German Netflix rival makes originals move

Germany’s ProSiebenSat.1-owned subscription video-on-demand service Maxdome has commissioned its first original series.

The broadcaster-owned service has teamed up with well-known German producer-director and actor Christian Ulmen to create Buddy-Serie, a ten-part drama about two friends featuring Ulmen and Fahri Yardim.

The series is to be produced by Talpa Germany, which was formerly known as Schwartzkopff TV before John de Mol invested in the business, and will be directed by Ulmen.

Filming is due to begin in Potsdam in September, with a release scheduled for early 2017.

Maxdome CEO Marvin Lange said that as the largest German supplier of video-on-demand, the service wanted to offer a platform for German filmmakers and artists.

He said the commissioning of Maxdome’s first original was a milestone in the service’s development.

Maxdome battles SVOD rivals Netflix and Amazon Prime Video in Germany.