CCTV explores Wild Germany with ZDFE package deal

Chinese state broadcaster CCTV has closed a deal to take a major 18-hour factual programming package from Germany’s ZDF Enterprises.

The deal with ZDF’s commercial arm covers wildlife, nature, history and biography shows.

Titles include new four-part doc Wild Germany, six-part history series Last Secrets of the Third Reich, The Jungle Bear, Dingo – Wild Dog at War, Germany’s Wild Wolves, Puma!, Wild Poland and The Phantom Cat.

ZDFE’s president and CEO Alexander Coridass (pictured) attributed the deal to a “two decade” relationship with CCTV and to the state broadcaster’s “progress and liberal acquisitions policies”.

He added ZDFE was “confident that this deal will be a milestone in our collaboration with China’s leading broadcaster. As China increasingly reaches out to the world, its viewers are become more and more demanding, and we are confident that we have many more programs that will meet these changing needs”.

Zhou Yan, deputy managing director of the thematic CCTV Documentary channel said: “We’ve been actively seeking cooperation with ZDF since the establishment of the channel. We’re very pleased to have reached this major sale with the commercial arm of one of the most renowned TV broadcasters in Europe, and we’re confident this will be the start of a long and rewarding partnership.

“This enables us to bring some of the best documentaries to the Chinese audience, and hopefully in the future, we can also introduce more Chinese documentaries to the German market.”