TV Real In-Demand: True Crime

As part of our new TV Real In-Demand reports, we’re highlighting hot properties in true crime: ZDF Enterprises’ Crime Watch XY, Rive Gauche Television’s The Killer Truth and GRB Studios’ On the Case.

Crime Watch XY

Commissioned By: ZDF Enterprises
Produced By: Securitel
Rights Available: All rights worldwide from ZDF Enterprises.
Description: Crime Watch XY is a manhunt series that is both a classic and a successful tool in the fight against criminality. A host guides viewers through the program and, in collaboration with national and international police authorities, presents and elucidates unsolved crimes. Each episode is 90 minutes. 551 shows have aired since 1967.
Pitch Perfect: Crime Watch XY has so far covered 4,800 cases, of which 40 percent have been solved! This is an impressive rate as it’s often cases in which the police have already exhausted all usual investigation methods and can only take things further with the help of the television viewers. Murders, robberies, burglaries and manhunts—the show regularly offers help not only to the German police, but also to international investigators. More than 16 countries have already gotten in touch regarding unsolved cases.
Slot Winner: Regular winner of the prime-time slot at 8:15 p.m.; latest market share was 19.5 percent in July 2020.
Sales Contacts: Ralf Rückauer, VP, ZDFE.unscripted; Sylvia Brucker, Director, Entertainment, ZDFE.unscripted.

The Killer Truth

Commissioned By: HLN
Produced By: Catalina Content for HLN Original Series
Rights Available: Available exclusively for all forms of media worldwide (excluding the U.S.) from Rive Gauche Television.
Description: This 8×60-minute series tells the story of a single murder through the five people most intimately connected to the case.
Pitch Perfect: There are two sides to every story, but in a murder, one side dies with the victim. Each episode of The Killer Truth tells the story of a single murder through the five people most intimately connected to the case. These five distinct points of view may include the victim’s family, the lead detective, a reporter who covered the case, the suspect linked to the crime, the defense attorney, and finally, even the killer. The five perspectives take us through the twists and turns of each case, create a full picture of the crime, and ultimately lead to justice.
Sales Contacts: Jon Kramer, CEO; Marine Ksadzhikyan, SVP, Distribution & Development; Tomas Silva, VP, International Sales, Latin America & Iberia.

On the Case

Commissioned By: Discovery Networks
Produced By: Scott Sternberg Productions
Rights Available: Exclusive worldwide from GRB Studios.
Description: Explore intriguing murder mysteries through in-depth interviews with those closest to the case and examine the forensic evidence that helped unravel the mystery. Ten seasons available for a total of 258 60-minute episodes.
Slot Winner: Hit series for Super RTL in Germany and Crime & Investigation in the U.K. and Australia.
Sales Contact: sales@grbtv.com