A curated selection of shows intended for digital content professionals. The report covers digital video entertainment content with a focus on VOD, streaming, web content, shortform, digital originals and formats suitable for digital platforms. Focal point on new fiction, reality and entertainment shows. Doesn’t include documentaries and one-offs, e.g. movies and specials. Independent format research with no paid commercial messages, guaranteed by Smartshow.tv founder Ivan Krasko.

1. VOD / streaming / web / shortform /
digital originals and formats
Smartshow.tv
Digital Video Entertainment
Content Trends
5/2020

2. Smartshow.tv – DVE Content Trends
About the Report
A curated selection of shows intended for digital content
professionals.
The report covers digital video entertainment content with a focus
on VOD, streaming, web content, shortform, digital originals and
formats suitable for digital platforms. Focal point on new fiction,
reality and entertainment shows. Doesn’t include documentaries
and one-offs, e.g. movies and specials.
Independent format research with no paid commercial messages,
guaranteed by Smartshow.tv founder Ivan Krasko.
Visit www.smartshow.tv for trailers and more
2

3. Smartshow.tv – DVE Content Trends
Trends
• Big names on board. New series by Steve Carell or Ryan Murphy launch in May
• Special content. During the coronavirus pandemic, streamers order content reflecting the
situation, such as game show 'MTV Game Night', BBC Three’s show 'How’s Your Head, Hun?'
with Michelle Visage, and dramas 'Social Distance' on Netflix and 'Locked Down' on YouTube
• More reality shows on VOD. Reality increases in VOD, with more shows of this genre
launching and ordered
• Dating success. Amongst the reality genre dating shows are trending. Netflix is encouraged by
results of 'Love is Blind'. 'Temptation Island' was the most watched show of German
TV Now in April. Local 'Ex on the Beach' performs well on Finland’s Dplay
• The UK is the biggest European content exporter. According to the European Audiovisual
Observatory report, the UK is by far the lead exporter of European content on VOD, mainly of TV
titles. Germany, France, Italy and Spain follow
3

4. Pitch of the Month
4
Content inspirations. Future hits & fresh formats to consider next

5. Smartshow.tv – DVE Content Trends
Like Me
Smartshow.tv says / A format that smartly incorporates social
media and viewers’ interaction. It has a solid format potential,
allowing foreign adaptations. Importantly, a show with a message
Synopsis / A realistic story about exclusion and bullying,
unfolding from two very different perspectives
Good to know / Winner of “Best Digital series” at the 8th
International Emmy Kids Awards / Combines elements of social
media, instant messages and live action
5
Kids drama format / Norwegian original / 30’ / distributed by NRK
Show
Supporting
Diversity

6. Key New Developments
6
Recently announced new projects

7. Smartshow.tv – DVE Content Trends
Good Boys and True
Smartshow.tv says / Quibi develops a new drama from Roberto
Aguirre-Sacasa, who’s a Chief Creative Officer of 'Riverdale',
'Chilling Adventures of Sabrina' and 'Katy Keene'. The new project
can help Quibi reach young audience
Synopsis / Suspenseful drama about class, sexuality and identity,
that follows six people drawn together by a disturbing videotape
that surfaces on the campus of the elite preparatory academy St.
Joe's School for Boys in the fall of 1988
7
US original / drama / Quibi

8. Smartshow.tv – DVE Content Trends
Untitled DC Characters Series
Smartshow.tv says / HBO Max puts DC characters into the
hands of J.J. Abrams and Katie McGrath’s Bad Robot
Productions, a combination that guarantees certain quality and
marketing boost
Synopsis / Major series based on DC characters in the 'Justice
League Dark' universe
Good to know / HBO Max also orders other Bad Robot–produced
series – 'Duster', conceived by J.J. Abrams, and 'Overlook',
inspired by Stephen King’s The Shining
8
US original / drama / HBO Max

9. Smartshow.tv – DVE Content Trends
Untitled Star Wars Series
Smartshow.tv says / Continuation of the 'Star Wars' franchise,
which is strategically important to Disney+ and has already proven
top status with streaming hit 'The Mandalorian'
Synopsis / “A female-centric series that takes place in a different
part of the 'Star Wars' timeline than other projects,” according to
Variety
9
US original / sci-fi / Disney+

10. Smartshow.tv – DVE Content Trends
Also In Development
HBO Max greenlights dog grooming competition Hot Dog.
warnermediagroup.com
Netflix introduces new original zombie virus series All of Us Are
Dead, based on a Korean webtoon. netflix.com
Netflix announces its next African original Jiva!, a drama series
that follows the life of a talented street dancer. netflix.com
Netflix orders new Korean original. In Hellbound, supernatural
beings appear out of nowhere to condemn people to hell.
netflix.com
Disney+ reboots former ABC dramedy Doogie Howser, M.D., to
feature a teenage girl at its center. hollywoodreporter.com
10

11. Smartshow.tv – DVE Content Trends
Also In Development
Quibi orders new shows: adult animated comedy Doomlands,
psychological thriller anthology based on the Japanese format,
Horror Accidental, skateboarding drama Hardflip, and
unscripted show Fresh Dressed, following a celebrity designer as
he creates custom looks for A-list clients. deadline.com,
variety.com, deadline.com
Apple TV+ orders Will Ferrell & Paul Rudd limited dark comedy
series The Shrink Next Door based on podcast. deadline.com
11

12. 3 Most Important Launches
12
Smartshow.tv selects key VOD originals premiering in May 2020

