ZDF snags comedy Blockbustaz

The commercial arm of German pubcaster ZDF has snagged international rights to comedy series Blockbustaz.

The 6x30mins sitcom is set in a Cologne housing estate.

It follows the life of a Sol Berger, a wannabe MC who is kicked out from home having always lived at home with his mum, and played by rapper Eko Fresh. German rapper Ferris MC also stars.

The show was a winner in the TV Lab, in which broadcasters try out new experimental formats on their air. In Germany the show goes out on ZDF’s digital channel ZDFNeo.

ZDF Enterprises is now selling the format and finished version of the show, which was written by Niklas Hoffmann. Specifically ZDFE’s formats arm ZDFE.entertainment is selling the property.

“Blockbustaz is definitely something that works very well not just in Germany, but every country that has a hip hop culture,” said Sylvia Brucker, vice president at ZDFE.entertainment.

“The themes covered in this series are relevant not just in a big city like Cologne, but Parisian suburbs, the Bronx of New York, or the Scampia in Naples.”