Nova TV Re-Ups for FME Soap Opera

LONDON: A second season of the FremantleMedia Enterprises (FME) soap opera format Forbidden Love (Zabranena Lyubov) has been picked up by Nova TV for Bulgaria.

Nova has also extended rights on season one, allowing it to increase the number of episode transmissions and repeats. Season two will include 98 26-minute episodes and will air in 2010. The new deal with Nova allows an additional two transmissions for season one, as well as one repeat within 24 hours. 

Zabranena Lyubov revolves around two families, the affluent Konstantinovs and the low-income Belevs, who are linked together by a central theme of love. It deals with a man and a woman who fall in love and are unaware they are siblings, but also life in contemporary Bulgarian society. 

Veronika Gracher, the VP of sales for German-speaking Europe and Eastern Europe at FME, commented, “Zabranena Lyubov is one of Bulgaria’s favorite programs and we’re delighted that Nova has taken a second series. It’s a format we’re extremely proud of and having such a great partner was vital in agreeing this deal.”

Antonii Mangov, the head of acquisitions and scheduling for Nova Television, said, “The first series of Zabranena Lyubov was a big hit with audiences and a very important part of our schedule so we’re really pleased to continue with the show and with FME.”