AETN, ZDF Renew Co-Production, Programming Agreement

CANNES, April
8: A&E Television Networks (AETN) and ZDF Enterprises have extended their
current multifaceted programming and co-production deal for three years.

The terms call
for ZDF Enterprises to acquire non-fiction programming from AETN’s History
catalogue for ZDF’s history-oriented programming block, which broadcasts weekly
on Sunday nights. The block is programmed under the control of ZDF programmers,
with content provided by both ZDF and History in the U.S.

Meanwhile, The
History Channel in Germany will acquire local history programming from ZDF
Enterprises for broadcast on its service, as well as biography and lifestyle
programming for The Biography Channel.

History and
ZDF Enterprises have also extended their co-production partnership to produce
nine contemporary and ancient-history programs over the next three years for
broadcast on ZDF in Germany and on History in the U.S.

In the final
part of the deal, AETN has named ZDF Enterprises as its syndication
representative for German-speaking Europe for Modern Marvels. The program covers some of the
world's most amazing architectural and engineering structures, scientific
discoveries and social wonders, and contains more than 400 hours of content.

Alexander
Coridass, the president and CEO of ZDF Enterprises, commented: "The
combination of AETN, ZDF and ZDF Enterprises programming expertise is
synonymous to high-caliber programming for audiences around the globe. We are
very proud of this longstanding and fruitful partnership of global players in
the most significant fields of the television industry. In this very
competitive time of digital changes we are pleased that our close relationship
with this successful and reliable partner is still going strong.”

"ZDF
Enterprises has been an important production and distribution partner for AETN
through the years, and we are very pleased to extend our relationship by
appointing them as syndication representative for Modern Marvels in German-speaking Europe," added
Sean Cohan, the senior VP of international for AETN. "This strategic
relationship has always been beneficial to both parties and I have no doubt the
partnership will continue to thrive."

—By
Kristin Brzoznowski