EXCLUSIVE: Worldwide exec Yi Qiao has taken a commissioner function at ZDF after leaving the German pubcaster’s studios arm.
The exec, well-known on the circuit for her worldwide gross sales and financing acument, has joined Frank Seyberth’s group as Commissioning Editor, having beforehand been Director of Drama at ZDF Studios.
She’s going to report into Seyberth, ZDF’s Head of Co-Manufacturing and Worldwide Fiction, whose group is thought for investing in worldwide dramas equivalent to Across the World in 80 Days, Irish thriller collection Harry Wild and Nicolas Winding Refn’s The Well-known 5 collection amongst others. The unit additionally oversees a co-production pact with the BBC, and ZDF’s function in co-commissioning initiatives the European Alliance and the New8.
Qiao was beforehand a part of Robert Franke’s at ZDF Studios, primarily investing in English-language scripted exhibits. Her new function has an analogous worldwide focus, however Seyberth’s group commissions for a number of linear slots and the ZDF streaming platform.
Qiao started her function earlier this month after asserting her exit from Franke’s group at ZDF Studios, the place she constructed an English-language slate.
“Yi is the primary member of our editorial group who has a background in gross sales,” Seyberth advised Deadline. He stated the rent displays “present market dynamics,” the place an “countless number of financing choices” are on the desk for broadcasters.
“These extraordinary exhibits will want good teamwork,” he added. “We as an editorial group and as a broadcaster have confirmed to be able to these requirements and supply the appropriate ability set on this regards. As our objective is to carry the world to Germany, the extra our commissioners are accustomed to distinctive cultural environments, the higher.”
Previous to her 5 years at ZDF Studios, Qiao spent eight years at Purple Arrow Studios, rising from a junior place to a UK-based senior gross sales function on the ProSiebenSat.1 Media firm, which is now a part of Seven.One Studios.
ZDF just lately launched a division that focuses purely on viewers conduct, which Seyberth stated was “serving to us all to navigate completely different facets of the fiction portfolio.”
He advised Deadline that exhibits made straight for streaming and people nonetheless geared toward ZDF’s linear community slots had been at present working effectively, however has seen the necessity the future-proof with extra internationally-minded execs with world gamers now impacting the native market.
“Fortunately, we’re within the place that we’re profitable each methods, however we’re conscious that the longer term ‘level of sale’ is streaming, and that on this area the competitors shouldn’t be solely restricted to our German territory,” he stated.
As such ZDF’s worldwide co-productions group is in common contact with colleagues ordering home drama and comedy, with each aspect reporting into ZDF Program Director Nadine Bilke.
