GRB Studios on Delivering to the Demand

Serving linear, digital and branded platforms, GRB Studios’ success in the international factual industry has seen it pick up an Emmy Award for Outstanding Reality Program for Intervention and bring to the global market such hits as Untold Stories of the ER and Growing Up Gotti. All told, the company’s distribution team has on offer a catalog of more than 4,000 hours that cover an array of genres within the factual landscape, ready to keep pace with the growing market and meet its insatiable demand.

“The global factual industry is in a state of rapid growth,” says Hud Woodle, executive VP of international sales and operations at GRB Studios, making note of the impact of unscripted programming’s continued expansion within the streaming space. “Demand for factual content continues to increase from traditional linear channels, AVOD and SVOD.”

With the near-constant shifts in the global TV and media industry in recent years, “the importance of third-party acquisitions has been critical to GRB’s international success,” explains Woodle, who notes that the company is always on the lookout for quality programs in all genres.

Most recently, GRB Studios secured a slew of international deals for The Center Seat: 55 Years of Star Trek, a docuseries produced by The Nacelle Company for HISTORY in the U.S. Taking viewers on a journey behind the scenes of the television and movie franchise, The Center Seat has been licensed to new markets in Europe, as well as into Australia and New Zealand and Canada.

“Docuseries related to pop culture subjects, such as The Center Seat: 55 Years of Star Trek, are in high demand, and crime programs continue to do very well,” says Woodle. “On the Case with Paula Zahn is a fan favorite around the world. GRB also continues to have great success with Death Walker, featuring Nick Groff.”

GRB’s diverse slate includes food, travel, automotive, comedy, lifestyle, science and wildlife programming as well, all of which have in common the ability to connect with viewers around the world.

“The main ingredient is always an engaging story that touches on our shared human experience and breaks through language barriers,” says Woodle. “These are the types of programming that our buyers expect from us, and that’s what gives our slate the edge.”

Not unlike other players in the industry, GRB Studios has had to find innovative ways of conducting business over the last couple of years. And while the challenges have not managed to slow the company down, Woodle is keen to get back to engaging with partners at industry events.

“We are looking forward to returning to in-person markets!” says Woodle. “These last two years demonstrated how much can be done online and remotely, but there’s nothing better than real-life, face-to-face, in-person conversations!”