ITV Studios to Open Spanish Production Center

CANNES: ITV Studios Spain, a newly created production center based in Madrid, will be led by Fran Garcia as managing director.

This is the sixth production center from ITV Studios, which has operations based in Los Angeles, Cologne, Stockholm, Sydney and the U.K. The new production center will focus on high-value genre programming, including entertainment, factual entertainment and lifestyle. Garcia, who was formally CEO at Atlas-Grupo Telecino, said: “ITV already has a strong presence in the Spanish TV production market having originated many successful shows, such as Pasapalabra. Today’s news of the two-pilot commission from Telecinco is a fantastic start to the new venture and we’re looking forward to announcing the show names and formats later this year. I am also confident that more commissions will follow suit with other Spanish broadcasters soon.”

Lee Bartlett, the managing director of ITV Studios, commented: “I’m delighted to confirm Fran Garcia’s appointment and the opening of our sixth production centre. This development is core to our international growth strategy, which is dedicated to creating and producing high-value content for buyers in all corners of the world. Fran Garcia’s experience and knowledge of the Spanish market will be a great asset to the business and we look forward to working together and creating programming for all broadcasters in Spain.”

Remy Blumenfeld, the director of formats at ITV Studios, added: “By building a creative and production hub in Madrid we can now offer ITV Studios programming direct to Spanish broadcasters, recruiting the very best possible talent to produce our new commissions. Fran Garcia is the ideal person to help us build this.”

Spain’s Telecinco has acquired more than 450 hours from ITV Studios Global Entertainment for its bouquet of digital channels. The deal includes ITV Studios’ an independently produced content from the genres of drama, factual and factual entertainment. The programming will debut this fall on Telecinco’s La Siete and Factoría de Ficción channels. The acquisition features Telecinco’s first-ever internationally acquired factual entertainment programming slate from ITV Studios and will include Nanny 911 and both Trinny & Susannah Undress and I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out of Here! The package also includes the prime-time dramas Cracker and Cold Feet.

Manuel Villanueva, the director General of Content at Telecinco, said: “ITV’s catalogue—as one of the biggest distributors in Europe— will reinforce the schedules of our digital channels with entertainment programs and drama series which already have conquered audiences around the globe.”

Tobi de Graaff, the director of global TV distribution at ITV Studios Global Entertainment, commented: “As the digital-switchover happens in Spain, broadcaster’s are requiring even larger portfolios of high-quality, trusted content, so we’re delighted to be working with Telecinco as a preferred supplier for their portfolio of digital channels.”