ZDF Enterprises has inked an extensive deal with LIC, which is acquiring 100 hours of factual programming in 2013 and another 100 in 2014.

The Mainz-based German company will be licensing factual series, such as Hard Time, and shows in all sub-genres to the Chinese giant. This includes programmes from both the ZDF and ZDF Enterprises catalogues in the fields of History and Biographies, Current Affairs and Social Issues, Science and Knowledge, People and Places, and Wildlife and Nature.

In addition to airing ten branded programming blocks on over 300 channels in China, LIC also functions as producer and provider of a wide range of other media-related services. The firm was established in 1994 to buy international documentaries to show on Chinese TV.

ZDF Enterprises’ President and CEO Alexander Coridass: “Never before have we negotiated such an important deal with a Chinese partner. LIC has a long record of working with Western programme providers, a fact that is particularly significant to us. As the Chinese market expands in leaps and bounds, we want to establish the best contacts possible with respectable partners such as LIC. We are convinced that our vast catalogue of high quality product will enable further deals with Chinese broadcasters and platforms.”

Leland Ling, CEO of LIC China, adds: ”Throughout of our 18 years purchasing western documentaries experience, this contract signed with ZDF Enterprises is the biggest package deal ever, and this is truly a remarkable milestone. In the next one or two years, these programmes will be widely put out in Chinese language onto our syndication networks which cover 1,092 billion population across the mainland. In past years, LIC has had many co-production deals with German companies. In 2013, we have 5 co-production/investment projects with German partners. This package deal contract with ZDF Enterprises brings us to a higher level of collaboration. I am sure many more milestones will be built up afterwards.”