Spain’s Mediapro plots US & English-language market expansion

Laura Fernandez Espeso

Spain’s Mediapro Studio is looking to expand its operations in the US and across the English-language market, with coproductions central to the strategy.

The Madrid-based firm has been steadily increasing it English scripted series over recent years, including the upcoming third season of The Head which is in the works, but CEO Laura Fernandez Espeso said the company is now looking to double down on the strategy.

The Head

“The most important goal we have is [to grow in] the Anglo market,” she said during her MIPCOM keynote, pointing to the company’s LA, Miami and New York offices, as well as shows such as The Young Pope.

“We have a very specific plan to grow in the US and we want to increase the speed of its implementation. We are already investing more in development and growing the [US] team that we have there and we will also look to coproduce.

“We will need local partners there and we have huge experience with coproductions so the plan is clear,” Espeso added, highlighting commissions from streamers such as Prime Video and Vix. The latter commissioned a flurry of Mediapro shows last year, including Las Pelotaris and sports docuseries La Sangre y la Gloria.

Espeso said that IP acquisitions are top of mind as Mediapro looks to expand its reach across the US and English-language markets, adding that the company would be flexible in its models.

“We are also open to original ideas from companies that are not part of the studio, it is going to help us diversify in a way, and we can help to fill the gaps on some of those projects.

“And we will also keep doing shows for the US Spanish-language market,” she continued, adding that there are also plans to expand its unscripted output in the US and other English-language countries.