Buyers Profiles: NTV’s Gabi Nensel & SPI’s Revi Benshoshan

The Huntsman

This instalment of our TBI Buyers Profiles features Russian broadcaster NTV and Netherlands-based SPI International, which operates more than 30 networks around the world.

NTV’s Gabi Nensel tells us about the best performing shows on his network and what he’s looking for next, while SPI’s acquisitions chief Revi Benshoshan outlines key programmes and his rights wishlist.

Gabi Nensel

Gabi Nensel

Head of primetime, NTV (Russia)

What has been your best acquisition of the past few months and what does it say about your current buying strategy?

Out top three shows have been World’s Deadliest, The Huntsman and Aircrash Recreated. This shows that good wildlife formats still work, but we also try unusual docs with formats like The Huntsman. Action and catastrophes still work as well.

How do you differentiate the programming on your network/platform from the competition?

We try to broadcast more of our own productions, as well as high quality international co-productions or pre-sales.

We need free-TV rights, of course, but now it’s also standard to be able to exploit the documentaries on our online platform

Can you give an indication of the budgets available?

They vary a lot and can’t be fixed. Since we are a small station, the budgets are not as high as with big stations.

What types of shows are not working?

Lifestyle, art and culture, docusoaps, slow documentaries and character-driven documentaries.

What types of rights do you require and is there any flexibility?

Free TV rights, of course, but now it’s also standard to be able to exploit the documentaries on our online platform. We always try to be flexible and find an agreement with the licensor.

Are you looking for pre-sale/coproduction opportunities?

Yes, we are and we practice this.

What’s the best way for distributors/producers to present an idea to you?

The best way is by email, but of course also in person at the various TV trade shows.

Revi Benshoshan

Director of acquisitions, SPI International

What has been your best acquisition of the past few months and what does it say about your current buying strategy?

Our best acquisitions in the past few months were documentaries from RedBull, Earth Touch, Beyond, Drive TV.

How do you differentiate the programming on your network/platform from the competition?

The different is that we have eight thematic channels dedicated to genres (documentaries, fashion, UHD, arthouse film channel, etc). We are airing on the major TV platforms and digital platforms.

Can you give an indication of the budgets available?

Unfortunately not, as we have different budgets for each genre and channel.

We require all TV & VOD rights on non-exclusive basis, and for some territories on an exclusive basis

What types of shows are not working?

For our thematic channels, we have a very strict selection of shows and we know exactly what works for us.

What types of rights do you require and is there any flexibility?

All TV & VOD on non-exclusive basis, and some territories on an exclusive basis.

Are you looking for pre-sale/coproduction opportunities?

Not at this present time.

What’s the best way for distributors/producers to present an idea to you?

By personal email, Press release, programbuyer platform and I hope, soon, personal markets.

To read more in the Buyers Profiles series, click below:

Buyers Profiles: SVT’s Mikael Österby & Canal Brasil’s Alexandre Cunha

Buyers Profiles: Portico Media’s Jay Lin & YLE’s Tarmo Kivikallio

Tarmo Kivikallio and Jay Lin are among the 4,500 acquisitions executives benefitting from ProgramBuyer, the online screening portal that houses more than 120,000 hours of content across all genres. Using a sophisticated search facility, it allows buyers to search and screen all types of content from more than 160 global distributors.