SHE launches, goes shopping

BERLIN -- Germany's ZDF Companies and Studio Hamburg have joined to make a certification and distribution partnership. The lately christened Studio Hamburg Companies, or SHE, aims to purchase rights to movies and tv content for distribution in Germany, mainly in the DVD/Blu-ray market, additionally to take advantage of the two companies' huge libraries and archive material. ZDF Companies, the commercial arm of pubcaster ZDF, and Studio Hamburg, one hundredPercent subsidiary of regional pubcaster NDR -- part of the ARD network -- may have a 50% stake inside the new company. She'll market the joint film stock of roughly 1,500 game game titles. Furthermore, it's handling DVD releases of game game titles from ARD and ZDF's current programming lineups. ZDF Enterprise's wide-different product portfolio comprises both exclusive new programs from ZDF together with a sizable stock in the company's own licenses acquired from co-productions, distribution deals together with other sources. Approaching releases are the six-part TV adaptation of Ferdinand von Schirach's best-selling book "Verbrechen" (Crime). An amount of short tales based on actual criminal cases, the DVD relieve "Verbrechen" will coincide having its TV broadcast. Roughly 120-150 new releases are planned every year. Jens Uwe Welge, Studio Hamburg's mind of home entertainment system, and Peter Lang, who runs selling and ZDF shops at ZDF Companies, assists as co-controlling company company directors in the partnership. She's situated in Hamburg and contains a branch office in Mainz, where you can ZDF and ZDF Companies. Departing comments round the new company, ZDF Companies prexy and chief professional Alexander Coridass mentioned, "We believe that we'll be capable of further strengthen our position inside the DVD market, which remains important, through getting together an experienced, high-profile partner and our personal very attractive program catalog." Peter Thiem, controlling director of Studio Hamburg Distribution and Marketing, added, "It enables us to boost our joint marketing activities highly relevant to archive programs also to acquire attractive material and licenses health club abroad." Contact Erection dysfunction Meza at staff@variety.com