13. Smartshow.tv – DVE Content Trends
M.O.M - MILF or Missy
Smartshow.tv says / Key new premiere of Joyn, as it is the
streamer’s first original reality format
Synopsis / Dating show focusing entirely on age gap love. On an
exotic trip, two bachelors who couldn‘t be more different, date 14
attractive, confident single ladies between 18 and 50. Every age
combination is possible
Good to know / A format created by Constantin Entertainment /
Joyn is a joint VOD project of ProSiebenSat.1 and Discovery for
German market
13
German original / dating reality / May 8 / Joyn

14. Smartshow.tv – DVE Content Trends
Legendary
Smartshow.tv says / A project backed-up by executive producers
of 'Queer Eye' and other reality and competition shows, creating
good creative team behind the camera
Synopsis / Pulling directly from the underground ballroom
community, teams must compete in unbelievable balls and
showcase sickening fashion
Good to know / WarnerMedia’s HBO Max launches May 27, with
a few originals and an extensive 10,000-hour library of HBO and
Warner Bros. titles, including 'Game of Thrones', 'Friends' and
'The Big Bang Theory'
14
US original / competition / May 27 / HBO Max
Show
Supporting
Diversity

15. Smartshow.tv – DVE Content Trends
Space Force
Smartshow.tv says / As library hit 'The Office' leaves for
Peacock, Netflix brings another comedy with Steve Carell to take
its place. However, replacing office workplace with space is a risky
move
Synopsis / Workplace comedy centered around the people back
on Earth tasked with creating a sixth branch of the armed
services… Space Force
Good to know / Star-studded series created and
executive-produced by Carell along with Greg Daniels
15
US original / comedy / May 29 / Netflix

16. Smartshow.tv – DVE Content Trends
Also Launching
Hollywood (US original) / drama May 1 / Netflix / A group of
aspiring actors and filmmakers in post-World War II Hollywood try
to make it big — no matter the cost
Upload (US original) / sci-fi comedy / May 1 / Amazon Prime
Video / In the near future, people who are near death can be
"uploaded" into a virtual afterlife of their choice
Cold Courage (Finnish original) / thriller / May 3 / Viaplay / Two
women drawn inexorably together via a clandestine group
dedicated to bringing down powerful wrongdoers
Bruh (US original) / dramedy / May 7 / BET+ / Tyler Perry’s series
that follows longtime friends as they navigate life and relationships
through the strength of their brother-like bond
16

17. Smartshow.tv – DVE Content Trends
Also Launching
Valeria (Spanish original) / romantic dramedy / May 8 / Netflix / A
writer in a creative and marital crisis finds refuge and support in
her three best friends
The Great (US original) / satirical dramedy / May 15 / Hulu / The
rise of Catherine the Great from outsider to the longest reigning
female ruler in Russia's history
DC's Stargirl (US original) / drama / May 18 / DC Universe / High
school sophomore inspires an unlikely group of young heroes to
take up the legacy of a long lost superhero team
The Bachelorette (Dutch adaptation) / dating reality / May 20 /
Videoland / A woman trying to find the man of her dreams among
a group of charming bachelors
17

18. Smartshow.tv – DVE Content Trends
Also Launching
Control Z (Mexican original) / teen drama / May 22 / Netflix /
When a hacker begins releasing students' secrets, the socially
isolated but observant Sofía works to uncover his/her identity
Love Life (US original) / romantic comedy / May 27 / HBO Max /
About the quest for love and ending up with someone forever
Diary of an Uber Driver (German adaptation) / dramedy / May 28
/ Joyn / Bizarre stories of different people taking the back seat of
an Uber
Central Park (US original) / animated musical comedy / May 29 /
Apple TV+ / About a family that lives in in the world’s most famous
park
Full list of premieres and trailers at www.smartshow.tv
18

19. In Brief
19

20. Smartshow.tv – DVE Content Trends
In Brief
Across three series and a special, British mockumentary sitcom
This Country has been requested over 52 million times on
iPlayer making it one of the biggest BBC Three comedies since
the channel went online in 2016. bbc.co.uk
The Hollywood Reporter reviews Quibi shows and Ampere
Analysis analyzes the streamer’s catalogue at launch by
frequency and genre
Ampere Analysis data shows how Netflix has increased the
production of reality shows. broadbandtvnews.com
RTL in Germany published results of a research conducted by
Forsa/GfK that analyzes the importance of local content for
BVOD. presseportal.de
20

21. Smartshow.tv – DVE Content Trends
In Brief
European Audiovisual Observatory released an extensive report,
covering also key VOD content trends. Report in PDF
Exotic dating reality show Temptation Island from Banijay Rights
was TV Now’s most watched show in April
Netflix claims high reach of Kinetic Content’s reality format Love
Is Blind and returning crime drama Ozark in Q1. Love Is Blind
has been renewed for 2 more seasons. Spanish crime drama
Money Heist did well in April. deadline.com
Wavemaker and Parrot Analytics list the most popular series
online in CEE region. wirtualnemedia.pl
Drama and news/current affairs have helped ITV Hub’s catch up
and simulcast audience figures in March. itv.com
21

22. Smartshow.tv – DVE Content Trends
About the Author
Smartshow.tv founder Ivan Krasko has over 12-years experience
in digital media and broadcasting. Emphasizing his analysis of
global TV and video content trends, with a focus on formats.
He works at the development department of the leading
broadcasters in Czechia and Slovakia. He researches global
content markets, tracks content trends and discovers successful
international content suitable for local adaptation.
As a former digital content manager, he has created complex
strategies for digital B2B projects, significantly increased online
traffic and strengthened projects’ brands. Other expertise includes
experience as a broadcasting data analyst.
E: ivan@smartshow.tv / Twitter / LinkedIn
22