Silvia Cotino
After launching the international distribution of Prime Video and RTP series "Punto Nemo" last April, Mediterráneo, the content sales and production division of Mediaset Spain, expands its third-party catalog by adding new titles for global expansion. The first titles will be "Desaparecido", a Zebra Producciones (Grupo iZen) and Pausoka Entertainment production for Netflix and Primeran (EITB), and "Olivia", a Studio60 and Womack production. To understand the whole expansion strategy, Señal News spoke with Silvia Cotino, Deputy Director of Sales and Business Development.
Why did you decide to start distributing titles from third-party production companies?
"Our catalogue has always been rooted in the strength of Mediaset España's productions, with high-quality and diverse titles. Partnering with third-party producers enables us to expand our offerings, respond to market trends, and build a more diverse portfolio that resonates with different audiences worldwide. The opportunity lies in complementing our strong in-house slate with premium projects that carry distinctive voices and fresh narratives. In many cases, these projects come from very powerful first windows with platforms of the caliber of Netflix or Prime Video, which have already invested in the local territory with outstanding success in Spain. That gives us enormous solidity when we try to distribute them beyond our borders. At the same time, our role is to maximize their visibility internationally, ensuring that stories that captivated Spanish audiences can also have a successful path globally."
How would you blend that strategy with the traditional Mediaset and Mediterráneo catalog?
"We see it as a natural integration. Our in-house catalog gives us brand recognition, while third-party acquisitions bring variety. The goal is not to dilute but to enhance: combining flagship Mediaset titles, which already have a proven track record with audiences, with innovative productions from external partners creates a more compelling catalogue. The aim is to revamp our catalog and make it even more attractive to international buyers. The titles we distribute share common qualities: warmth, powerful production values, and the ability to connect with audiences. That coherence enables us to position Mediterráneo as a distributor, thereby strengthening our value proposition in global markets like Mipcom."
How would you describe the global appeal of Prime and RTP's "Punto Nemo"?
"'Punto Nemo' has all the ingredients of a premium drama with global reach: a powerful premise, cinematic production values, and a top-tier cast led by Oscar Jaenada, Alba Flores, and Maxi Iglesias. It's clearly conceived as a streaming series, featuring high-impact cliffhangers that capture the audience's attention and encourage binge-watching. It has excellent potential for platforms or TV channels seeking stories with an intense rhythm and high production values. Besides, the series is quite global: the plot is set in the most distant place on earth, the Pacific Ocean, so it's not a local story; it's an adventure narrative with universal stakes, layered characters, and high tension that can engage audiences from the Americas to Europe and Asia. The fact that the series has already succeeded in Spain, becoming a breakout hit on Prime Video, topping the most-watched charts for weeks, only reinforces its international potential. The second season is currently in production, and it boasts a strong creative team behind it, with Alex Rodrigo (Money Heist) as director."
What did you observe in Netflix and ETB's "Desaparecido" that led to its selection for global distribution?
"'Desaparecido' (Vanished) is a young adult series with a universal scope that combines the intensity of a thriller with the intimacy of friend and family relationships, creating a hybrid that feels both gripping and relatable. Produced by Zebra Producciones and Pausoka Entertainment exclusively for Netflix and Primeran (ETB), the series has top global production values. From a business perspective, it's a project with the potential to travel, because it resonates with international audiences while staying true to its local roots. Additionally, it is backed by the first window in Spain, where it achieved overwhelming success, both on Netflix, staying in the Top 10 ranking for nine weeks, and on ETB's VOD Service Primeran, breaking records as the most-watched series in ETB's history. That endorsement is a guarantee of quality and provides a solid foundation for taking the project abroad, knowing it already has a proven capacity to engage large audiences."
What are the main features of Telecinco's latest premiere, "La Agencia"?
"It is the Spanish adaptation of the globally acclaimed French format 'Call My Agent!'. The series, produced by Good Mood (Mediawan) for Mediaset España and recently launched on Telecinco, perfectly encapsulates the kind of entertainment Mediaset is known for. With a fresh tone, the series follows a prestigious talent agency, portraying the daily life, relationships, and personal conflicts of those who move within this unique and dazzling professional environment. It features a first-class cast led by Javier Gutiérrez, Marta Hazas, Manuela Velasco, Carlos Bardem, and Fiorella Faltoyano, along with guest appearances from stars such as Belén Rueda, Jaime Lorente, Rubén Cortada, Hiba Abouk, Jose Coronado, and Luis Zahera, each playing themselves in self-contained storylines. Its combination of the glamorous world of talent representation with sharp character conflicts makes it a compelling and addictive series".
What are expectations around the launch of "Ella Maldita Alma" at Mipcom?
"'Ella Maldita Alma' (She, Damned Soul) is a daring project that pushes boundaries in both form and content. It represents the type of bold, risk-taking storytelling that differentiates from other stories, adding complex dilemmas and a distinctive artistic signature with Maxi Iglesias, Martiño Rivas, and Karina Kolokolchykova. Mediaset España produces this new drama in collaboration with Plano a Plano, producers of some of our best-sellers, which is a solid base for us. It tells the story of an impossible love between two people who fight with all their might to resist succumbing to overwhelming feelings. Fermín, a charismatic priest, and Ana, the wife of his cousin Isaac, who has been like a brother to him since childhood. The series was recently awarded the Audience Award for Best Fiction Series at the South International Series Festival, making Mipcom the perfect stage to introduce it to the international market."