In the following interview with ttvnews, Sales Manager Ismael Ramiro shares details about the successful fiction titles the Spanish group is presenting at the market, with the goal of continuing to expand the presence of Atresmedia’s seal of quality in the CEE region.
There’s no doubt that the Atresmedia brand is synonymous with quality and success, something that its catalog of major productions continues to demonstrate, breaking audience records not only in Spain but internationally.
Recently, the group has premiered major productions such as Sueños de libertad (Dreams of Freedom), which after more than a year on Antena 3 remains the most-watched daily fiction content in Spain; ¿A qué estás esperando? (What are you waiting for?), Eva & Nicole, and Mariliendre (Fag Hag), to name a few, with great results.
These series also make up the fiction catalog that Atresmedia Sales is presenting at the new edition of NEM Dubrovnik, a market they are attending with the aim of continuing to strengthen the presence of Spanish content in the CEE region, where they already enjoy great popularity.
In the following interview with ttvnews, Ismael Ramiro, Sales Manager for the Spanish giant, shares details about these and other new releases in its catalog for the event in Croatia, and highlights the group’s latest achievements and its objectives for the international market.
What motivated Atresmedia Sales to participate in NEM Dubrovnik this year?
NEM Dubrovnik is perfectly aligned with our commercial strategy, as this market is increasingly consolidating as the main meeting point for the content distribution sector in the CEE region. Moreover, it continues to expand its list of participants year after year, bringing together key players from other territories that are important for Atresmedia, such as Turkey and Middle East, as well as from Western European countries participating in this event.
What will be the main objective of your presence at the event: networking, sales, co-productions, or catalog visibility?
We are participating in NEM with the aim of presenting our new content line-up, seeking commercial agreements and opportunities for both finished content and formats. Our portfolio includes soap operas, series, factual-documentary content, and entertainment shows… Therefore, the commercial opportunities are multiple.
Which titles or projects will you be presenting at this edition?
Dreams of Freedom (Telenovela, S1: 246 x 50′, S2: 232 x 50′)
A story of love, betrayal and rivalry inside the family.
Begoña Montes is the new wife of Jesús de la Reina, son of the owner of a major beauty products company. The series begins with her, a young mother, running through the forest with her stepdaughter Julia while her husband chases them with a rifle in hand. What could have happened? It’s the year 1958. Jesús, the heir to Perfumerías de la Reina, is a controlling, jealous, ambitious, and unscrupulous man. Things worsen with the arrival of Andrés, his brother, who returns to help and protect his father, Damián, suspecting that his ambitious brother would do anything to take control of the company. Jesús de la Reina’s desperation will even lead him to mistreat his wife Begoña. Meanwhile, she will gradually fall in love with Andrés, further provoking the wrath of her husband.
Eva & Nicole (Drama, Action, 8 x 50′)
The rivalry between two women to control the nightlife in Marbella in late 80’s.
Eva and Nicole are friends in Paris in 1972, when Nicole hired Eva as a waitress and taught her the world of nightlife. They became friends until the appearance of Manuel, an attractive man who changes everything. Eva begins a romantic relationship with him, making Nicole jealous who makes this love story ends. 13 years later, Eva returns as her enemy, to settle in Marbella and carry out her revenge. She is ready to do anything, including seducing Nicole’s son Oliver.
What Are You Waiting For? (Romantic Comedy, 8 x 50′)
Based on the woman skewed best seller written by Megan Maxwell
Can, an attractive Turkish-descended airline pilot, respectful of his traditional father’s wishes, attends monthly dinners where potential marriage candidates are presented to him. During one of these dinners, he meets Sonia, a single mother who unexpectedly shows up to the dinner his mother organized for his other two sisters to meet the wealthy heir. Can and Sonia will discover, unknowingly, that they have much in common. They enjoy no-strings-attached sex, frequent clubs where they indulge in their pleasures, and keep their emotions at bay to avoid falling in love. On the other hand, Daryl, Can’s close friend and also a pilot, is willing to give up his bachelorhood when he falls in love with Carol, a spirited flight attendant who turns his life upside down. However, their fears and differences will force them to question their feelings and assess whether they can overcome what separates them.
