Network Movie
Network Movie is a German TV and film production company founded in 1998 and wholly owned by ZDF Studios. Operating from four German offices, it produces crime series, medical dramas, and international co-productions primarily for ZDF, ARTE, and streaming platforms.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1998
- HeadquartersCologne, Germany
- Headcount101–250
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What Network Movie does
Network Movie Film- und Fernsehproduktion GmbH is a German film and television production company founded in 1998 and headquartered in Cologne at Im Mediapark 6a, with additional offices in Hamburg (Slomanhaus), Munich (Pestalozzistraße 13), and Berlin (Studio Zentral). The company is a 100% subsidiary of ZDF Studios Gruppe, making ZDF both its parent entity and its dominant commissioning customer. Network Movie produces a portfolio of long-running prime-time crime series (SOKO Köln, Die Chefin, Stralsund, Nord Nord Mord, Der gute Bulle), medical dramas (Bettys Diagnose, airing since 2014), event series (München Beats), and international co-productions distributed through ZDF, ZDFneo, ARTE, Das Erste (Degeto), and international streaming platforms. Notable viewership outcomes include 10.32M viewers / 33.1% market share for a Nord Nord Mord episode in January 2022 and 4.73M viewers for Bettys Diagnose Season 1.
The company operates under a professional-services / production-contract revenue model: it negotiates per-production fees with broadcasters rather than selling directly to consumers, and pricing is not publicly disclosed. Its go-to-market is anchored by the structural ZDF relationship, supplemented by co-production deals (e.g., with Belgian firm jonnydepony, Czech partner Barletta Productions, and educational partner ifs Köln) and international festival circulation (Berlinale, Monte Carlo, Bolzano, Seoul, New York). Management is jointly held by three Geschäftsführer: Wolfgang Cimera (Cologne, CEO since 2009), Lasse Scharpen (Berlin / Studio Zentral, since April 2020), and Bernd von Fehrn (Hamburg, since November 2024), supported by senior creative producer Peter Güde (Cologne, since October 2025). The company has 123 employees and a deep content library that has accumulated 27+ years of production track record, including 16 documented industry awards between 2022 and 2026 (Grimme Preis, Golden Nymph, Deutscher Fernsehpreis, BAFTA nomination, New York Festivals Silver).
Network Movie firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Network Movie
- Legal name
- NETWORK MOVIE Film- und Fernsehproduktion GmbH
- Website
- https://networkmovie.de
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1998
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 101–250 employees
- Short description
- Network Movie is a German TV and film production company founded in 1998 and wholly owned by ZDF Studios. Operating from four German offices, it produces crime series, medical dramas, and international co-productions primarily for ZDF, ARTE, and streaming platforms.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Where Network Movie is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Cologne
- HQ country
- Germany
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices4 records
Markets served
Network Movie business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- TV Production Contracts: Production contracts with public broadcasters (ZDF, ARTE) and private channels for TV films, series, and international co-productions. The company is a 100% subsidiary of ZDF Studios Gruppe.
Distribution channels5 records
Marketing channels7 records
Network Movie product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Network Movie is a German film and television production company that develops, produces, and delivers scripted content including long-running crime series, medical dramas, event series, TV films, and international co-productions. The company produces on commission primarily for public broadcasters (ZDF, ARTE, Das Erste) and international streaming platforms, operating from four German production locations under its 100% parent ZDF Studios Gruppe.
Product overview
Network Movie Film- und Fernsehproduktion GmbH is a German film and television production company founded in 1998, producing attractive and high-quality TV films, popular crime series, medical dramas, international co-productions, and feature films. The company operates at four locations: Cologne (headquarters at Mediapark), Hamburg (Slomanhaus), Munich, and Berlin (Studio Zentral). The product portfolio includes long-running TV series such as SOKO Köln, Die Chefin, and Bettys Diagnose, crime series including Stralsund and Der gute Bulle, event series like München Beats, romantic comedies (Der Liebesbuchclub), dramatic films (Die Kleinen und die Großen Lügen, Maria hat Angst), and historical dramas (An einem Tag im September). Network Movie is a subsidiary of ZDF Studios and primarily produces for ZDF, ZDFneo, ARTE, and international streaming services.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Studio Zentral: Berlin-based division focused on developing contemporary, sophisticated series, led by Lasse Scharpen since April 2020.
Products and services
- SOKO Köln Long-running German crime investigation series set in Cologne, featuring a team of detectives solving various criminal cases with humor and local charm. Produced for ZDF and released one week in advance on ZDFmediathek.
- Die Chefin Crime series featuring Kommissarin Vera Lanz, who leads investigations in Munich with exceptional intuition and determination. Produced for ZDF with new seasons released on ZDF.de.
- Bettys Diagnose Long-running German medical drama series centered on ward nurse Betty and her colleagues at Karlsklinik, airing since 2014. New seasons continue to air on ZDF, with episodes available one week in advance on ZDFmediathek.
- Stralsund German crime series set in Stralsund following detectives investigating murders and criminal cases in the coastal region, produced for ZDF.
- München Beats Four-part ZDF event series set in 1990s Munich, exploring the techno scene and the creation of the legendary Kunstpark Ost, inspired by true events.
- Der gute Bulle Crime film series featuring Chief Commissioner Fredo Schulz, produced as co-productions with ARTE for ZDF.
- Der Liebesbuchclub Romantic comedy in production for ZDF-Herzkino about a romance novelist and a bookstore clerk who meet in a book club, written by Mila Lippke and Julia Neumann.
