ZDF Studios has announced its third major agreement with Dutch commercial media company Talpa Network.
Under the new deal, Talpa Network has acquired the Free TV broadcasting rights to an extensive package of approximately 250 episodes from the popular SOKO crime franchise.
The package includes:
- SOKO Potsdam
- SOKO Hamburg
- SOKO Köln
- SOKO Wismar
The SOKO brand consists of long-running, locally rooted crime investigation dramas set in various German cities. Beyond Germany, the franchise has achieved strong international success, airing in territories including the US, Canada, the Netherlands, Italy, Japan and France, among others.
SOKO productions have received numerous awards and nominations, including the German Television Award, German Screen Actors Awards, Golden Nymph Awards at the Monte-Carlo Television Festival, and Goldene Henne.
Executives at ZDF Studios emphasized that the agreement will further strengthen the long-standing partnership in the Dutch market. Talpa Network highlighted that the series’ strong storytelling and character-driven format make them particularly well-suited for Dutch audiences.
ZDF Studios operates as the commercial arm of ZDF, focusing on global program distribution, co-production, licensing and brand management.
Talpa Network owns leading Dutch media brands including SBS6, NET5, Veronica and Radio 538, reaching more than 90% of the Dutch population on a weekly basis.
