Zodiak Forecasts Brisk LatAm Business

Zodiak Rights' positive experiences of working with broadcasters in Latin America has led the company to increase its focus on this part of the world as well, according to Elliott Chalkley, the company's VP of sales.

“Business is going well but there is always more we could be doing,” he says of Zodiak Rights’ LatAm activities. “Knowledge and relationships are key when dealing with our clients in Latin America. We are keeping abreast of what is working in the territory and where, and tailoring our pitches and acquisitions accordingly.”

One such trend has been the appetite for non-scripted content from buyers in Latin America. “Interest in our factual programming slate remains robust,” says Chalkley. “Human interest docs continue to whet the appetites of our pan-regional buyers, while factual entertainment and lifestyle are also generating lots of excitement.” Zodiak Rights is particularly excited about the new titles The Proposers and This Old Thing, Chalkley notes. “Character-driven reality is also performing well in the region and so we are anticipating a good reaction to our new acquisition Risky Listing.”

Formats have also been a bright spot for Zodiak Rights in terms of LatAm deals. “Hidden camera and game shows continue to work well in many parts of Latin America,” says Chalkley. “For this reason, we were excited about launching The Temptation Test at NATPE. The Temptation Test has a special place in our catalogue, as it is a format that originated on Chilevisión as Manos al Fuego. We are finding that buyers throughout the region are increasingly looking at formats that are performing well in neighboring countries for inspiration. We hope that The Temptation Test resonates with audiences throughout the continent. It is great fun!”

At NATPE, Zodiak Rights scored a deal in Brazil, among other markets, for the latest installment of the International Emmy-winning cop series Braquo. The third season of the drama, which originated in France, is now set to air on Globosat in Brazil, along with other international broadcasters.

“We continue to work with our local partners Zodiak Latino and Zodiak Brasil to unlock format opportunities across Latin America,” says Chalkley. “We are working on a couple of very exciting projects together in Mexico and Colombia at the moment, so watch this space! We are delighted to see that sales are coming through all the way from Central America to the Southern Cone.” And Chalkley believes this momentum will continue throughout the year.