HBO CE ramping up original production

HBO Central Europe is looking to ramp up its slate of original productions and is heading to MIPTV looking for international formats to acquire.

This comes after the success of its regional versions of Israeli format Be Tipul (In Treatment) and a recent deal to remake Armoza’s cop drama The Naked Truth in Poland.

Anthony Root, executive VP, original programming and production, told TBI: “The company is committed to building original production in the region, for the same reason HBO has done that in the US and Latin America. Original production is the key in the sense of how the HBO brand is developing in this region.”

Root, who has previously worked at Granada and Sony, oversees the company’s production hubs in Romania, Czech Republic, Poland and Hungary.

“We want to make TV that other providers are not providing, shows that are not a comfortable fit for the other broadcasters across our territories: we need to be bold,” he added.