WORLD SCREEN JAN 2026

January 2026

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THE MAGAZINE OF INTERNATIONAL MEDIA

Factual Trends / ZDF Studios & Impossible Factual’s High-End History

contents

JANUARY 2026 WORLD VIEW By Jamie Stalcup.

UPFRONTS Spotlighting new content on the market.

HIGH-END HISTORY ZDF Studios’ Nikolas Hülbusch and Impossible Factual’s Jonathan Drake discuss their new co-produced titles Troy: The Schliemann Legacy and Black Death Patient Zero.

SURVIVAL GUIDE A range of factual distributors and producers share their insights on the changes in the market over the last year and what to expect in 2026.

TRENDING ON The most-viewed clips on our video portals for the last 30 days.

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Publisher Ricardo Seguin Guise Group Editorial Director Anna Carugati Executive Editor Jamie Stalcup Managing Editor Rafael Blanco Associate Editor Kloudia Sakowski Editor, Spanish-Language Publications Elizabeth Bowen-Tombari Production & Design Director David Diehl Online Director Simon Weaver Sales & Marketing Director Dana Mattison Sales & Marketing Manager Genovick Acevedo Bookkeeper Ute Schwemmer

Ricardo Seguin Guise President Anna Carugati Executive VP

world view

BY JAMIE STALCUP

Looking Ahead Without a doubt, 2025 was a tough year for many. But in a world that is feeling increasingly chaotic from many angles and a host of “fake news” allegations, it was factual programming that kept me informed, entertained and hopeful about the future.

From environment-focused documentaries such as National Geographic’s Ocean with David Attenborough to true-crime programming that proved justice is possible, like Hulu’s Devil in the Family: The Fall of Ruby Franke, to entertaining reality such as Disney+’s The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives, the factual sector certainly provided on all levels in 2025.

Though there were some blows to the community—Sunny Side of the Doc was canceled this year and several companies have shuttered—it is inspirational to see the amount of creatives who remain dedicated to finding innovative solutions to financing and streamlining the production process to ensure they can continue delivering premium programming that is informative, truthful and entertaining.

In my feature in this edition, I hear from a range of distributors and producers about their strategies for keeping up with the evolving landscape and their outlooks on the year ahead, which are surprisingly optimistic: “We are cautiously positive about 2026 after what has arguably been one of the toughest years for the industry,” Tatiana Grinkevich, head of sales at BossaNova Media, tells me. Also, Anna Carugati, World Screen’s group editorial director, speaks to ZDF Studios’ Nikolas Hülbusch and Impossible Factual’s Jonathan Drake to hear about their new high-end history titles and what they offer to risk-averse buyers. All in all, it sounds like this year will be full of more excellent titles, as long as companies remain nimble. Here’s to 2026!

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upfronts

FOX Entertainment Global Best Medicine / The Faithful / Animal Control

FOX Entertainment Global’s Best Medicine follows a world-class surgeon who retreats to a small fishing village, reluctantly becoming entangled in the lives of its eccentric residents. The Faithful tells the story of the Book of Genesis through the eyes of the women whose descendants would shape the future of faith. Animal Control centers on a team of animal control officers whose daily challenge isn’t the animals, but each other. “Our focus this January is on quality, originality and global relevance,” notes Prentiss Fraser, president of FOX Entertainment Global.

Animal Control

“We’re excited to showcase a slate that speaks to the strength of our FOXproduced programming with universal themes, powerful creative voices and clear international potential for our partners.”

—Prentiss Fraser

Passion Distribution

Carnival Catwalk / Outback Murder Highway / Twisted Sisters: Madness & Manslaughter From Passion Distribution, the reality competition Carnival Catwalk sees designers push their creativity to the limit. Outback Murder Highway investigates decades of unsolved murders in the Australian Outback. Twisted Sisters: Madness & Manslaughter details a sequence of events that led to chaos. “Every [true-crime] production needs to have a unique setting, fantastic access and an extraordinary story at its heart,” says Nick Tanner, director of sales and co-productions. “Twisted Sisters and Outback Murder Highway meet that criteria and go way beyond.”

Carnival Catwalk

“Passion’s ongoing quest is to support distinctive, mainstream non-scripted video content.”

