Network Movie

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).

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

Headquarters

HQ city

Cologne

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices4 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. 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

Core 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

Named customers6 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

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

• ZDFcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPrimary 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.
• ARTEmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerEuropean 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)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerGerman public broadcaster co-productions with Network Movie.
• ifs Internationale Filmschule KölnminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerEducational 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 GmbHminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-production partner for An einem Tag im September (producer Mark von Seydlitz).
• jonnydepony (Belgium)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerBelgian co-production partner for the mystery series 'The Girl in my Diary' (AT) together with WDR.
• Barletta Productions (Czech Republic)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCzech co-production partner for 'We're on it, Comrades', an eight-part Czech-German miniseries for ZDFneo.
• Studio ZentralcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNetwork 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

Direct 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

• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/NetworkMovieGermany
• Facebookfacebook.com/NetworkMovie
• Instagraminstagram.com/networkmovie
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/network-movie

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 records

Subsidiaries1 record

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 Network Movie