ZDF Enterprises & NDF Establish Fiction JV

ZDF Enterprises (ZDFE) and neue deutsche Filmgesellschaft (NDF) have established a joint venture to launch FictionMagnet Produktions, targeting the scripted sector.

NDF will have a 51 percent stake in the new company and ZDFE will own 49 percent. The company, which will develop and produce scripted TV projects for ZDF, will be managed by the two NDF CEOs, Eric Welbers and Matthias Walther.

Plans are already underway for the first production by the new joint venture: In Their 50s (Um die 50), a TV movie based on the Um die 30 series from the ’90s. It reunites the original writing duo of Dominik Raacke and Ralf Huettner.

Fred Burcksen, president and CEO of ZDF Enterprises, commented, “We are delighted to be able to expand the close and successful collaboration we have had with our long-time partner neue deutsche Filmgesellschaft within a joint company. Pooling the program-making expertise, international experience and corporate commitment of our two companies creates the ideal conditions for making successful German productions for the domestic and international markets.”

Welbers and Walther added: “Collaboration on fictional productions by NDF and ZDF began back in 1988 with The Heritage of the Guldenburgs (Das Erbe der Guldenburgs) and a close and highly successful partnership with ZDF and ZDF Enterprises has developed over the years, which we are now reshaping for the future. With this joint venture, we have a great opportunity to meet the program challenges of the future together and to develop attractive fictional programs for ZDF, which we hope will continue to attract viewers. NDF will remain an independent production company, but will also work in partnership with ZDF through FictionMagnet Produktions.”