From Traditional Regionalism to National Distinction: German Coproductions Through Time

This article offers a historical perspective on coproductions of high-end television drama in Germany. It argues that coproductions experienced three distinct phases which, although overlapping, are experienced by industry insiders and some critics as distinct periods where one form of coproduction is dominant at a particular time, but then becomes residual as other forms become more dominant. These three forms are, first, public broadcaster-led coproductions, second, the period of the ‘Europudding’ and finally, distinctive coproductions in TVIV.