Netflix joins forces with RTS and heads to Winter Palace for Swiss drama first

Period drama series Winter Palace is set in Switzerland

Swiss broadcaster RTS has partnered with a global streaming platform for the first time after teaming up with Netflix on forthcoming period drama Winter Palace.

The 8×45’ series, developed by Point Prod and Oble Studios, is due to start production in the Swiss Alps next month ahead of a release date in late 2024. It will launch to Swiss viewers on RTS1 and streamer Play Suisse before it becomes available to Netflix subscribers in Switzerland and around the world.

The series also marks Netflix’s first coproduction with a Swiss broadcaster.

Set in the 19th century, Winter Palace sees a Swiss hotelier and a British aristocrat team up to give birth to the winter tourism industry. Inspired by true events, it is based on an idea by Swiss producer Jean-Marc Fröhle, written by British screenwriter Lindsay Shapero and directed by Pierre Monnard.

Françoise Mayor, head of fiction and documentaries at RTS, said: “The support of Netflix makes the production of this Swiss initiative possible, and it will soon shine worldwide, to the delight of both our audience and this new international player in the Swiss audiovisual industry.”

Point Prod producer Fröhle said: “Having just secured the perfect shooting locations, we are excited about the breathtaking landscapes and extraordinary places that viewers will get to discover. Winter Palace is a grand period drama with a very modern writing style crafted by the talented Lindsay Shapero. Casting is currently underway in Switzerland, France and the UK, as the series will be shot both in English and French.”

Fellow producer Hugo Brisbois, president and co-founder at Oble, added: “This captivating series transcends boundaries, seamlessly weaving together cross-cultural elements that will resonate on a global scale. Winter Palace represents a significant milestone in Oble’s remarkable journey into production.”

Oble producer Lydia Kali added: “Winter Palace is not only an awe-inspiring postcard of snowy Switzerland, it is also an audacious tale, with strong resonance to our today society. We really enjoyed working with a female writer such as Lindsay Shapero, who crafted a story full of vibrant characters and empowered women.”