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—Nick Tanner

Get Your Show in the Spotlight Spotlight allows you to highlight your show with a high-impact, exclusive campaign.

You can feature a show in any genre; see recent examples highlighting a drama, a format, a factual program and a kids’ series.

For more information, please contact Ricardo Guise at rguise@worldscreen.com, Dana Mattison at dmattison@worldscreen.com or Genovick Acevedo at gacevedo@worldscreen.com.

Troy: The Schliemann Legacy.

High-End History

By Anna Carugati

Z

DF Studios and Impossible Factual have teamed up on two programs that explore fascinating events from the past. On the 150th anniversary of Heinrich Schliemann’s discovery of the ancient city of Troy, Troy: The Schliemann Legacy revisits old controversies and uncovers new archaeological evidence of the site of the Trojan War. Black Death Patient Zero traces the origins of the deadliest pandemic in history. Jonathan Drake, the CEO of Impossible Factual, and Nikolas Hülbusch, Director Unscripted at ZDF Studios, discuss these two captivating programs.

WS: What will viewers see and learn that they didn’t know before in Troy: The Schliemann Legacy?

DRAKE: This documentary provides not only the latest information about archaeological evidence for the Trojan War but also examines something very new—the archaeology of 14 WORLD SCREEN 1/26

archaeology! At the University of Amsterdam, there is amazing work going on analyzing 150 years of digging at Troy, and we can clearly see how Schliemann made it very difficult for everyone who came after, because he had the wrong idea of how deep he would have to dig to find the legendary city, and destroyed so much vital evidence digging down to it.

WS: What will viewers see and learn that they didn’t know before in Black Death Patient Zero?

DRAKE: Bringing together scholarship from multiple disciplines, the film uncovers how the deadly disease tore through Medieval Europe, not only killing millions but also leaving lasting impressions on the architecture, art and literature of the time.

The documentary reveals that most active strains of plague bacteria still present in many parts of Black Death the world today can be traced back Patient Zero. directly to this 14th-century outbreak of the disease. It also showcases the groundbreaking work being done by modern immunologists trying to render plague a disease of the past.

WS: How are high-end docs such as these satisfying buyers’ needs?

HÜLBUSCH: History is generally one of the factual genres with the most faithful international audience, and it has been the cornerstone of ZDF Studios’ unscripted catalog. Films that focus on new archaeological discoveries, where viewers can witness history “in the making” and well-known stories being rewritten have a very special fascination in and of themselves. In a way, it’s the Champions League of history documentaries!

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LONDON CALLING Advertise in the Print and Digital Edition Space Reservations: February 2 Ad Materials: February 4

To book an advertisement, please contact Ricardo Guise at rguise@worldscreen.com, Dana Mattison at dmattison@worldscreen.com or Genovick Acevedo at gacevedo@worldscreen.com.

Passion Distribution’s The Kim Kardashian Diamond Heist.

Survival Guide Factual distributors and producers share their insights on the changes of the last year and what to expect in 2026. By Jamie Stalcup

W

ithout a doubt, 2025 was a tough year for the industry.

Fragmentation is increasingly negatively impacting consumers’ TV experience, according to Gracenote’s 2025 State of Play report, which found that 33 percent of streaming users experienced frustration. An uncertain global economic climate has led to continued budget restrictions, and as such, buyers are more risk-averse and commissioning less. This challenging time has even led to the cancellation of Sunny Side of the Doc in 2026, formerly a major event in the factual calendar.

“Across the board in 2025, buyers communicated that budgets remain extremely tight,” says Anne Olzmann, managing director of Albatross World Sales. “There are fewer commissions and acquisitions, 20 WORLD SCREEN 1/26

and a clear reluctance to take creative risks. Commissioners are largely avoiding genre experimentation or hybrid formats, prioritizing content that feels proven and dependable.”

“The landscape of unscripted has never been more dynamic, or more challenging,” add Mark Bishop and Matt Hornburg, co-presidents of Blue Ant Studios. But despite these problems, and “while global commissioning has slowed from its peak five years ago, the appetite for premium, high-quality content hasn’t gone away; it has just become more selective.”

With this selectivity in mind, it is imperative to be aware of what buyers and audiences are looking for—“clear hooks and strong storytelling,” notes Autentic’s Mirjam Strasser, head of sales and acquisitions. This must be topof-mind for producers and distributors when developing new programming.

