MIPTV 2011 – CANNES. A&E Television Networks (AETN) and ZDF Enterprises have announced the renewal of their existing programming and co-production deal for three years. The agreement, originally reached in 2005, includes co-production and programme acquisition components, as well as a syndication representation deal.
The agreement calls for ZDF Enterprises to acquire non-fiction programming from AETN International’s History catalogue for the ZDF History programming block, which broadcasts weekly on Sunday nights. The block is programmed under the editorial control of ZDF programmers with content provided by both ZDF and History (US).
In addition, History in Germany will acquire local history programming from ZDF Enterprises for broadcast on its service, as well as biography and lifestyle programming for Bio.
Through a third component of the agreement, History (US) and ZDF Enterprises have extended their successful co-production partnership to produce contemporary and ancient history programmes over the next three years for broadcast on ZDF in Germany and on History in the United States.
In the final part of the deal, ZDF Enterprises will continue to serve as the content sales representative for German-speaking Europe for Modern Marvels.
“ZDF Enterprises has been an important production and distribution partner for AETN through the years, and we are very pleased to extend this multi-faceted agreement,” said Sean Cohan, SVP, International, AETN, in a statement. “This strategic relationship has always been beneficial to both parties and I have no doubt the partnership will continue to thrive.”
