With highly sought-after titles like Vienna Blood and Married at First Sight, plus fresh content such as Departure, The Gone and realities The Hunt and The Restaurant That Makes Mistakes: Belgium, Seven.One Studios International anticipates a very active week in London.
With big news regarding their current and upcoming titles. Seven.One Studios International is present at The London Screenings and MIP London 2025, working from their suite in the Covent Garden Hotel and looking forward to advance in the current negotiations for their premium series and formats, while introducing exciting new content, like the reality The Hunt (working title).
Recently commissioned by Channel 4 in the United Kingdom, and to be produced by CPL Productions and GroupM Motion Entertainment, the reality is based on an idea by Redseven Entertainment.
“The reality adventure format is a heart-pounding, high-stakes game of predator versus prey, in which contestants are dropped into the ultimate real-world game of hide and seek as they compete for a big cash prize,” describes Tim Gerhartz, Managing Director, Seven.One Studios International.
The company closed 2024 with some important sales for titles like the highly-rated Vienna Blood. What do you hope to achieve with this title in 2025?
Vienna Blood has already demonstrated its global appeal, with season four launching successfully at Mipcom 2024 and securing key sales across French-speaking Europe, Portugal, Spain, Sweden, and Central and Eastern Europe. We are thrilled by the continued demand for this crime drama: its gripping storytelling from Steve Thompson, the strong performances of Matthew Beard and Juergen Maurer. The show’s success on major networks like BBC (UK) and PBS (US) highlights its universal appeal, and we are confident that Vienna Blood will continue to captivate audiences worldwide.
What territories have access to Departure via Netflix? Netflix acquired high-octane conspiracy thriller Departure – produced by Shaftesbury – for a variety of European territories as well as Latin America. It launched in January and in its first week (Dec 30 – Jan 5), season one landed the Nº 4 spot globally for a English-language series, with 3.6 million views; and made the top-10 across 40 countries. Season 2 also performed strongly, reaching Nº 10 globally with 1.6 million views and appearing in the top-10 in 21 countries. It still remains a top show for the platform across Europe.
How important are those kinds of deals to spearhead the distribution of the series in other territories? These kinds of high-profile streaming deals definitely help to solidify the show’s status as a must-watch international thriller and serve to remind buyers of its broad appeal. Its strong performance on the platform across Europe, in particular, reinforce demand and opens doors for further sales in key markets.
What other titles would you highlight from your scripted catalogue? We are excited to showcase a standout scripted lineup led by premium mystery drama The Gone (6 x 60’) – the dark and intense mystery drama which returns for a gripping second season on TVNZ soon, having already launched on RTÉ. Produced by Kingfisher Films & Keeper Pictures in association with Southern Light Films, the celebrated series features a diverse cast led by Richard Flood and Acushla-Tara Kupe. Another highlight is high-concept psychological drama Plan B (6 x 45’) which is also back for its sophomore season, produced by KOTV for CBC (Canada). The series delivers a mind-bending exploration of choices and consequences, resonating with viewers seeking intelligent, emotionally charged storytelling.
Formats are always in a strong position, no matter the industry’s woes. What are the latest news regarding your hit title Married at First Sight? With strong audience engagement, continued international success, and new digital expansion, Married at First Sight continues its global dominance. The format’s momentum remains strong, with recommissions worldwide -often with multiple-season orders. One of the most exciting recent developments is its move to Peacock in the US for its upcoming season 19, produced by Kinetic Content, secured as part of a multi-year deal. This move reinforces the format’s enduring popularity and adaptability.
Married at First Sight is also expanding its digital footprint globally. In a landmark deal in late 2024, 9Network acquired every existing season of every English-language version of the show and launched a dedicated Married at First Sight FAST channel on 9Now, ensuring the brand continues to engage audiences in new and innovative ways.
What makes the title so successful? The show’s appeal lies in its compelling storytelling and universal themes, which resonate across different cultures and viewing habits. Big-brand formats like Married at First Sight foster strong viewer loyalty making them a valuable asset for broadcasters.
The Restaurant That Makes Mistakes: Belgium won an International Emmy Award. This is a very unique title, with a powerful message. What is the potential that you see for the format? The Restaurant That Makes Mistakes is a unique and innovative format—that engages audiences and carries a powerful message. The show, which follows 14 people with dementia as they take on the challenge of running a professional restaurant, has already demonstrated its strong international appeal.
Originally produced by our sister company CPL Productions for Channel 4 in the UK, it has already been adapted in Belgium, the Netherlands, and New Zealand – and resonated powerfully with viewers. We were thrilled to see the format recognized by the Academy – a testament to the format’s impact and storytelling strength. This recognition further reinforces our belief in its potential. With growing awareness around dementia and the importance of social inclusion, The Restaurant That Makes Mistakes is more relevant than ever, and we are excited about its future.
What other titles would you highlight from your format slate? Our dating format Stranded on Honeymoon Island continues to attract substantial investment and global interest. The format has seen remarkable momentum, with three new commissions in late 2024 bringing the total number to nine. Looking ahead, 2025 is shaping up to be another blockbuster year with four new local versions set to launch including in the UK with BBC One, Australia with Seven Network, and Denmark and Sweden on Max.
Stranded on Honeymoon Island’ taps into audiences love for high-stakes romance, and adventure—elements that continue to drive demand for fresh and engaging reality formats. With its unique premise and growing global footprint, we’re excited to see how the format evolves and expands in the coming years.