THE TIME IS NOW Anniversary-driven history titles and timely current affairs programs have been performing well, according to multiple distributors. “In a world where fake news and misinformation online are becoming ever more prevalent, broadcasters are relying on documentaries and factual programming now more than ever to help their audiences stay informed and go behind the headlines they see on social media,” explains Poppy McAlister, managing director of TVF International.

Bishop and Hornburg report that Blue Ant Rights has found success with Taylor, about global superstar Taylor Swift, and Matthew Perry: A Hollywood Tragedy, a look into the Friends star’s life and struggles with addiction, which ultimately led to his death in 2023.

For TVF International, “Escape from Chernobyl: 48 Hours That Changed the World, for the upcoming 40th anniversary of the Chernobyl disaster, is attracting major interest, as is 1979: The Year of the Islamist Revolution, which provides historical context on the contemporary situation in Iran,” McAlister says.

The company also has on offer The Ozempic Effect, another title that is “topical, controversial and deeply relevant to global audiences,” she adds. “Shows like this will always turn heads regardless of the market climate.”

Of course, true crime and natural history remain tentpoles, as well.

“Alongside [wildlife and nature,] we are actively working in science, travel and history—genres that align well with our existing expertise, audience expectations and distribution strengths,” says Albatross World Sales’ Olzmann.

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BossaNova Media’s Guy Martin: Proper Jobs sees the former racer take on different jobs.

Passion Distribution has found that “returnable factual series, such as bluelight, societal tough-job follow docs, like Car Pound Cops and Call the Bailiffs: Time to Pay Up, and true crime dominate the linear channels’ weekday schedules,” says Nick Tanner, director of sales and co-productions. “These genres are relatively cost-effective, can be produced in volume and are highly repeatable, offering value for money for commissioners.”

There is also “a dearth of quality lifestyle series available in distribution,” he adds. Plus, “noisy, zeitgeist-hitting formats and factual entertainment can drive audience engagement, so they will always be crucial to channels and streamers.”

One of the most critical elements of getting these projects, regardless of genre, over the line is connecting with others in the industry and working together.

BETTER TOGETHER McAlister stresses the importance of attending the major markets to solidify these connections. “From WCSFP to Realscreen to MIPCOM, we seize every opportunity to meet our broadcaster and producer partners in person,” she says. “In an increasingly competitive market, we are focusing on presence, relationships and partnerships.”

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“The industry has seen a shift in how content is financed, and co-productions are no longer just an option; they are the standard,” Blue Ant’s Bishop and Hornburg note. “In that respect, partnerships have never mattered more. Buyers are looking for trusted collaborators who can co-produce, share rights and bring creative and financial solutions to the table.”

At BossaNova Media, “we have been proactive in seeking out new relationships [that] will support securing funding for a show; S4C came on board alongside Getty Images to sponsor our most recent Development Day, and we’ve developed ongoing dialogues with organizations that can bring funding to the table through routes beyond the broadcast license fee,” explains Claire Runham, head of acquisitions.

Underscoring the importance of collaboration, in June last year, the U.K.’s Documentary Film Council, Canada’s Documentary Organization of Canada and the U.S.’s International Documentary Association formed an alliance to share research and collaborate on cross-border advocacy efforts.

EARLY BIRDS When entering production partnerships, it is important to board a project relatively early, Runham says. “A big part of our business model is to become involved with shows very early and help to shape projects so that they are pre-sellable.”

Passion’s Tanner notes that his company has “boarded projects as early as devising project ideas ourselves, deficit funding, fully funding shows via presales and co-pros, etc.”

TVF International, meanwhile, “primarily boards projects that have at least one anchor broadcaster attached, so we can then look to the international market for deficit financing, presales or finished tape sales,” McAlister notes.

But stepping in early can be tough, especially in today’s climate. Olzmann says she has found Albatross boarding at early stages less often than before, “largely due to the decline in presales, which has made it more difficult Untold Arctic Wars is a series available from TVF International.

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to support financing during development or early production. While we continue to assess early-stage opportunities selectively, the current climate limits how much we can commit up front.”

