ZDF Studios founds ZDF Sparks - Agency for Artificial Intelligence
- ZDF Sparks reflects the high strategic importance of the topic of AI
- Renowned AI expert Dr Pirita Pyykkönen-Klauck will take over as Managing Director
- Start of business operations on 1 February 2024 in Berlin
Mainz, 6 December 2023
ZDF Sparks GmbH, a company of the ZDF Studios Group, will commence operations as an AI agency in Berlin on 1 February 2024. The proven AI expert Dr Pirita Pyykkönen-Klauck will take over the management of the company.
The company will focus on realising AI solutions for the ZDF network in the context of planning, communication and distribution together with the expert teams from ZDF, ZDF Studios and ZDF Digital as well as external partners.
"AI is a topic of the future with significant strategic importance for us. By founding ZDF Sparks, we are responding to the importance of the topic and positioning ourselves as an AI partner and service provider throughout the ZDF network," says Dr Markus Schäfer, President and CEO of ZDF Studios GmbH. Karoline Meichsner-Sertl, Executive Vice President ZDF Studios, adds: "In Dr Pirita Pyykkönen-Klauck, we have been able to recruit a renowned expert who also has an excellent feel for teams and talent for this important task. We are certain that she will succeed in quickly building up a very efficient team in Berlin."
Andreas Grün, Head of Technology Digital Media ZDF: "AI is a highly relevant core technology for ZDF, and we are continuing to actively drive its development for public broadcasters. As a strategic partner, ZDF Sparks will give us more scale in this task, and that is crucial."
Dr Pirita Pyykkönen-Klauck has more than 25 years of experience in data science, advanced analytics, digital learning and artificial intelligence. Her professional career includes positions in research and industry in Finland, Norway, the UK and Germany. Most recently, she was Technical Director and Head of AI Media Services at IU Group.
Dr Pirita Pyykkönen-Klauck: "Especially nowadays, there is hardly a more important topic for future-oriented companies than AI. In conversations with my future colleagues at ZDF Group, I have experienced an incredibly strong focus and enthusiasm for a strategic and technological AI vision. I'm really looking forward to bringing together AI talent at ZDF Sparks and working with them and our partners to turn AI technologies into socially important applications."
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About ZDF Studios
ZDF Studios is a commercial subsidiary of ZDF, one of the largest TV broadcasters in Europe. Founded in 1993 and headquartered in Mainz, Germany, the ZDF Studios Group operates more than 30 direct and indirect subsidiaries and affiliates in Germany, the Netherlands and the United Kingdom spanning TV production, distribution and services. The parent company, ZDF Studios, is responsible for global programme distribution, realisation of international co-productions, acquisition of licences and merchandising of successful programme brands under its own name, for ZDF and third parties. ZDF Studios has the largest German-language programme inventory in the world and a constantly growing range of international productions, consisting of series and mini-series, television films, documentaries and children's programmes.
The companies of the ZDF Studios Group cover the entire value chain from the development of scripted and unscripted TV content to production, marketing and monetizing, including TV and streaming licences as well as merchandising and online rights. The positioning of ZDF Studios as an integrated media company enables the development of innovative, outstanding and high-quality programmes and makes the Group an attractive workplace for German and international talent to flourish in a very inspiring and creative environment.
Contact ZDF Studios
Christine Denilauler (VP Marketing and Corporate Communications), ZDF Studios GmbH, Erich-Dombrowski-Str. 1, D-55127 Mainz/Germany, Tel.: +49 6131-9911130, E-mail: christine.denilauler@zdf-studios.com, www.zdf-studios.com