The value of IP, franchise building and packaging was on the agenda at Seriencamp in Germany here today. Europe-based execs from Paramount+, Warner Bros International Television Production, NRK and Miso Film debated the merits of focusing on developing new projects based on well-known properties.
Susanne Schildknecht, SVP of MTV Entertainment Content & Brand, Europe & Middle East and Local Originals GSA for Paramount International, said that Paramount+’s German business would move pitches with well known IP “to the top of the pile.” “Consumers can choose from so much content, [so] an IP or triple-A talent makes the choice easier,” she said, but added: “The importance is the story is the most important part of it.” Paramount+ Germany’s local originals include thriller series Chemie Des Todes, based on a popular Simon Beckett novel, The Chemisty of Death and One Trillion Dollar, also based on a popular book. “The common thread is they are locally relevant, said Schildknecht. “People in Germany will feel relatable to those shows.” WBITVP Director of Scripted David Belshaw noted that he works with the 23 international production businesses owned by the Warner Bros Discovery division to develop new concepts, but was was also “mining the owned IP” for properties to adapt.
He noted creating franchise and “big world” ideas was important. NRK Head of International Financing, Drama Hans-Jorgen Osnes, was much more down on IP-based projects, noting “there has been no IP[-based projects]” at the Norwegian network “in the past seven years.” “We have a couple in development based on IP, but 98% is original ideas,” he added.
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