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From striking co-pro deals and adapting formats for local markets to innovative brand extensions and digital-first growth through Zoo 55, the global partnerships and Zoo 55 teams are key to ITV Studios’ success
For seven decades, ITV Studios has shaped storytelling worldwide – from early classics that defined eras of television to today’s gripping dramas, hit formats and thought-provoking factual series.
Its catalogue spans more than 95,000 hours of programming: shows that inspire audiences and build passionate fanbases across continents. At the heart of that reach is the global partnerships team – creative deal-makers who take content far beyond its original screen.
Working with 200-plus producers across more than 30 territories – from ITV Studios’ own labels to leading independents – and expanding its footprint through Zoo 55’s digital platforms, they forge bold relationships, shape formats and strike the deals that turn ideas into global phenomena.
From co-producing premium series with international partners to adapting formats for local markets and extending brands through licensing, merchandise and live experiences, the team ensures stories live long aft er the credits roll.
Making its mark
When it comes to bringing shows to market, ITV Studios does it differently: bold, inventive and impossible to miss. From taking over Leicester Square with the ITV Studios Festivals to building a Mipcom stand out of shipping containers, its showcases go beyond promotion – they are experiences that embody the spirit of the shows themselves.
“Our job is to make brilliant content travel – not just from one territory to another, but into the hearts of audiences everywhere”
Ruth Berry, President of Global Partnerships & Zoo 55
And behind the scenes, the global partnerships team turns that visibility into business, striking distribution, format and licensing deals that carry content worldwide.
“Our job is to make brilliant content travel – not just from one territory to another, but into the hearts of audiences everywhere,” says Ruth Berry, president of global partnerships & Zoo 55. “What excites us is seeing a story spark conversations in places far beyond where it began.”
That approach delivers results: dramas such as Vigil have reached 175-plus countries, while enduring favourites such as Endeavour and Inspector Morse continue to attract new audiences. Global formats thrive too, with The Voice reigning as the no.1 franchise of the year, and Love Island becoming a cultural phenomenon – adapted worldwide and breaking records in the US this summer as Peacock’s no.1 reality series.
Now the team is leading the next wave of global hits, from gripping new dramas Frauds and Coldwater, to the inventive format Celebrity Sabotage, and the epic natural history series Extreme Earth.
From talent to global brands
That success is only possible because of the depth of talent ITV Studios works with – from its 60-plus in-house labels to the independent creators it champions worldwide, from long-standing collaborators to breakthrough indies.
“The reality is we’re hungry for the very best shows, no matter where they’re made,” says Julie Meldal-Johnsen, executive vice-president of global content. That openness has built a catalogue as diverse in origin as it is in genre, with acclaimed hits like Schitt ’s Creek and Brassic sitting alongside ITV Studios’ own productions. But acquiring and distributing great stories is only the beginning.
“We want to be the partner people choose because we understand how to position their content, find its audience and maximise its potential,” adds Meldal-Johnsen.
This vision extends beyond the screen. Global partnerships transforms IP into brands that connect with audiences in fresh ways. What begins as a hit series can grow into a phenomenon – from Hell’s Kitchen restaurants to Love Island water bottles – turning shows into experiences that keep people engaged long aft er broadcast.
And that reach isn’t limited to physical experiences. ITV Studios has been accelerating its digital presence through its new digital-first label, Zoo 55, which expands ITV Studios’ footprint across gaming, YouTube, social platforms and FAST streaming services, building on a portfolio of owned-and-operated channels and platform feeds worldwide.
“By bringing together formats, programming and brand extensions into a single, multi-genre, multi - dimensional business, we can think bigger and move faster,” says Berry. “From scripted licensing and live experiences to merchandise and digital-first opportunities, our focus is on engaging audiences and delivering at scale across every platform.”
As ITV Studios celebrates 70 years of unforgettable storytelling, global partnerships isn’t only honouring a remarkable legacy – it’s charting the future. With creativity, scale and bold ambition, the mission remains clear: to take exceptional stories everywhere, inspiring audiences today and shaping the cultural conversations of tomorrow.
