21.07.2016

Germany Licenses Local Heroes

Leading German public broadcaster ARD has commissioned Armoza Formats’ docu-reality, Local Heroes for local adaptation on their WDR channel, in a new deal that marks the first partnership between the two parties. The season is set to enter production next month with SEO Entertainment and will air during prime time.

In addition, Austria’s ProSiebenSat.1 also licensed the show recently, taking the Belgian ready-mades, and are currently airing them on PULS 4 as part of their international programming. The original season, Local Heroes: Through the Fire, successfully aired on Belgium’s VTM and is slated to air a second season from this September.

Local Heroes (60’) is the moving and dramatic factual show that follows the story of a city’s defenders – from firefighters to paramedics, bomb squads to drug units, giving an up-close and personal look at these courageous people. The first season follows a team of firefighters as they battle through the obstacles of working in their demanding and dangerous jobs. Whether saving people from a burning building or rescuing a child from a car crash, we penetrate the depths of fire incidents. With no filters and no censorship, in this unique docu-reality you will see through the eyes of our local heroes, feel the tension and experience the save.

Philipp Bitterling, Programme Developer and Innovation Coordinator at WDR, “‘Local Heroes’ is for us the dream match between high quality-entertainment and state-of-the-art documentary. WDR has placed a strong focus on docutainment with a firm commitment to quality, and it's become clear that we need to look across our borders to maintain momentum. With the acquisition of ‘Local Heroes’ and with Armoza Formats on board, we are a big step closer to fulfilling our ambition.”

Avi Armoza, CEO of Armoza Formats, “We are pleased to begin this new partnership with WDR, who we strongly believe will create a perfect adaptation to suit their audience’s needs. This dramatic format has enormous emotional potential to connect audiences with the stories of people whose work isn’t usually seen.”