Paprika founder Marschall dies aged 47

Peter Marschall, the founder of Eastern European production house Paprika, has died, the company has confirmed.

Peter Marschall

Marschall, an influential figure in the Central and Eastern European (CEE) TV business who was responsible for bringing numerous international formats to the Romanian market, died from cancer on Monday August 10.

“After a long fight against disease, our friend and colleague, Peter Marschall, a man who not only dreamt but also made his dreams come true, passed away this morning,” Paprika said.

“His passion for life and the faith in his recovery never diminished even for a moment. His visionary commitment as a businessman and a person made this company come to life. We all wish his family strength in these difficult times. May he rest in peace. Pura Vida Peter!”

Marschall founded Paprika in Romania in the early 2000s and expanded it across much of CEE, as well as Costa Rica, where it produced reality formats including Paradise Hotel, Survivor and Are You the One?.

The prodco was also behind local versions of international formats such as Farmer Wants a Wife, Supernanny, Wife Swap, The X Factor and The Voice. Its homegrown titles included Fish on the Cake and Mondenii.

Marschall oversaw the sale of the company to MTG in 2012 and remained CEO until 2016, when he stepped down.

Marschall said at the time: “Paprika has been my total focus and dedication for more than 10 years. I have had the privilege to build and work with some of the most talented teams in the business, and I am really proud of what we have accomplished together. I have enjoyed every step of this entrepreneurial success story.”

Romanian TV presenter Dan Negru was among the figures to pay tribute to Marschall, calling him “one of the pioneers of our TV industry.”