Sony eyes CEE productions

Sony Pictures Television is set to produce original series in Central and Eastern Europe for the first time as a result of the success of its AXN networks.

The CEE channels arm of the Hollywood studio is currently looking for original ideas and international formats to adapt.

Eddie Nelson, general manager of Sony Pictures Television Networks, Central  Europe, says: “We will look to do local productions. We’re asking can we find the right shows to produce at the right price? We’re waiting to find the right format, we started to produce small entertainment shows such as magazine show.”

Sony launched AXN in the region in 2003 with one pan regional feed and now has twelve feeds in different countries. It also launched AXN Crime, AXN Sci Fi and kids channel Animax across the region. It targets a young urban audience with hit US series as well as a range of international acquisitions such as Imagina’s Spanish drama The Boarding School and Paco’s Men to Australian drama All Saints.

Nelson believes that the current economic situation will not last as long in CEE as in other western countries. “When the recession ends, certain countries are very well placed to come out it very quickly,” he adds.