NHK & France Télévisions Extend Co-Pro Partnership

CANNES: The Japanese pubcaster NHK and French pubcaster France Télévisions have renewed their co-production agreement for an additional three years, following on an initial pact signed in 2002. 

NHK and France 5 signed a co-production/pre-buy agreement in 2002 and have seen a number of successful project come from the deal, including Mammals vs. Dinosaurs and Evolution of the Moon, both initiated by NHK, and Apocalypse, initiated by France Télévisions. 

The two will extend their collaboration to include France 2, France 3, France 4, France 5 and France Ô. NHK and France Télévisions will agree the terms of collaboration on a program-by-program basis. The companies are already planning the co-production of China 2000 BC and Volcano Devils.

NHK and France Télévisions also co-produce websites. They are currently working on a website for the documentary series Life Force.

Kazumasa Iida, the head of NHK’s international program development, said: “NHK is very happy to have a long-term relationship with France Télévisions. Through collaboration on numerous high-quality programs, our relationship has matured to such an extent that we even work together in digital services—an area that’s more and more important for public broadcasters. We look forward to continued collaboration in a wide range of fields.”

Patricia Boutinard-Rouelle, the head of documentaries for France Télévisions, added: "We are delighted to enhance further what has been such a strong relationship between NHK and France 5. It is the right time for an even more fruitful collaboration which will allow all the channels of our group to participate and enrichen the partnership with their specific areas of expertise, including docudrama."