New digital platforms and openness to international ideas are opening doors for foreign content to enter into Asia and Israeli production house Keshet International (KI) has been taking note of these opportunities with great enthusiasm.
The distributor currently provides its content to platforms like Hulu, Toggle and Sohu Video and delivers opportunities for viewers to engage further with its non-scripted shows through second screen apps, as well as securing deals for its scripted formats in Korea where producers have traditionally been more focused on exporting rather than importing IP.
With shows like Rising Star due to air in China and Prisoners of War in development in Korea, KI CEO Alon Shtruzman outlines his plans to build on the company’s initial Asian successes and integrate further into the region with new collaborations, focusing on Israel’s leadership in merging traditional TV viewing with second screen extensions to generate increased viewership, advertiser participation and social commentary across all screens.
“Asia is a corporate empire and we certainly want to bite into the market here. China has for long been a great market for us, and we have done deals with Japan, Korea and Singapore in the recent past,” Shtruzman informed.
According to him, one of the major positives for KI is the fact that it is very flexible with its packaging. “We can create packages based on the requisites of the client country and cater to the needs of that specific market. Recently, we struck a deal for ‘Homeland’ in Mexico where we have completely reworked on the storyline, but keeping the DNA of the show in place,” he explained.
He believes every country has its own comfort zones when it comes to the production aspect of the shows and thus the deals need to be tailor made as per the necessity. On being asked on whether he has been approached or has spoken to any Indian companies for acquisition of formats, he said: “Well, we are in talks with a production company in India for the rights of ‘Homeland’ but nothing is on paper yet!”