Walter Presents
Walter Presents is a video on demand service of Channel Four Television Corporation, part of its All 4 online platform. Launched on 3 January 2016, it specialises in foreign language drama and comedy. It is named after Walter Iuzzolino, who selects its content.[1]
Production
The service is a partnership between Channel 4 and Global Series Network. It is free to view, but supported by adverts.[2] Walter Iuzzolin began reviewing potential content for the service two years before its launch, viewing 3,500 hours of television in all.[3]
The service aims to avoid so called 'art house' programming in favour of more mainstream productions, aimed at competing against services like Netflix and Amazon Prime, and toward audiences already familiar with Nordic dramas such as The Bridge.[1]
Walter Iuzzolino sets three criteria - any selected show must be popular in its native country, giving the examples of Homeland or House of Cards; it must be "award-winning or already critically acclaimed", and it must have "the finest writing, directing and acting that each country has to offer....something worth our time as viewers".[3]
In order to promote the service, some of the content is also being aired on Channel 4's conventional channels, Channel 4 and More 4.[3]
Programmes
| Title | Origin | Genre |
|---|---|---|
| Deutschland 83[1] | Germany | spy drama |
| Spin[1] | France | political drama |
| Heartless[1] | Denmark | vampire thriller |
| Blue Eyes[1] | Sweden | political thriller |
| Pure Evil[1] | Argentina | psychological crime thriller |
| Kabul Kitchen[1] | France | comedy drama |
| 10[1] | Switzerland | mystery drama |
| Cenk Batu[1] | Germany | crime drama |
| Prófugos[4] | Chile | crime drama |
| Fdp[4] | Brazil | football comedy |
| Magnifica 70[4] | Brazil | family drama |
| Sr Avila[4] | Mexico | family crime drama |
| Merciless[4] | Brazil | psychological crime thriller |
| Clan[5] | Belgium | detective drama |
Reception
According to Channel 4, the 11 titles available in the first month attracted 1.1 million views on All 4.[2]
References
- 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 The Independent (27 November 2015). "Walter Presents: Channel 4 launches new digital service offering best TV shows from around the world".
- 1 2 Television Business International (22 January 2016). "Walter Presents passes 1m views in two weeks".
- 1 2 3 Huffington Post (3 January 2016). "Deutschland 83' Just The Tip Of The Iceberg Of A New World Of Subtitled Drama, Courtesy Of 'Walter Presents'".
- 1 2 3 4 5 Broadcast (18 January 2016). "Walter Presents grabs Latin American drama".
- ↑ The Guardian (2 January 2016). "How foreign TV drama became de rigueur with UK viewers".