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Nadcon Film’s Peter Nadermann
By Mansha Daswani

After starting his career at ZDF, Peter Nadermann has built a lucrative career on driving international co-pros and pushing the global viability of Scandinavian series, having exec-produced The Killing, Arne Dahl, The Team and a slew of other hits. ZDF Enterprises recently bought out Constantin Film’s stake in Nadermann’s company, Nadcon Film, allowing him to accelerate his plans for cross-border European scripted productions.

TV DRAMA: What was your aim when you set up Nadcon back in 2012?
NADERMANN: To produce very international, high-end quality TV series and movies, and with this perspective, do mostly international co-productions in the territories I like to work in—like Scandinavia and Spain—and other European countries. So to have a strong European voice that can compete with the very high-quality American shows. I’m always happy when, like with Millennium or The Killing, we manage to do something that can compete with these top American programs.

TV DRAMA: You were at ZDF earlier in your career and worked with ZDF Enterprises (ZDFE) on The Killing. What has ZDF Enterprises’ investment in Nadcon meant for the company?
NADERMANN: To realize my ideas and projects I need a strong partner. I have a long and very successful history with ZDF Enterprises and [its president and CEO] Fred Burcksen. We know each other very well and they can support me when I’m moving on to new paths, while both sides profit from strong synergies.

TV DRAMA: You’ve been a producer for a long time. In this landscape, why is it important to have an alliance with a distribution powerhouse like ZDF Enterprises?
NADERMANN: There is a lot of consolidation and globalization in the world of TV and movies and there is a danger that our TV market could become like the retail market. When you go to a shopping street nowadays, you see only the big brands. Even in Germany, digital sellers are getting stronger and stronger, and in the end you will have empty retail spaces and many smaller companies will be killed. That is the same everywhere. I want to remain as a creative, international boutique producer and in our times, you can only do this when you are connected to a bigger group. The TV business is one in which it’s not easy to earn money and there’s high risk. This is why I think it would be extremely difficult to do this alone, especially when you are as content-driven as I am. I’m very happy to have ZDF Enterprises as a strong partner on my side.

This interview continues here.

This interview was conducted prior to the COVID-19 global pandemic. Media companies are currently shifting their strategies in the wake of production postponements and economic trends.

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