Ahead of the “Sunny Side of the Doc” market in France, TVF International has secured a major European breakthrough by selling an extensive slate of factual programming, spanning science, history, arts, travel, and current affairs, to the continent’s leading broadcasters.
France showed immense interest in the TVF International package, with public broadcaster Arte acquiring three titles, including Trade Secret, an investigation into the illegal polar bear trade executive produced by Adam McKay. Meanwhile, Canal+ picked up the World War II-themed special 24 Hours that Changed the World, and history channel Histoire added Arming the Arctic to its lineup.
Networks in Germany and Italy also focused heavily on culture and history; Germany’s ZDF acquired Ulysses: From Myth to Science, a documentary re-examining Homer’s epic tale through a scientific lens, while Italian broadcaster Rai opted for prestigious art documentaries centering on iconic artists Rauschenberg and Basquiat.
In the Benelux region and Belgium, buyers like Proximus, DPG Media, VRT, and Viewcom licensed a variety of compelling contemporary and scientific TVF International content. Their selections cover hard-hitting global issues such as childhood obesity, quantum physics, the global dinosaur bone trade, and Trump & the Tech Giants, which explores the growing ties between Silicon Valley and the White House.
Pop culture and historical thrillers rounded out the major acquisitions. Dutch public broadcaster NPO secured both the K-pop documentary Mamamoo: Where Are We Now? and the opera feature Maria Callas: The Unsung Years for its digital platform. Finally, Spanish platform Movistar Plus+ and Swiss broadcaster RSI both locked in deals for the gripping historical documentary Escape from Chernobyl.
