London Screenings: A Look at Market Trends and Titles With Paramount and Banijay Top Executives
The London TV Screenings, or just London Screenings, are set to kick off on Sunday, with production companies and sales outfits screening the latest shows to international buyers looking for the next big hits.
Running through Feb. 28, the London Screenings will see a range of new dramas, reality TV shows, and other series and formats getting touted in the British capital.
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The Hollywood Reporter asked Lisa Kramer, president, international content licensing at Paramount Global Content Distribution, and James Townley, chief content officer, development at Banijay, about key market trends and titles.
What big-picture trends are you seeing in the TV market going into London Screenings?
Lisa Kramer, Paramount: The TV market is an ever-changing business, and we continue to evolve with it and are able to provide various opportunities for our clients. One of the trends we’ve noticed is that the windowing of content has expanded with more available platforms and additional windows, including co-exclusive (and) non-exclusive, in addition to the length of our licensing deals. This provides our clients with new cost-effective opportunities to access Paramount’s world-class content. … We are ready and able to engage every market and business model.
James Townley, Banijay: The global appetite for bold, high-energy formats is stronger than ever. … It really does feel like the global appetite for new IP is back, and our London Screenings lineup (that includes nine new titles) reflects the resurgence. This event has grown to be a key date in the buying calendar and provides the perfect stage to showcase the latest wave of entertainment innovation.
Beyond the formats themselves, we’re seeing partnerships are becoming increasingly integral – both internally and externally. Co-developments, co-productions and strategic alliances with clients and buyers globally are proving crucial. Deals like our partnership with Traitors creator Marc Pos, and the recent Endemol Shine Australia deal with Tokyo Broadcasting System are a key part of this, helping us maximize opportunities and build stronger relationships across our production companies worldwide.
What types or genres of shows do you have in focus and why?
Lisa Kramer: At London Screenings, Paramount Global Content Distribution will be focused on both scripted and unscripted titles. We will be screening the highly anticipated King & Conqueror, which is one of our international co-productions produced by CBS Studios, The Development Partnership, Rabbit Track Pictures, Shepherd Content and RVK Studios in association with the BBC.
It is an epic drama series starring and executive produced by James Norton and Nikolaj Coster-Waldau, and we are thrilled to be bringing this premium series with incredible production quality to our clients.
Some of the unscripted series we will present include the new gameshow Hollywood Squares and the upcoming new singing competition series, The Road, from Taylor Sheridan and Blake Shelton.
James Townley: Adventure-driven reality, high-stakes competition, and big, innovative social experiments are leading the charge right now. Against All Odds and Mission Unknown: Atlantic highlight Swedish and German creativity while tapping into the excitement of influencer and celebrity culture with thrilling exploration. Meanwhile, The Rest of My Life from Denmark brings a deeply emotional element to the reality space, a space which continues to resonate with buyers and audiences alike.
Our focus is championing creatives across our footprint to develop formats that cut through – formats that push boundaries, break new ground, and drive audience engagement. Romantic reality continues to be in high demand, alongside adventure reality and social experiments that challenge conventions.
We’re also seeing innovation in other spaces, sportainment is a major focus right now with formats like Against All Odds, and we have an incredibly exciting high-octane, competition-driven format in this area we’ll be announcing to clients. These shows complement “appointment-to-view” sporting events, giving audiences even more reason to stay engaged.
In the dating genre, 30 Dates and 30 Nights from Spain brings a fresh twist to the dating genre, proving romance-driven formats can be powerful talent vehicles when approached with originality.
From our third-party slate, specialist non-scripted competition formats like Atypical Critics and Game of Wool show that unique, niche concepts, when packaged in the right way, can break into the mainstream. The role of strong on-screen talent is also becoming more crucial, with figures like Tom Daley fronting Game of Wool …, in elevating formats and bolstering audience connection
Anything else worth highlighting?
James Townley: High-volume reality is a major trend, with buyers wanting to capture audiences from start-to-finish and keep them engrossed throughout the series – Married at First Sight Australia, produced by Endemol Shine Australia, is a perfect example of this.
Beyond genres, tech and innovation are also at the forefront of format development. Our latest format, AI Love You showcases how technology can drive storytelling possibilities, pushing the boundaries of traditional docu-formats.
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