here<\/a>.<\/p>\nFormats is a fairly new growth area for ZDF Studios. \u201cWe are in the middle ground,\u201d he explained. \u201cWe are not a major and we\u2019re not a tiny independent production company. We can choose partners in different countries. We don\u2019t have a network of production arms that we have to feed. We\u2019re free to think about the best partner for a specific format in different countries and territories.\u201d<\/p>\n
As part of those efforts, ZDF Studios backed the launch of a factual entertainment unit in 2023, aligning with Tom Gamlich and Jan Fritzowsky for CONTENT LADEN. \u201cWe have some subsidiaries in our portfolio, but Content Laden is a very specific kind of company,\u201d R\u00fcckauer explained. \u201cIt\u2019s a true startup. It started with two producers. Now, they have a subsidiary in Cologne. It\u2019s not hundreds of people working there. They\u2019re very creative.\u201d<\/p>\n
ZDF Studios is now rolling out the fact-ent format Magic Moves<\/em> from CONTENT LADEN. \u201cThere are four episodes and a version for a kids\u2019 channel,\u201d R\u00fcckauer said. Next up, ZDF Studios is launching CONTENT LADEN\u2019s Song Trip<\/em>.<\/p>\nFactual entertainment is proving to be particularly valuable to broadcasters amid budget cuts, R\u00fcckauer noted. \u201cIt tells a story about real people in a real environment. You\u2019re leaving the studio\u2026 and there\u2019s a more direct emotional [connection] to the protagonist.\u201d<\/p>\n
ZDF Studios continues to roll out Wanna Bet?<\/em>, a long-running studio-based show that attracted the interest of ITV last year. \u201cNow, they\u2019re shooting a new season. We are in talks with many other territories in Europe\u2014in Belgium, the Netherlands, Spain, Italy, you name it.\u201d<\/p>\nOn what he\u2019s hearing from clients about their needs, R\u00fcckauer noted, \u201cThe buzzwords are budget cuts and risk aversion. Most commissioning editors that you are talking to don\u2019t want to invest too much time in a show that might not perform. Most of the decision-makers on the management level trust more in something that has proven success or is a reboot because people know the brand. But that said, there is also a lot of creativity coming up at the moment. And broadcasters are thinking about teaming up with other territories and creating a big hub in one city, and then you can share costs. There\u2019s a whole new world of thinking creatively and creating something new.\u201d<\/p>\n
On goals for the year ahead, R\u00fcckauer noted, \u201cI\u2019m looking more for other territories to get formats from. There\u2019s not so much creativity and opportunities from Germany. We have to find ways to broaden our scope in terms of territories and ideas.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Ralf R\u00fcckauer, VP Unscripted at ZDF Studios, shared with TV Formats Festival viewers how the factual, scripted and kids\u2019 powerhouse is approaching the factual-entertainment and quiz-show landscapes.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":290,"featured_media":15099,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"pmpro_default_level":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[69],"tags":[3582,4199,2628],"class_list":["post-15100","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","","category-top-stories","tag-ralf-ruckauer","tag-tv-formats-festival","tag-zdf-studios","pmpro-has-access"],"yoast_head":"\n
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