DIGITAL DOMINANCE While commissions are down as a whole, streamers and the digital world are a lucrative bright spot for the Blue Ant Rights distributes Matthew Perry: A Hollywood Tragedy. industry. In a recent report from Ampere Analysis, global content investment is predicted to reach $255 billion in 2026, driven by sustained investment from global streaming platforms. And in Nielsen’s latest The Gauge report, streaming dominated television viewing in the U.S., with YouTube accounting for a whopping 12.7 percent of that.

The digital world, more specifically, is serving as a boon for producers and distributors. “Our digital sales have massively increased by almost 3,000 percent from 2024 to 2025,” reports Tatiana Grinkevich, head of sales at BossaNova.

“We’ve had huge success in the U.S. with Borderforce USA, which is by far our biggest leader in terms of digital sales, closely followed by true-crime content.”

“We’re also in talks to acquire older catalog titles purely to push our digital arm of the business,” she continues. “These are shows that may not travel well internationally on traditional linear platforms but have the potential to do great business for us on YouTube.”

Passion Distribution has continued to utilize its digital content agency UpStream Media—which launched its own digital-first production company last year—as a key part of its strategy. “Driving digital revenue by going B2C is central to the strategy, though this is in lockstep with TV licensing and thirdparty digital channels,” Tanner explains. “The Venn diagram of TV and digital is overlapping more each day, and with that comes opportunity for new content and new ways of taking video to audiences.”

TVF International has plans to grow its digital strategy over the next year as well, 24 WORLD SCREEN 1/26

McAlister says. It will do so by monetizing its back catalog, doing more digital-first acquisitions and “focusing on key genres that we know perform well online like history, science and biographies.”

At Autentic, “we’re still seeing solid growth in our digital sales as we dig deeper into our expanding library with smart rights management and windowing,” Strasser says. “In addition, our increased focus on B2C channels and direct upload access to platforms, rather than relying solely on aggregators, has given us greater control and consistently improved results.”

INTO THE FUTURE Despite all of the challenges of the current market, the growth in streaming and digital sales proves there are still bright spots. And even though Sunny Side of the Doc was canceled this year, there have been other efforts to promote and support the growth of the factual industry, including Autentic’s creation of Autentic Matchmaking Day, an international pitching event, which will take place in June. With this in mind, executives seem to have a cautiously optimistic outlook on the year ahead.

At Blue Ant, which transitioned from a private media company to a publicly traded company and acquired Insight Productions, Proper Television, MagellanTV and Thunderbird Entertainment, “we’re optimistic that our growth as a company will allow us to invest in projects we believe in and take bigger risks,” Hornburg and Bishop say. “Our expanded scale has diversified our content offering and set up a collective strength across our business units that will allow us to move into new genres, new platforms and new audiences, while staying rooted in creating and finding audiences for great stories.”

While it does seem that the market will remain difficult for a little bit, “there are positive signs,” Olzmann says. “Demand for factual storytelling is steady.

Companies that operate efficiently, concentrate on proven genres, use their libraries strategically and adapt to evolving distribution models are likely to be in the strongest position moving forward.”

The key to getting through 2026 “is staying proactive and nimble,” stresses Autentic’s Strasser. “The market is evolving rapidly (especially in the digital space), so we’re not just responding to change, we’re actively preparing for it.

We’re strengthening our workflows, expanding our technical capabilities and ensuring we’re fully equipped for new forms of exploitation and emerging distribution pathways.”

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Trending On The most-viewed clips on our video portals in the last month.

Into the Universe Explores cosmic mysteries—from galaxy births to black holes— blending science, wonder and discovery in a journey through space, time and the unknown. (ZDF Studios)

Gold Wars Down Under Three hardcore mining teams battle it out to see who can unearth the biggest nuggets and the most gold in an epic gold hunting season. (BossaNova Media)

Halef Serhat secretly weds Melek, but a blood feud binds him to Yıldız. As Agha, he confronts betrayal, buried secrets and love on trial. (Inter Medya)

Pablo: Next Level Pablo has joined a new school and it’s strange, wild and definitely complicated but with a little “help” from his book animal friends, he’s working it out one drama at a time. (CAKE)

Innovators of Japan Anime A rare look into the creative process of animation filmmaker Kiyotaka Oshiyama (Look Back). Also features interviews with renowned creators from the world of anime. (NHK Enterprises) 26 WORLD SCREEN 1/26