EntertainTV: DT begins production of its first in-house series

• Deutsche Telekom announces the start of production of its in-house series, 'Germanized'
• Creative concept and production of the series in cooperation with Bavaria and Telfrance
• 'Germanized' with Christoph Maria Herbst will be available on EntertainTV Series from the end of 2018.

The series 'Germanized' has brought together the strengths of the partners involved in its production, Deutsche Telekom, Bavaria and Telfrance, along with successful screenwriters from both the German and French film and TV sectors. 'Our journey continues: after UHD and EntertainTV's first exclusive series, 'Germanized' is the next logical step,' says Michael Hagspihl, Director of Consumers at Telekom Deutschland. 'Together with our partners, we have built an excellent team that bundles outstanding expertise in the production of TV series. We are very much looking forward to creating our first EntertainTV original together.'

Jan S. Kaiser, director of Bavaria Fiction adds 'Streaming portals have permanently changed the way in which we consume series. As one of the leading production companies in Germany, we have many years of experience in successfully developing and producing fictional material, making us a strong partner for Deutsche Telekom in combination with our co-production partner, Telfrance. 'Germanized' is our first production for a streaming platform and we hope that it signals the start of a business relationship that is destined to last many years.'

'Germanized' - a German-French encounter

The series can be classified in the 'dramedy' (dramatic comedy) genre, given its balance of humorous and serious ingredients. The basic topic of 'Germanized' is a German-French encounter: the initial setting of the storyline is a coastal village in southern France teetering on the edge of bankruptcy, whose fortunes may yet be rescued by a German company and its employees.

The principal roles in the series are taken by well-known actors from the German and French film and TV scene. Christoph Maria Herbst (Stromberg) is one of the German cast, for example, while one of the main French roles is played by Roxane Duran (Das Weiße Band [The White Ribbon]).

The main screenplay writers for the series are Alexandre Charlot and Franck Magnier, who were both authors of the hit film Bienvenue chez les Ch'tis (Welcome to the Land of Shtis), as well as Thomas Rogel, author of the heute Show (the German variation on the American Daily Show) and Peter Güde, maker of Mord mit Aussicht and producer of Stromberg and Dr. Psycho. The producers of the series are Moritz Polter (Executive Producer International Series at Bavaria Fiction), Oliver Vogel (Chief Creative Officer at Bavaria Fiction), Peter Güde and Sandra Ouaiss (Head of International Co-production and Executive Producer at Newen).

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