ITV Studios Is Betting Big on Digital-First IP

ITV Studios Is Betting Big on Digital-First IP

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The people who shape what the world watches don’t always make the headlines. Julie Meldal-Johnsen does — quietly, consistently, and across two decades at the top of global television.

As EVP of Global Content at ITV Studios, Julie has spent 20+ years backing the stories others were afraid to greenlight, building scripted businesses from scratch in the US and Europe, and championing the kind of drama that makes an audience lean forward. In our next Leaderspeak conversation, she opens up about all of it.

EPISODE TOPICS

  • From law to global TV — the pivot nobody expected
  • Building ITV Studios’ US scripted slate
  • What makes a script worth fighting for
  • The future of international co-production
  • Leading across cultures: London · LA · Global

We like to be in a position as early on in the life of a series as we can where we’ve made out, we’ve recouped our advance and the lion’s share of the income on that show is now flowing back to the producer.

Key Takeaways from this Episode

  • Traditional overhead-funding first look deals are becoming economically unviable for distributors as production costs continue to soar.

  • Retaining intellectual property rights allows producers to secure healthy, long-term downstream profits instead of relying solely on streamer commissions.

  • A balanced slate blending global streamer projects with regional broadcast commissions provides optimum financial security for creators.

  • High-end co-productions require collaborative funding structures that tie together networks, international distributors, and specialty film financiers.

  • Managing your own content distribution system on YouTube allows flexible windowing strategies that boost traditional broadcast eyeballs.

We just announced recently one of our most ambitious projects to date. It’s called First Woman… it’s a co-production with ITV Commission… ZDF in Germany and also with Alcon Films.

Sound Bites:

  • “All we are is intellectual property.”

  • “With drama, you’re investing in a market for two years time.”

  • “YouTube is a hungry machine, very hungry.”

  • “A modern entertainment business, television is digital as well.”

  • “We look after, we believe in it or we don’t take it.”

Why Partner With ITV Studios?

  • Access to a deeply established, highly scalable global distribution network with extensive multi-territory business-to-business sales reach.

  • Flexibility to engage collaboratively on projects at any development stage, from script treatments to finished products.

  • Strategic monetization support through specialized internal digital divisions like Zoo55 to maximize multi-platform long-tail revenue streams.

  • Proven track record of protecting producer margins and returning the lion’s share of profits back to creators early.

  • Dedicated, creative-first executives who prioritize strong human relationships alongside disciplined commercial financial models.

ITV Studios: Maximizing IP Value with Global Partnerships

ITV Studios’ Global Partnerships division functions as the powerhouse commercial engine of the studio group. Structured around three critical operational pillars—B2B distribution, the data-centric digital network Zoo55, and the newly established brand-licensing arm Studio55—the division excels at scaling creative narratives into sustainable global franchises. By strategically blending traditional international sales models with aggressive direct-to-digital exploitation across platforms like YouTube, the company serves as a flexible, protective home for premier intellectual property. Driven by a philosophy that puts creative content first, ITV Studios remains dedicated to funding ambitious co-productions and building deeply collaborative commercial networks with the world’s finest storytelling talent.

In Conversation With

ITV Studios' Julie Meldal-Johnsen
Julie Meldal-Johnsen
EVP Global Content at ITV Global Entertainment Limited

Julie Meldal-Johnsen is EVP of Global Content at ITV Studios, where she leads acquisitions, co-productions, and producer relationships across 150+ markets worldwide.

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