Thursday round-up: Latest news, deals & hires

Fremantle’s music format Hitster lands on RTVE 

Spain’s RTVE has ordered its latest international format, this time a local adaptation of music competition Hitster: The Greatest Hits Game.

The show is based on Jumbo Group’s board game of the same name and sees two teams made up of players from different generations chronologically arranging shows according to the year of their release.

The format debuted on RTL in Germany and is also being adapted in the Netherleands and Canada. RTVE and Fremantle will produce the Spanish version, whose creative development is led by Fremantle Netherlands, NewBe, and Jumbo Group.

Fremantle holds international production and distribution rights.

Atresmedia sells Sueños de Libertad into Poland, Romania

Spanish drama Sueños de Libertad (aka Dreams of Freedom) has been sold to Happy Channel in Romania and Polish streamer TVP Play.

The deals were struck via the Spanish broadcaster’s distribution arm Atresmedia Sales at NEM Dubrovnik, which is wrapping its four-day event today.

Atresmedia Sales has also sold a package of shows to BTV in Bulgaria, featuring titles including ¿A Qué Estás Esperando?’ (aka What Are You Waiting For?) and FOQ: La Nueva Generación’ (aka FoQ: The New Generation).

Arte, Guardian link on doc fund

Guardian Documentaries and French-German broadcaster Arte are jointly launching a £10,000 fund for films exploring current affairs in Europe.

Exploring the theme ‘Democracy at Stake in Europe’, the partnership is inviting filmmakers to pitch short docs and reach audiences across the continent on their own editorial platforms.

One winning project will receive investment for production funding and editorial and creative support from both organisations. The film will also be translated into seven different European languages.

Guardian Documentaries and Arte want to find character-led stories offering fresh and personal perspectives to help audiences understand what democracy in Europe means today.