ProSiebenSat.1 links up with Jerks star

A fourth season of Jerks will appear on ProSieben and Joyn next year

ProSiebenSat.1 TV in Germany has set up a new prodco in Berlin in partnership with the co-star of comedy series Jerks, meaning Talpa Germany will no longer make the show.

Pyjama Pictures has been formed by the broadcaster with producer, director, writer and actor Christian Ulmen and producer Carsten Kelber.

The firm will produce the fourth season of Jerks for free-to-air broadcaster ProSieben and its OTT platform Joyn in 2020.

The series was previously produced by Talpa Germany (The Voice of Germany) on behalf of Joyn and ProSieben.

Wolfgang Link, co-CEO for entertainment at ProSiebenSat.1, thanked Talpa Germany and its CEO, Karsten Roeder, for their work on the previous three seasons of Jerks.

The show, which stars Ulmen and Fahri Yardim, is Joyn’s most-watched show, attracting more viewers than hit US series such as Grey’s Anatomy.

In addition to Jerks, Pyjama Pictures will produce content for all ProSiebenSat.1’s linear and digital platforms, as well as for external partners, focusing on German-language and local content.

Henrik Pabst, chief commercial officer for entertainment at ProSiebenSat.1, said: “Christian and Carsten are among the most acclaimed local production experts in Germany. Establishing the production company Pyjama Pictures perfectly contributes to an important element of our content strategy: bringing together Germany’s most creative TV makers and talents under our roof.”

It comes after Max Conze, CEO of ProSiebenSat.1, said at Mipcom last month that the firm has decided to increase its focus on the German market, which was one reason why it has put international production subsidiary Red Arrow Studios up for sale.