MIPTV Spotlight: Zodiak Rights

CANNES: The adventure reality show Dropped has enjoyed considerable success on TV4 in Sweden, and Zodiak Rights is now offering the format internationally.

“There is a tremendous interest in ‘Scandi-tainment’ at the moment and the show represents a way of producing adventure reality which is more ‘real’ than others in the genre,” says Barnaby Shingleton, the company’s VP of entertainment. “This fits well with the general trend toward depth and away from overtly produced programming; a trend typified by broadcasters in the U.K. and Scandinavia that has strong signs of spreading further.”

Shingleton says that Back to School: The Big Class Reunion is “no-holds-barred entertainment for co-viewing.” He says of Big Ballet, “I think it would be difficult for a buyer to watch 15 minutes and not want to watch more.”

There is a third season ready to offer of Braquo, which Zodiak Rights will be speaking to buyers about at MIPTV. The winner of the 2012 International Emmy Award for best drama, Braquo has already sold to 113 countries.

Zodiak Rights is also highlighting Back to Saint Tropez, a spin-off series of the original cult saga Saint Tropez, which sold to more than 120 countries. There is a fifth season in production of the comedic drama Solsidan. “There is a new interest for European drama/non-American drama triggered by the success of The Returned, the French drama series sold in over 70 territories,” says Marc Nowak, the general manager of Zodiak Rights (Paris). “Until very recently, broadcasters did not even consider non-English content. They now turn to us, distributors, to see what we have in store.”