ZDF Studios announces third major deal with Talpa Network for extensive SOKO crime series package
Mainz, February 17th, 2026
ZDF Studios today announced the conclusion of a new agreement with the Dutch commercial media company Talpa Network, marking the third deal between the two partners. The contract grants Talpa Network the Free TV rights to an extensive package of approximately 250 episodes from several highly popular titles within the SOKO crime franchise, including SOKO Potsdam, SOKO Hamburg, SOKO Köln, and SOKO Wismar.
The SOKO series comprise a collection of long-running, locally rooted crime procedurals, each following a dedicated investigative team in a specific German city or region. As one of ZDF’s most successful and enduring programme brands, SOKO has built a strong legacy not only in Germany but also internationally. Over the years, the franchise has attracted a broad global viewership and has been sold to numerous international partners and platforms across multiple territories, including the USA, Canada, Finland, Hong Kong, Nigeria, the Netherlands, Italy, Japan, France, Spain, Bulgaria, Slovakia, the Czech Republic, and others.
The SOKO productions have earned multiple nominations and awards throughout their long history—recognising both the series as a whole and outstanding individual performances. Honours include the German Television Award, German Screen Actors Awards, Monte Carlo TV Festival – Golden Nymph Awards, Festival Internazionale del Doppiaggio “Voci nell’Ombra”, Goldene Henne, among others.
Tim Gerhartz, Chief Commercial Officer, ZDF Studios said: “We are delighted to expand our partnership with Talpa Network through this significant new deal. The SOKO brand continues to resonate strongly with audiences thanks to its compelling storytelling, relatable characters, and high production values. Its long‑standing success in both domestic and international markets underscores its enduring appeal. We look forward to seeing these series reach new viewers in the Netherlands and further strengthening our excellent collaboration with Talpa.”
Bastiaan van Dalen, Head of TV Network, Talpa Network: “We are thrilled to deepen our partnership with ZDF Studios by bringing this remarkable collection of SOKO episodes to our viewers. The franchise has proven its strength worldwide, and we are confident that its blend of engaging cases and character-driven narratives will be a great fit for our audience. We value our ongoing cooperation with ZDF Studios and are excited to continue building on this collaboration.”
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About ZDF Studios
ZDF Studios is a commercial subsidiary of ZDF, one of the largest TV broadcasters in Europe. Founded in 1993 and headquartered in Mainz, Germany, the ZDF Studios Group operates more than 30 direct and indirect subsidiaries and affiliates in Germany, spanning TV production, distribution and services. The parent company, ZDF Studios, is responsible for global programme distribution, realisation of international co-productions, acquisition of licences and merchandising of successful programme brands under its own name, for ZDF and third parties. ZDF Studios has the largest German-language programme inventory in the world and a constantly growing range of international productions, consisting of series and mini-series, television films, documentaries and children's programmes.
The companies of the ZDF Studios Group cover the entire value chain from the development of scripted and unscripted TV content to production, marketing and monetizing, including TV and streaming licences as well as merchandising and online rights. The positioning of ZDF Studios as an integrated media company enables the development of innovative, outstanding and high-quality programmes and makes the Group an attractive workplace for German and international talent to flourish in a very inspiring and creative environment.
Contact ZDF Studios
Christine Denilauler (VP Marketing and Corporate Communications), ZDF Studios GmbH, Erich-Dombrowski-Str. 1, 55127 Mainz/Germany, tel.: +49 6131-9911130, email: christine.denilauler@zdf-studios.com, www.zdf-studios.com
About Talpa Network
We are Talpa Network. A leading media network with strong brands such as SBS6, NET5, Veronica, Radio 538, Radio 10, Sky Radio, Radio Noordzee and KIJK.
Our motto is “together we achieve more”. This is reflected in the way we work together and in the impact we create. Through our brands, formats and partnerships, we reach more than 90 % of the Netherlands every week. In doing so, we ensure that content from Dutch creators and brands continues to resonate with local audiences, today and tomorrow. Our sales house, Talpa Media, unlocks the power of our network for advertisers.
Talpa Network was founded in 2017 by four-time Emmy Award winner John de Mol.