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ITV Studios

ITV Studios is actively expanding its international scripted and unscripted production portfolio through targeted studio acquisitions, with Spanish-language drama and IP-driven thriller adaptations at the center of its current mandate.

Current mandate

ITV Studios is in active acquisition mode, most recently taking a majority stake in Spanish scripted production company Plano a Plano. The move adds a company with active productions at Netflix, Disney+, Mediaset, and RTVE to ITV Studios' growing international label roster, which now includes Moonage Pictures, Eagle Eye Drama, Hartswood Films, Quay Street Productions, Happy Prince, Poison Pen Studios, and Plimsoll Productions. Plano a Plano's current slate includes the Netflix miniseries All the Truth Behind My Lies (based on a novel by Elísabet Benavent), psychological thriller Innato (in association with Dynamic Television), the Mediaset series Ella, maldita alma, and historical drama La Tregua, a feature film with RTVE and Netflix participation.

Over the past 12 months, ITV Studios has demonstrated a consistent pattern of acquiring production companies rather than individual titles, building out a vertically integrated international content business. The catalog side remains active as well, with more than 290 hours of unscripted content from the ITV Studios catalog changing hands in a separate deal. Format extensions are also in play: The Chase Around the World, a primetime format from the creators of ITV's hit quiz show The Chase, landed its first commission via Bright Entertainment. Rivals, the black comedy drama produced for Disney+, has been greenlit for a third season ahead of its second run's conclusion.

Access to ITV Studios as a distribution and acquisition partner runs primarily through its London-based international production leadership. Lisa Perrin, managing director of international production, oversees the incoming Plano a Plano relationship and is the senior decision-maker on international scripted strategy. For Iberian content specifically, managing director Nathalie Garcia leads both ITV Studios Iberia (the unscripted entertainment venture launched in 2023) and scripted label Cattleya Producciones. Producers with Spanish-language scripted projects, IP-driven thrillers, or premium factual content are best positioned to engage through established industry markets and festival circuits where ITV Studios maintains a consistent presence.

Signature peaks

  • 3+ Studio Acquisitions (12mo) — Majority stakes or full acquisitions including Plano a Plano and Moonage Pictures, per recent records
  • 4 Active Productions via Plano a Plano — Titles currently in production or recently premiered across Netflix, Disney+, Mediaset, and RTVE
  • 72 Decision Makers Tracked — Across ITV Studios' international production and distribution leadership network

Mandate dimensions

Genre focus
factual, documentary, history, mystery, nature, non-scripted
Territory focus
worldwide
Budget tier (observed)
Not disclosed
Access pattern
Primary entry point is Lisa Perrin (Managing Director, International Production) in London for scripted international co-productions and acquisitions. Spanish-language and Iberian projects route through Nathalie Garcia, who leads both ITV Studios Iberia and Cattleya Producciones. Producers without an existing relationship are advised to approach via industry markets (MIPCOM, MipTV) or through one of ITV Studios' established label companies. Direct unsolicited outreach to the parent group is not a documented pathway.
Deal structure
ITV Studios structures international expansion primarily through majority stake acquisitions of production companies rather than one-off title purchases. Financial terms on recent deals have not been disclosed publicly, with the exception of the previously reported $126 million Plimsoll Productions acquisition. Catalog distribution deals (covering large volumes of unscripted hours) and format licensing (The Chase Around the World) run in parallel. Co-production arrangements with major streamers including Netflix and Disney+ are brokered through its label companies.

Recent acquisitions

  • Moonage Pictures

    2025-04-01T00:00:00.000Z · Acquired

  • more than 290 hours of unscripted content from ITV Studios catalog (individual titles not specified)

    2025-10-23T00:00:00.000Z · Acquired

  • Plano a Plano (majority stake)

    2025-07-23T00:00:00.000Z · Acquired

  • Plimsoll Productions

    not_specified · Acquired

  • Plimsoll Productions (Tiny Planet firm)

    February 23, 2023 · Acquired
    "Premium factual was the driver behind ITV Studios’ $126M capture of Tiny Planet firm Plimsoll Productions."

