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How Europe’s Public Broadcasters Are Powering Premium Drama With New8

As U.S. co-productions scale back and global streamers like Paramount+ reduce their presence in Europe, a group of European public broadcasters is stepping up to fill the void in high-end TV drama. Known as New8, this collective of eight national broadcasters is banding together to co-finance and produce compelling new scripted series.


Public Broadcasters Unite for Quality Storytelling

The rise of New8 comes in response to the evolving content landscape. As major streamers pull back local content production or shift strategies, public broadcasters like NRK (Norway) and ZDF (Germany) are reaffirming their commitment to support local creators and maintain cultural storytelling.

“It’s not about making profit, we are public broadcasters,” said Marianne Furevold-Boland, Head of Drama at NRK. “We will always be here to support our producers and serve our audiences.”

This sentiment is echoed by all members of New8, which also includes NPO (Netherlands), VRT (Belgium), SVT (Sweden), DR (Denmark), YLE (Finland), and RÚV (Iceland). The group greenlights eight dramas annually, each one designed to reflect regional stories with universal appeal.


A Scalable Production Model

New8’s collaborative model allows broadcasters to pool budgets and resources, enabling the creation of premium drama even in the face of shrinking national funding. According to Elly Vervloet, Chair of New8 and Executive at VRT Belgium, “we would never keep the door closed” to other public broadcasters interested in joining — even global giants like the BBC.

Jarmo Lampela of Finland’s YLE suggests this model could extend beyond Europe: “It can work in other regions like South America. You can adapt it to your own context.”


A Diverse Slate of Upcoming Series

New8 showcased its upcoming projects at Seriencamp and Series Mania. The lineup includes cross-border collaborations and bold storytelling concepts:

🔹 Breendonk (VRT, Belgium)

A historical love story set in a WWII prison camp.

🔹 Phoenix (ZDF, Germany)

An eco-thriller about youth activists kidnapping the children of polluting CEOs.

🔹 The Machine (NPO, Netherlands)

A gripping corporate drama about integrity and power in a global empire.

🔹 Henki (NRK, Norway)

The emotional journey of a gay bartender battling HIV stigma in 1985.

🔹 Cold Song (SVT, Sweden)

A suspenseful family drama sparked by a mysterious disappearance.

🔹 Generations (DR, Denmark)

A haunting story of family secrets uncovered by a decades-old crime.

🔹 Death of a Horse (RÚV, Iceland)

A crime series where the murder of a racehorse leads to a deeper investigation.

🔹 The Dark Ones (ZDF, Germany)

A supernatural thriller featuring human doppelgangers disrupting island life.

One of the most anticipated collaborations is Kabul, produced in partnership with The Alliance — a similar drama collective of France Télévisions, Italy’s Rai, and Germany’s ZDF.


Redefining Public Media’s Role

While streaming platforms like Netflix dominate headlines, New8’s efforts highlight a growing role for public broadcasters in delivering impactful, high-end storytelling. According to Furevold-Boland, their mission isn’t just entertainment: “Our mandate is to strengthen and develop democracy — and we know that through good storytelling, we can do that.”

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