“Berlin” ER Maker On How apple TV+’s Medical Drama Was Resuscitated
COLOGNE – The German Television Awards (Deutscher Fernsehpreis) saw Berlin, the medical drama initially sidelined by Sky, celebrated as Best Drama Series - a victory fueled by a complex rescue operation involving ZDF Studios and ultimately, Apple TV+. Producer Eric Kamm of Real Film detailed the rollercoaster journey to save the series, revealing a pivotal moment where raw emotion unlocked a deal with ZDF.
The series, starring Haley Louise Jones and Slavko Popadić as doctors at Berlin’s most overcrowded hospital, faced an uncertain future when Sky paused production funding. Kamm immediately froze production accounts upon learning of Sky’s potential exit, but a contact at Sky clarified the show hadn’t been officially cancelled, opening a window for Real and co-production partner Violet Pictures to seek alternatives. “It was a fascinating journey and it has been a huge rollercoaster emotionally,so intense in terms of the energy you have to put out to find new potential partners,what makes sense for whom,and we really focused on what was most plausible,” Kamm said.
Negotiations to move the project from Comcast-owned Sky to pubcaster ZDF began, with Kamm praising Sky’s team for thier cooperation during a period of internal change. However, he quickly realized ZDF’s investment would only cover a portion of Sky’s prior commitment. “Something flipped, and I got super emotional,” Kamm explained. “It was overwhelming.” he then passionately defended the production, a move that proved decisive. “Maybe, showing your true self at some point is the one thing that makes things happen,” Kamm reflected. “That was the craziest thing I learned.”
The deal with ZDF paved the way for an intricate rights agreement with Apple TV+, granting the streamer a 12-month exclusive window before the series airs on ZDF. News of apple TV+’s involvement broke in June 2024. The series’ success culminated last week with a second season commission, announced the day after its German television Award win. Accepting the award,Kamm publicly thanked ZDF for rescuing the show and Apple for expanding its audience.
