Brutal Media

What Brutal Media does

Brutal Media is a Barcelona-headquartered film and television production company founded in 2009 by Raimon Masllorens and Nèlida Sánchez, operating across fiction series, documentaries, feature films, factual entertainment, and proprietary original formats. Since 2024 the company has functioned as the Spanish commercial and production headquarters of BBC Studios Global Entertainment, which positions it inside a global public-service media group's distribution and co-production network. Its core output spans Netflix originals (Welcome to Eden, Bank Under Siege, Killer Book Club, Hockey Girls, Rosa Peral's Tapes, Murder by the Coast, The Map of Longing), Amazon Prime Video and Sony Pictures Television productions (The Academy, This is Football), feature films (La Vampira de Barcelona, Te Quiero Imbécil), and the proprietary "THIS IS" branded format library (This is Opera, This is Art, This is Philosophy) licensed across 70+ territories. It also operates Brutal Services, a service-production arm providing international shoots in Spain with location management, crewing, equipment hire, and tax rebate optimization up to 60%.

The company's revenue model is built on three streams: one-time content licensing and co-production fees from global streamers and broadcasters (Netflix, Amazon Prime, Sony Pictures Television, 3Cat, RTVE, Mediaset, Sky TV), recurring format royalties from the "THIS IS" library, and professional-services fees from Brutal Services. GTM is enterprise field sales into platform commissioning editors and broadcaster heads of content, supplemented by co-production partnerships with entities such as Filmax, October Films, UNITEL, and New Black Films. The underlying technology stack is conventional production infrastructure — physical locations, crews, equipment, and post-production — rather than software or AI, and there are no disclosed patents, proprietary algorithms, or platform-based products.

The customer base is concentrated among a small number of large enterprise buyers (Netflix, Amazon Prime, Sony, plus regional public broadcasters), making project slate and commissioning relationships the primary commercial assets. Distribution is global through streaming platforms and international broadcasters, with regional depth in Spain and Catalonia via 3Cat and RTVE. The BBC Studios affiliation materially alters its risk and growth profile, providing capital backing, IP co-development, and access to a global content sales network that independent Spanish producers of comparable size rarely access.

Name

Brutal Media

Legal name

Brutal Media, S.L.

Website

https://brutalmedia.tv

Company type

Private

Founded year

2009

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Brutal Media is a Barcelona-based film and TV production company founded in 2009, serving global streamers (Netflix, Amazon Prime, Sony) and Spanish broadcasters with original fiction, documentaries, and proprietary formats. Since 2024 it operates as BBC Studios' production headquarters in Spain.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Barcelona

HQ country

Spain

HQ region

Europe

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Original Content Production: Develops and produces original fiction and non-fiction content for international broadcasters and streaming platforms, including Netflix originals, Amazon Prime productions, and Sony Pictures Television productions.
2. Service Production: Provides full production services to international productions shooting in Spain, including location management, crewing, equipment hire, tax rebate processing, and production design.
3. Co-production Partnerships: Joint production partnerships with broadcasters including Televisió de Catalunya, TVE, Filmax, October Films, and others for shared content development and distribution rights.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels7 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Brutal Media is a Spanish television and film production company that develops and produces original fiction series, documentaries, factual entertainment, and proprietary formats (e.g., THIS IS) for international broadcasters and streaming platforms such as Netflix, Amazon Prime, and 3Cat. Through its Brutal Services division, the company also provides end-to-end service production support to international productions filming in Spain, including location scouting, crewing, equipment hire, and Spanish tax rebate management up to 60%.

Product overview

Brutal Media is an innovative Spanish television and film content production company specializing in fiction, documentaries, original formats, factual programs, and entertainment. Founded in 2009 and part of BBC Studios Global Entertainment since 2024, the company operates as both a content creator and a service production provider. Their portfolio includes original drama series (Welcome to Eden, The Map of Longing, Killer Book Club), feature films (La Vampira de Barcelona, I Love You Stupid), documentary productions (Rosa Peral's Tapes, Murder by the Coast, The End of the Storm, This is Football), and their proprietary 'THIS IS' branded educational/entertainment formats (This is Opera, This is Art, This is Philosophy). They also operate Brutal Services, offering comprehensive production services for international shoots in Spain with tax incentive expertise up to 60%. Their content reaches global audiences through platforms like Netflix, Amazon Prime, 3Cat, and RTVE.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• THIS IS: A label that creates unique storytelling through emotions, bringing disciplines such as music, art, and philosophy to all audiences. Originals include This is Opera, This is Art, and This is Philosophy, broadcast in more than 70 territories.

