Beta, Hoerl team for joint venture

Duo will launch Autentic at Mipcom

By ERIK KIRSCHBAUM

BERLIN -- Beta Film has formed a joint venture with former Discovery Germany topper Patrick Hoerl that it will launch at Mipcom later this month.

Company said the goal of the venture, called Autentic, is to bundle the acquisition and sales of docus and to cultivate co-productions with German and foreign partners.

Autentic's portfolio will comprise major projects suited for primetime as well as special documentaries and individual programs for smaller target groups, which are increasingly in demand from the growing video-on-demand market.Autentic will present its first catalog next spring. Talks about new special-interest channels with pay TV platforms are already under way.