Yi Qiao Lands International Commissioning Role at ZDF

EXCLUSIVE: The international executive Yi Qiao played a role of commissioner at ZDF after leaving the German arm of Pubcaster’s Studios.

The executive, well known on the circuit of its international sales and financing accuracy, joined the Frank Seyberth team as editor in committee, having already been director of the theater at ZDF Studios.

She will report on Seyberth, responsible for the co -production and international fiction of ZDF, whose team is known to invest in international dramas such as Around the world in 80 daysIrish mystery series Harry Wild And Nicolas Winding Refn’s The Five famous series among others. The unit also oversees a co-production pact with the BBC, and the role of ZDF in the co-commissioning initiatives of the European alliance and the New8.

Qiao was previously part of Robert Franke in ZDF studios, mainly investing in shows scripted in English. Its new role has a similar international orientation, but Seyberth’s team commissions for several linear slots and the ZDF streaming platform.

Qiao began his role earlier this month after announcing his release from the Franke team at the ZDF studios, where she built an English language list.

“Yi is the first member of our editorial team who has a sales training,” Seyberth told Deadline. He declared that the rental reflects the “dynamics of the current market”, where an “endless variety of financing options” is on the table for broadcasters.

“These extraordinary shows will need good teamwork,” he added. “As a editorial team and as a diffuser, we have proven to be capable of these necessities and provide the right skills in this regard. As our objective is to bring the world to Germany, the more our commissioners experience distinctive cultural environments, the better. ”

Before his five years in ZDF studios, Qiao spent eight years in Red Arrow Studios, going from a junior position to a senior sale role in the United Kingdom at Prosiebensat.1 Media Company, which is now part of Seven.one Studios.

ZDF recently launched a division which focuses only on public behavior, which, according to Seyberth, we “helped us all sailing in different aspects of the fictional portfolio”.

He told Deadline that the emissions made directly for streaming and that those intended for Linear Network Network of ZDF currently operated well, but have seen the need for future and more international executives with global players now having an impact on the local market.

“Fortunately, we are in the position that we are succeeding in both directions, but we are aware that the future” point of sale “is streaming, and that in this area, competition is not limited to our German territory,” he said.

As such, the ZDF international co -productions international team is in regular contact with colleagues commanding a national drama and comedy, the two based on the director of the ZDF program, Nadine Bilke.