. ^ a b Knox, David (10 October 2019). "Nine orders more of Alice-Miranda for kids". TV Tonight. Retrieved 12 October 2019.
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