ZDFE Takes Stake in Factual Producer

HAMBURG/MAINZ: ZDF Enterprises has picked up a 49-percent interest in Studio Hamburg DocLights, a production company that specializes in nature films, documentaries and factual entertainment.

Studio Hamburg Produktion Gruppe retains 51 percent of the shares in the outfit, which will continue to be led by Jörn Röver, Michaela Hummel and Andreas Knoblauch as CEOs.

“The collaboration with ZDF Enterprises is a further, important step towards establishing Studio Hamburg DocLights as one of Germany’s leading documentary film producers,” said Michael Lehmann, chairman of the management of Studio Hamburg Produktion Gruppe. “In the future, we will be able to offer broadcasters event programs and series in all non-fiction domains, many produced with foreign co-financing, which makes us more competitive.”

“With our holding in Studio Hamburg DocLights, we are rounding off our equity portfolio with additional nationally and internationally attractive genres, such as the animal film,” added Alexander Coridass, president and CEO of ZDF Enterprises. “We are also looking forward to an innovative and intensive cooperation with the highly professional and successful management team of DocLights.”