Products and services

• El mapa de los anhelos (The Map of Longing) A drama miniseries adaptation of Alice Kellen's bestselling novel about Greta navigating grief after her sister Lucy's passing. Premiered on Netflix.
• Asalto al Banco Central (Bank Under Siege) A Netflix original thriller miniseries about eleven hooded men robbing the Central Bank of Barcelona on May 23, 1981, three months after the attempted coup.
• La Academia (The Academy) Drama series set in a football training center depicting young players from different backgrounds striving to reach the first team. Produced by Sony Pictures Television for Amazon Prime and 3Cat.
• El Club de los Lectores Criminales (Killer Book Club) A Netflix original horror/slasher film based on Carlos García Miranda's novel, about young people threatened by an anonymous writer revealing their dark secret after a deadly accident.
• Bienvenidos a Edén (Welcome to Eden) A Netflix original thriller/sci-fi series where young influencers are invited to an exclusive party on a remote island. Achieved top 1 worldwide in 48 countries and top 10 in 83 countries on Netflix.
• Las del Hockey (Hockey Girls) A series about seven young female hockey players and their trainer fighting to save their sports club's female section while finding their place on and off the team.
• Las Cintas de Rosa Peral (Rosa Peral's Tapes) A Netflix documentary offering a new perspective on the 2017 Urban Guard crime case, featuring Rosa Peral's first testimony from prison with unpublished personal archive material.
• El Caso Wanninkhof-Carabantes (Murder by the Coast) A Netflix documentary reviewing the Wanninkhof-Carabantes criminal case 20 years later from judicial, political, media, sociological, and gender perspectives.
• The End of the Storm A feature documentary about Liverpool Football Club's 2019/20 season winning the Premier League after 30 years, featuring interviews with Jürgen Klopp, Kenny Dalglish, and key players.
• This is Football A six-part documentary series exploring football's extraordinary impact on the world. Produced for Amazon Prime and Starbucks.
• La Vampira de Barcelona A feature film inspired by the real Enriqueta Martí, set in early 20th century Barcelona about the disappearance of Teresa Guitart and the investigation into 'The Vampire of the Raval'. Won 5 Gaudí Awards including Best Film.
• Te Quiero, Imbécil (I Love You, Stupid) A romantic comedy about Marcos reinventing himself after his girlfriend leaves him, with help from a childhood friend and an Internet guru.
• This is Opera A documentary series providing keys to understanding and enjoying the most important operas in history, presented by Ramon Gener. Broadcast in over 70 territories.
• This is Art A journey into emotions and feelings exploring art history through universal themes like desire, love, faith, and fear, covering painting, sculpture, music, architecture, and literature. Broadcast in over 70 territories.
• This is Philosophy An innovative 24-episode format bringing philosophy to all audiences, exploring Western thought from Ancient Greece to Descartes and Augustine of Hippo.
• El Foraster A format based on the Danish 'Comedy on the Edge' where Quim Masferrer tours Catalan villages with fewer than 1,000 inhabitants, creating personalized monologues. After 9 seasons, remains a leading show in Catalonia.
• El Paisano Entertainment show based on Danish format where hosts discover the charm of Spain's smallest corners, with 2 days to explore each town and perform a personalized monologue.
• El Rival más Débil (The Weakest Link adaptation) Spanish adaptation of the British 'The Weakest Link' where eight celebrities compete over seven rounds to win up to €50,000 for charity. Broadcast on Mediaset España.
• Menudos Torres Daily cooking show by the Torres Brothers focusing on ecology, health, sustainability, and local products while promoting Mediterranean diet traditions.
• Bizi Natura Live nature show based on BBC's 'Springwatch' format, converting the Urdaibai Biosphere Reserve into a natural stage with cameras across different ecosystems.
• L'Estafador de l'Amor (The Love Conman) Documentary series about Albert Cavallé who used multiple identities to seduce and defraud women through dating apps, analyzing the growing phenomenon of romance scams.
• Això no és una cançó Weekly music program with Ramon Gener teaching music to a special class with intergenerational themes. Selected at INPUT 2024 as an innovative format.
• Brutal Services Bespoke production services for international productions filming in Spain, including budgeting, production design, casting, scouting, location management, crewing, insurance, equipment hire, health & safety, logistics, and tax rebate management (up to 60% savings).