  • Rivals Season 3

    2026-06-17T00:00:00.000Z · greenlit
    Disney+ has greenlit a third season of raunchy black comedy series Rivals ahead of the conclusion of its second run.

  • Skyclimber: Scaling the Eiffel Tower

    2026-06-11T00:00:00.000Z · commissioned
    Channel 4 has commissioned feature-length climbing documentary Skyclimber: Scaling the Eiffel Tower

  • The Chase Around the World

    2026-01-01T00:00:00.000Z · commissioned
    Bright Entertainment's first commission is The Chase Around the World, a primetime format from the creators of ITV's hit quiz show The Chase

Market context

"The Spanish-language scripted market continues to grow from strength to strength and is burgeoning with opportunity, including high demand from viewers and clients in Spain and globally." — Lisa Perrin, Managing Director, International Production, ITV Studios

Aligns with growing demand for factual/non-scripted content across global broadcasters and FAST channels; Zoo 55's FAST channel strategy reflects broader industry shift toward free ad-supported streaming

Common questions about ITV Studios

Does ITV Studios accept unsolicited scripts?

ITV Studios does not operate as a traditional open-submission buyer. Its acquisition activity is structured around production company stakes and established co-production relationships. Writers and independent producers are best served by attaching a represented production partner already in ITV Studios' orbit, such as one of its label companies including Hartswood Films, Eagle Eye Drama, or Cattleya Producciones, rather than submitting scripts directly to the parent group.

What budgets does ITV Studios work with for international acquisitions?

Financial terms on ITV Studios' recent acquisitions, including the Plano a Plano majority stake and the Moonage Pictures deal, have not been disclosed publicly. The one exception in recent records is the Plimsoll Productions acquisition, which was reported as a $126 million deal. This suggests ITV Studios operates across a wide budget range depending on the strategic value of the asset, but specific thresholds for incoming projects are not publicly stated.

Which festivals does ITV Studios attend for acquisitions?

ITV Studios maintains a consistent presence at major international content markets and festivals, including MIPCOM, MipTV, and the Berlin International Film Festival, where its distribution and international production arms are active. Its Iberian content strategy, now anchored by Plano a Plano and Cattleya Producciones, also suggests engagement with Spanish-market events. Specific festival acquisition announcements from the past 12 months have not been detailed in available coverage.

How do you reach ITV Studios as a distributor or co-production partner?

The primary contact for international scripted co-production and acquisition is Lisa Perrin, managing director of international production, based in London. For Iberian and Spanish-language content specifically, Nathalie Garcia, managing director of ITV Studios Iberia and Cattleya Producciones, is the relevant executive. Both operate within ITV Studios' international production division. Industry markets and established intermediaries remain the most reliable access pathway for producers outside the existing label network.

What genres is ITV Studios prioritizing right now?

Spanish-language scripted drama is the clearest current priority, evidenced by the Plano a Plano acquisition and Lisa Perrin's public comments on the market's growth. IP adaptations from popular novelists are also central, with Plano a Plano's Netflix miniseries based on a novel by Elísabet Benavent as a recent example. Premium factual and unscripted content remain active, as does format distribution, with The Chase Around the World recently commissioned. Black comedy drama, per the Rivals greenlight, is also in the mix.

Is ITV Studios currently active as a buyer?

Yes. ITV Studios recorded three unique deals in the past 30 days and four in the past 90 days, according to tracked activity data, with the latest signal dated late June 2026. The Plano a Plano majority stake closed in mid-2025, and catalog distribution deals and format commissions have continued into 2026. With 72 decision makers tracked across its international network, the organization is operating at consistent acquisition and commissioning velocity across scripted, unscripted, and format categories.

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