Albatross Amps Up Its Acquisitions Strategy

Anne Olzmann, managing director of Albatross World Sales, talks to TV Real about how the company is expanding its acquisitions strategy amid a boom in demand for factual programs.

Ramifications of curtailed travel plans, lockdowns and remote work and schooling, combined with the proliferation of streaming platforms around the world, have created a boom in demand for factual programs—particularly those in the travel and science genres. Natural-history documentaries are also in high demand, but that’s par for the course, according to Anne Olzmann, managing director of Albatross World Sales. “Natural history, of course, always works well, but we noticed an increased interest in travel content in the last few months,” Olzmann tells TV Real Weekly. “More and more viewers seem to be wanting to escape their own country via the screen.”

Olzmann points to Jewels of the Alps and Cities By the Sea as two titles that are seeing particular success at the moment. She also notes that the current state of the factual content industry holds plenty of opportunity for back-catalog programs as well. “With the appearance of more and more streamers, we’re not only pushing our most recent titles, but can also rely on sales of our catalog and extend the shelf-life of our favorite titles that have been shopped around with broadcasters and now get a second or third life,” says Olzmann.

The recent growth in AVOD platforms and affiliated FAST channels, which shows no signs of slowing, is already having an impact on the international media industry, according to Olzmann. “Viewers seem to be flocking to well-produced informational content more and more, which is why VOD platforms, especially, stacked up their documentary slates during the past year,” she explains. “It’s going to be interesting to see where this development [in AVOD and FAST services] leads. It’s great for our older titles because they’re getting a longer shelf life now.”

As the TV industry sees the continued expansion of streamers, Albatross is expanding its acquisitions strategy. The company had previously mostly taken on fully financed projects, but has recently shifted its focus to include projects that are in the earlier stages of production. “After more than ten years in the documentary sphere, we are proud to have a substantial network of producers working with us and trusting us with their new productions,” says Olzmann. “We want to use our experience and market insight to get exciting productions off the ground and get them ready for the international market.”

Albatross is currently in search of partners for broadcast as well as co-producers for Beautiful Italia, which offers viewers a historical, cultural and epicurean tour across the country’s regions.

Getting involved in projects at an earlier stage, Albatross can use its experience—particularly in the nature, science and travel genres—to ensure that the programs suit the needs of its clients. “Due to our well-established relationships with broadcasters all around the world, we have a great basis to connect our producers’ new projects to their perfect fit for a co-production,” says Olzmann.

Titles working well globally from Albatross’s catalog include big international blue-chip productions such as Wild Horses—A Tale from the Puszta and On Thin Ice, as well as regional programs like The Otter—A Legend Returnsand Glorious Bustards, which “can be formatted to fit the slots of program schedules at the other end of the world, as it may seem exciting and new to the audience there,” explains Olzmann. “The most important ingredients to the mix are the story and exceptional camera work.”

As Albatross looks to line up more deals and partnerships for its slate, Olzmann is keen to get back to doing business face-to-face. “At the moment, we’re still mostly discussing with our buyers and commissioning editors via online video conferences,” she says. “But [we] are really looking forward to meeting them in person again now, with MIPCOM and other in-person events.”