Quantifiable outcome

• Welcome to Eden reached top 1 worldwide in 48 countries and top 10 in 83 countries on Netflix
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers7 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Twelve partnerships are on record, tiered core, major and minor.

• BBC Studios Global EntertainmentcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2024Since 2024, Brutal Media has been part of the BBC Studios Global Entertainment group and operates as its commercial and production headquarters in Spain. This provides access to BBC Studios' global network, resources, and co-production opportunities.
• NetflixcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNetflix original productions including Bank Under Siege, Killer Book Club, Welcome to Eden, Hockey Girls, Rosa Peral's Tapes, Murder by the Coast, and The Map of Longing.
• Sony Pictures TelevisioncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Academy - a Sony Pictures Television original produced by Brutal Media, broadcast on Amazon Prime and 3cat.
• Televisió de Catalunya (3Cat)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMultiple co-productions including La Academia, Las del Hockey, This is Football, El Foraster, and other Catalan-language content.
• RTVE (Radio Televisión Española)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerProductions including El Paisano, Se hace lo que se puede, Tornarem, Los Girona, and 200. Una noche en el Prado.
• Amazon Prime VideocoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAmazon Prime productions including The Academy and This is Football (co-produced with Starbucks).
• Mediaset EspañamajorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorProduction of El Rival más Débil (The Weakest Link adaptation) for Mediaset España.
• October FilmscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-production partner for documentaries including The End of the Storm and This is Football.
• FilmaxmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-production partner for La Vampira de Barcelona, distributed by Filmax with participation from ICEC.
• UNITELmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-production partner for This is Opera, in collaboration with Televisió de Catalunya.
• New Black FilmsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-production partner for The End of the Storm documentary about Liverpool FC.
• ICEC (Institut Català de les Empreses Culturals)minorGTM or Marketing PartnerInstitutional support for La Vampira de Barcelona production through Catalan cultural funding.

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Atresmedia Studios: Production arm of Atresmedia, producing fiction series and entertainment for Spanish broadcasters and streamers. Comparable as a Spain-based content producer serving both national broadcasters and international platforms.
• BBC Studios: Parent company of Brutal Media since 2024 and one of the largest international content producers and distributors. Comparable as the global production group within which Brutal Media now sits, with overlapping capabilities in formats and distribution.
• Mediapro (The Mediapro Studio): One of the largest Spanish content production groups, producing fiction, documentaries, sports, and entertainment for global platforms. Comparable to Brutal Media across genres, but with substantially greater scale, headcount, and an in-house distribution business.
• Sony Pictures Television (International Productions): Global production and distribution group that co-produced The Academy with Brutal Media. Comparable as a major international studio commissioning and producing scripted series across Europe.
• Telecinco Cinema (Mediaset España): Film and fiction production arm of Mediaset España, a partner of Brutal Media on adaptations including El Rival más Débil. Comparable as a Spanish producer-distributor of scripted content integrated with a major free-to-air broadcaster.

Direct peers

• Vaca Studio: Spanish production company focused on scripted drama and feature films for international platforms, including Netflix. Comparable to Brutal Media as a similarly-sized, internationally-oriented Spanish indie producer competing for the same platform commissions.
• Filmax: Spanish film production and distribution company that co-produced La Vampira de Barcelona with Brutal Media. Directly comparable as a Spanish production and distribution peer operating across fiction, film, and international co-productions.
• Buen viaje (Buen Viaje Producciones): Spanish production company producing fiction, entertainment, and factual programming for broadcasters and streamers. Comparable as a similarly-positioned Spanish indie producer across multiple genres.
• Diagonal TV (Banijay Iberia): Spanish production company within Banijay producing scripted series and TV movies for broadcasters and platforms. Comparable to Brutal Media as a Spain-based scripted producer targeting both national and international buyers.
• Gestmusic (Banijay Iberia): Spanish production house (part of Banijay) producing entertainment, game shows, and factual formats including adaptations of international formats for Spanish TV. Comparable as a Spanish format-based producer, including work on adaptations like The Weakest Link territory.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/brutalmedia
• YouTubevimeo.com/user8898290
• Facebookfacebook.com/pages/BRUTAL-MEDIA/217470358293
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/brutal-media-s-l-
• Instagraminstagram.com/brutalmediabbcs

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Brutal Media