Fag Hag (Musical LGBTQIA+ Dramedy, 6 x 45′)
The new musical dramedy produced by Javier Calvo and Javier Ambrossi
Meri Román was a queen of the gay nightlife in Madrid, but that was over 10 years ago. Now, at 35, she is a dethroned diva tormented by her past and bored with her mediocre present. After the death of her father, Meri reconnects with her entourage of gay friends, reminiscing about her past and the hit songs that defined the ‘00s era, while trying to make sense of her chaotic life and identity.
Honor (Drama, 8 x 50′)
How far would you be willing to go to save your child?
Adaptation of the successful Israeli series Kvodo. It is the second anniversary of the death of Sonia, the wife of Judge Daniel Romero, and Alex, their son, goes to take flowers to the place where she died. The boy has a car accident and runs over a motorist. Alex, who is asthmatic, panics and runs away, leaving the young man’s lifeless body behind. When he confesses what happened to his father, Judge Romero’s first impulse is to take him to the police station, to confess, to do the right thing. It is not an easy decision, but everything changes when he discovers that the victim is Hugo Aguilar, the young son of Vicente Aguilar, one of the most dangerous gangsters in Cadiz. Romero realizes that by turning himself in, Alex would be signing his death warrant and decides to cover up the crime, denying his ideals and beginning a descent into hell to save his son.
How does NEM Dubrovnik fit into Atresmedia Sales’ international strategy?
As part of Atresmedia’s annual market strategy, we believe it is important to attend this event, which holds significant relevance for the company. Our presence in regions such as the Balkans, as well as other CEE territories participating in NEM, is a priority target for Atresmedia Sales. Over the years, NEM Dubrovnik has solidified its role as a key event for strengthening existing business relationships with our partners, as well as for identifying new opportunities and strategic allies that allow us to continue expanding our commercial activity.
What opportunities do you currently see in Central and Eastern Europe for Spanish content?
Our experience in the markets shows us that Spanish content performs very well in Central and Eastern Europe. As an example, in recent months we have announced sales agreements for Sueños de Libertad in the Baltics. Atresmedia Sales is well known for having an extensive catalog of high-quality Scripted and Non-Scripted content, which enables us to close deals with all types of clients, from linear Free TV and Pay TV channels to local and regional streaming platforms that have emerged in recent years.
What differences do you perceive between this market and more traditional ones such as Mipcom, Content Americas, MIP London, and others?
The advantage of this market, compared to larger markets, is that it allows for conversations with regional and local players who are crucial for Atresmedia when it comes to expanding its international footprint. The coexistence of regional markets like NEM alongside other pan-regional or global markets enables us to maximize the impact of Atresmedia Sales brand awareness.
What type of content do you think generates the most interest in these markets? Is there a rise in specific genres?
Firstly, long-running series (telenovelas) stand out as a pillar of Atresmedia’s success over the years. Our daily telenovelas have been very successful in both linear broadcasting and international distribution. In this regard, it is worth highlighting Sueños de Libertad, our most recent telenovela, which, after more than a year on air daily on Antena 3, remains the most-watched fiction content every day in Spain.
Similarly, crime series are perhaps the most in-demand genre currently among both linear and non-linear players, including procedural productions, miniseries, and scripted true crime. We have launched original series as well as remakes of prominent international fiction, with recent premieres such as Honor (Your Honor / Kvodo) and Angela (Angela Black). Additionally, we offer a competitive true crime slate, including both documentaries and docuseries.
Finally, Atresmedia maintains a long-term commitment to various high-concept projects, marked by the quality of great creators, which have earned us prestigious international awards. The musical dramedy Mariliendre, produced by Javier Calvo and Javier Ambrossi—internationally recognized figures—is a clear example of our commitment to quality content and more daring proposals, aiming to tell stories through the vision of visionary creators. These stories have been a key part of our content strategy over the years.
