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SkyShowtime confirmed Friday that production in underway on “Shades” (“Matices”), its new original series in Spain, made in collaboration with Secouya Studios and Stellarmedia and featuring a Spanish star cast renown internationally from involvement in big Spanish series and movies.

Shooting in Zamora, Madrid and the Canary Islands, the new series stars Maxi Iglesias (“Valeria”), Enrique Arce (“Money Heist”), Hovik Keuchkerian (“Reina Roja”) and Juana Acosta (“La templanza”)

Also starring are Fariba Sheikhan (“The Unit”), Miriam Giovanelli (“Nacho”), Eusebio Poncela (“Merlí. Sapere aude”), Raúl Prieto (“The Snow Girl”), Luis Tosar (“Cell 211”) and Elsa Pataky (“Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga”).

SkyShowtime carries other Spanish titles in Spain described as SkyShowtime Originals, such as ViX/The Mediapro Studio production “Las Pelotaris 1926.” The upcoming SkyShowtime Original series “Shades” marks, however, its second locally commissioned original in Spain, after “Mamen Mayo,” announced early June, and a comedy/family drama produced by Nostromo Pictures in association with SkyShowtime.

SkyShowtime CEO Monty Sarhan talked about bringing Yellowstone to its European subscribers and plans to bolster the streaming service’s U.S. franchises with up to ten local originals in 2024, in a keynote at Nem Duvbrovnik.

A joint-venture between Paramount and Comcast, SkyShowtime is in over 20 European territories, localized into 19 languages, and launched in countries where its parent companies did not already have a streaming presence.

It has TV and movie content from its owners, including all theatrical releases from Paramount and Universal, and big-ticket series including Yellowstone. Asked about that show, Sarhan said the series is a cornerstone of its service: “It’s ‘the year of Yellowstone‘, that’s what we’re calling it at SkyShowtime. That’s really the biggest show in the world right now.”

The lively Nem session was hosted by the event’s founder Sanja Božić-Ljubičić who couldn’t hide her love for the Yellowstone franchise.

The world’s TV scene faces challenges. But it still has opportunities. Marc Cistaré, a writer on “Locked Up,” has seized one, the strategic co-production alliance between TelevisaUnivision’s ViX streaming service and The Mediapro Studio.

Rolling off the hiked ambitions of Spain’s TV scene after streamer success, he has created“Las Pelotaris, 1926,” which The Mediapro Studio Distribution is bringing onto the market at this week’s MipTV.

A ViX Original, airing from March 10 on its platform as part of its premium offer, the show combines the craft learnt from two decades of writing Spanish prime-time series and the larger canvas, gender focus and artistic boldness of contemporary scripted.

Sold outside Latin America and the U.S. by The Mediapro Studio Distribution, which these days means a lot in terms of profile at Cannes TV markets, the series weighs in as one of the market’s big Spanish-language bets...

Spanish super-indie production-sales companies are stepping back in time with vigor, building on opportunities opened up by streamers’ growing market flexibility to retain IP and sell territory-by-territory.

Prioritizing bottom lines over market share, global platforms are ever more splitting rights and investing less in single titles. As budgets reduce, projects’ producers are forced to court ever more partners.

That often means partnering on productions. “We accustomed customers to enjoying high-quality series with large budgets. In the new context, it is increasingly difficult to continue in this vein if you don’t partner,” says Onza’s Carlos Garde.

Aiding this, Spain’s TV drama sector is still living a Golden Age. “Spanish TV fiction presence is on the rise, both on platforms and on international pay TV and free-to-air channels,” argues Atresmedia’s José Antonio Salso, who is moving buzz title “Nights in Tefía” at MipTV.

“There’s a large demand for Spanish-language content,...

Spanish titles at MipTV:

“The Argonauts and the Golden Coin,” (Rtve)

A live action kids adventure, targeting 8-12s, from national public broadcaster Rtve and Galician powerhouse Portocabo as Rtve drives into regional co-production. Set over a summer in Galicia and inspired by the spirit of “The Famous Five” and “The Goonies,” translated to the 21st century.

“The Caravan,” (Cabal Films)

Selected for the inaugural MipDoc International Buyer Screenings, a first-person account of an eight-month pregnant woman in a caravan of Central American immigrants heading to the U.S.

“Dating in Barcelona,” (Filmax)

The latest from Filmax, behind “The Red Band Society” and “They All Lie,” following different romantic encounters of people who have met online.

“Dover: Die for Rock & Roll,” (Begin Again Films)

Doc feature on the Seattle/Jean Jett-inspired Spanish band, behind “Devil Came to Me,” and icon of late ‘90s Spanish alternative pop rock.

“Greenpeace,” (Zona Mixta...

Coming Next from Spain, a showcase of five series, unspooled at Series Mania on March 21 just after a Spanish series, “Wrong Side of the Tracks” from Mediaset España and Alea Media, had scored 149.6 million watching hours in three weeks on Netflix for Seasons 1 and 2.

That platform connection and power of Spanish series threaded most of the series and much of the commentary at Tuesday’s Next from Spain, supported by Audiiovisual from Spain.

At least in terms of titles now ready to hit the market, there’s little sign as yet of platform pullback in Spain. Rather, it remains a ground zero in the streamer wars.

2023 will see the release of 70 new Spanish scripted series and 27 returning seasons of titles such as “Elite” “Rapa” “30 Coins” and “Veneno,” presenter Irene Jiménez, at Audiovisual 451, told a Next From Spain audience.

Of these new titles, 36% will be produced by linear TV broadcasters,...