- Die Kleinen und die Großen Lügen
- Maria hat Angst Drama about power abuse, female solidarity, and a woman's journey to be heard, co-produced with ARTE.
- HUNGRY
- Lillys Verschwinden Two-part thriller about a child's disappearance during a family vacation, featuring intense search drama.
- An einem Tag im September
- Studio Zentral
Quantifiable outcome
- Record viewership of 10.32 million (33.1% market share) for Nord Nord Mord – Sievers und das mörderische Türkis (January 2022)
- +1 more outcomes
Companies that use Network Movie
Customer profileNamed customers6 records
Segments3 records
Ideal customer profiles2 records
Network Movie technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Network Movie partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Eight partnerships are on record, tiered core, major and minor.
- ZDFcorePrimary broadcaster commissioning most of Network Movie's productions including SOKO Köln, Die Chefin, Bettys Diagnose, Stralsund, Nord Nord Mord. ZDF acts as both broadcaster and commissioning partner.
- ARTEmajorEuropean co-production partner for films such as An einem Tag im September, Maria hat Angst, and Der gute Bulle. ARTE co-commissions and co-produces feature films and series.
- Das Erste (Degeto)minorGerman public broadcaster co-productions with Network Movie.
- ifs Internationale Filmschule KölnminorEducational partnership where ifs students developed a SOKO Köln episode plot. Students wrote the screenplay for the episode 'Doppeltes Kaliber' under the mentorship of Network Movie producer Florian Strebin.
- made in munich content & films GmbHminorCo-production partner for An einem Tag im September (producer Mark von Seydlitz).
- jonnydepony (Belgium)minorBelgian co-production partner for the mystery series 'The Girl in my Diary' (AT) together with WDR.
- Barletta Productions (Czech Republic)minorCzech co-production partner for 'We're on it, Comrades', an eight-part Czech-German miniseries for ZDFneo.
- Studio ZentralcoreNetwork Movie's Berlin-based subsidiary focused on developing contemporary, ambitious series. Led by Lasse Scharpen since April 2020. Productions include IVO, Alle die Du bist, Love Sucks, Frier & Frier.
Scale indicators5 records
Recent moves8 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Network Movie competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Bavaria Film: Major German film and TV production company and studio operator producing TV films, series, and international co-productions for ARD, ZDF, and international clients. Comparable in scale, public broadcaster dependence, and franchise-based production model.
- Polyphon Film- und Fernsehgesellschaft: Hamburg-based production company producing TV series, TV films, and entertainment for German broadcasters. Comparable multi-office German production house serving public broadcasters.
- Studio Hamburg: Hamburg-based production company and studio operator producing TV series, films, and entertainment for German broadcasters. Closely comparable as a multi-location German scripted production house serving public broadcasters.
- Rat Pack Filmproduktion: Munich-based TV production company producing crime series (e.g., Tatort) and TV films for German public broadcasters. Directly comparable in the procedural crime series and TV film segments where Network Movie is strongest.
- Wiedemann & Berg Film: Munich-based premium TV and film producer known for high-end German series and international co-productions. Comparable in producing award-winning German scripted content for public broadcasters and streamers.
- Constantin Film: Munich-based production and distribution company producing TV series, feature films, and international co-productions. Comparable in German-language scripted production, international co-production activity, and public broadcaster relationships.
- UFA (Fremantle Germany): One of Germany's largest TV production companies, producing long-running series, TV films, and event programming for public and private broadcasters. Directly comparable as a top-tier German scripted production house with public broadcaster relationships.
- ndF: neue deutsche Filmgesellschaft: Berlin-based TV production company producing Tatort, long-running crime series, and TV films for ARD. Comparable as a German scripted production house with strong public broadcaster franchise relationships.
Emerging players
- Letterbox Filmproduktion: Cologne-based premium TV and film producer (part of Studio Hamburg). Comparable in producing high-end German scripted series for public broadcasters and streamers, though smaller in scale.
Broad incumbents
- ZDF Studios: Parent company of Network Movie and a major international content distributor. Relevant as the strategic parent/distribution partner and as a broad incumbent shaping the German production ecosystem.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Network Movie social profiles
Digital presenceNetwork Movie financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Network Movie leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles3 records
Network Movie subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries1 record
Network Movie funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Network Movie M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Network Movie
What does Network Movie do?
Network Movie is a German film and television production company that develops, produces, and delivers scripted content including long-running crime series, medical dramas, event series, TV films, and international co-productions. The company produces on commission primarily for public broadcasters (ZDF, ARTE, Das Erste) and international streaming platforms, operating from four German production locations under its 100% parent ZDF Studios Gruppe.
Is Network Movie a public or private company?
Network Movie is a private company. It is classified as corporate owned and is currently operating.
When was Network Movie founded?
Network Movie was founded in 1998. It employs 101 to 250 people.
Where is Network Movie based?
Network Movie is headquartered in Cologne, Germany, in the Europe region.
How does Network Movie make money?
One revenue line is on record: TV Production Contracts.
Who are Network Movie's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Bavaria Film, Polyphon Film- und Fernsehgesellschaft, Studio Hamburg, Rat Pack Filmproduktion, Wiedemann & Berg Film, Constantin Film, UFA (Fremantle Germany) and ndF: neue deutsche Filmgesellschaft. Letterbox Filmproduktion is listed as an emerging player. ZDF Studios is listed as a broad incumbent.
Does Network Movie have an API?
No public API is recorded for Network Movie.