New8 Drama Alliance Extends Partnership

The New8 alliance, made up of eight European public-service broadcasters, has extended its partnership for three more years.

“The continuation of New8 confirms the strength of collaboration between public broadcasters,” said Elly Vervloet, international drama expert at VRT and chair of New8. “What began as an ambitious initiative has grown into a sustainable network that strengthens local creative industries and ensures that stories travel further. By joining forces once again, we continue to invest in bold, innovative fiction that embodies our public values and resonates with a broad European audience.”

New8 comprises Sweden’s SVT, Denmark’s DR, Finland’s Yle, Iceland’s RÚV, Norway’s NRK, Belgium’s VRT, the Netherlands’ NPO and Germany’s ZDF.

“New8 demonstrates the high-quality programming that emerges when strong public-service partners join forces,” commented Jasmin Maeda, senior VP of international fiction co-production and acquisition at ZDF. “The various nominations and awards for series like Other People’s Money and Elixir, as well as the impressive performance of titles on ZDF’s streaming platform, showcase the international strength and creative potential inherent in this alliance.”

Johanna Gårdare, head of drama and film at SVT, added, “The greatest strength of New8 is the ability to offer the industry a long-term partnership that can support producers with financing and help their projects reach a wider audience. The new three-year agreement is a renewed commitment to the industry and demonstrates a clear, stable and long-term system that the industry can depend on.”

New8 plans to continue to highlight pressing social issues, such as racism and social cohesion (After Benjamin), as well as innovation and entrepreneurial power (Vanguard). Titles such as Push and Queen of Fucking Everything will further expand the spectrum, foregrounding female perspectives, social inequality and questions of identity, while series like This is Not a Murdery Mystery provide entertaining and bold storytelling.