Premium Factual Distributors Are Facing Up To A ‘Fewer, Bigger, Better’ Future — London TV Screenings

deadline.com:

The last year has been a chastening one for television, with budgets nosediving and streamers pulling back on the mega-spending of yesteryear to offset financial disappointments.

But the investment in eye-catching doc series has continued despite the threat of global recession, and the unscripted market now finds itself at a crossroads as it splinters into expensive, premium fare and low-budget, high-volume returners. “There’s still big appetite from commissioners,” says one prominent UK doc maker, while a German-based factual producer adds, “What’s being sold are very commercial projects – bankable names and directors.” Dogwoof Head of Sales Cleo Veger believes there’s a bigger divide than ever between the sales of lower-budget festival docs and premium projects. “There’s a drive towards IP and buyers are talking about ‘fewer, bigger swings’,” she adds.

Projects with big names attached are commanding big bucks – Veger points to Davis Guggenheim’s Apple TV+’s feature Still: A Michael J.

Fox Movie, which looks into the life of the beloved Back to the Future actor and premiered earlier this year at Sundance. “There’s so much competition between streamers, broadcasters and cinemas and big name recognitions helps,” she adds, noting high-profile organizations, events and sports can substitute for big-name talent in the premium docs genre.