During Mipcom 2024, ORF-Enterprise highlighted recent program offerings, with a particular emphasis on ORF Originals, featuring TV-movies and series. In the presence of ORF Director General Roland Weißmann and Program Director Stefanie Groiss-Horowitz, international guests took an exclusive peek at the latest ORF Universum Nature & History documentaries as well as brand new scripted ORF Originals.
“MIPCOM has always been a crucial event for us, as it offers the perfect opportunity to connect with international buyers and co-producers. The positive reception of our content catalog at this market underscores the quality and appeal of our productions worldwide, which have become a valuable asset to licensees worldwide, boosting their ratings with ORF Originals,” said Oliver Böhm, Managing Director of ORF-Enterprise.
Both Universum Nature and Universum History documentaries continue to be big hits with buyers around the globe. “European Downfall – The Tragedy of Emperor Franz Joseph” is licensed by RAI (Italy) and Ceska Televiza (Czech Republic). The Czech broadcaster also acquires “Rebellion in the Brothel – Trafficking in Women around 1900”. The renowned broadcaster National Geographic Channels International secured the ORF Universum Nature documentary “Wild Transylvania – Dracula's Hidden Kingdom” and is pre-buying “Red Sea: Evolution's Magic Garden”. The new deals complement National Geographic’s acquisitions of “Nicobar Island – A Monkey’s Long Tale” and the multi-awarded “Lions of the Skeleton Coast” earlier this year. RTS (Switzerland) adds “The Raven's Tale – Mystic Czechia” and “The Real Jungle Book” to its program. Turkish viewers can anticipate ten ORF Universum Nature programs soon to be broadcast by TRT. A further package of ten nature and historical documentaries, including “The Real Jungle Book”, goes to the Czech broadcaster FTV Prima. Viasat (UK) licenses “The Real Jungle Book”, “Slovenia – Where Nature Comes First” and “Wild Boar – The Comeback” from ORF Enterprise.
ARD One from Germany placed a follow-up order and opted for the third and fourth seasons of “Walking on Sunshine”. FTV Prima (CZ) acquires seasons 4-11 of “Soko Kitzbühel”. The season 3 of “Soko Linz” goes to Canal+ (France), while AXN (Japan) will soon broadcast the first season of this successful ORF Original.
With “The Bartered Bride - Opera Graz 2022”, Ceska Televize (Check Republic) is relying on an outstanding cultural production by ORF III in collaboration with Opera Graz.
“We are proud that the list of regular clients who consistently rely on ORF content in their outlets is growing. New seasons of notable ORF Originals such as ‘Soko Linz’ or ‘Fast Forward’ ensure ratings success with our international partners. ORF-Enterprise has earned an excellent reputation as a content supplier in all genres and has been able to greatly expand its market position in the segment of TV-movies and series in recent years in addition to the well-known factual slate,” added Armin Luttenberger, Head of Content Sales International at ORF-Enterprise.
Xiamen Airlines (China), Eva Airways (Taiwan), and Korean Airlines (Korea) will be including the concert highlight featuring the ORF Vienna Radio Symphony Orchestra “Christmas in Vienna 2023” into their in-flight entertainment line-up, with the program set to premiere on their flights starting in December. Meanwhile, Thai Airways secures the rights to the TV-movie “Forever Yours”, which will also be available to passengers from December on.