HBO to develop original series in Adria region

HBO is to strengthen its production activities in central Europe, appointing Ana Balentovic as development executive for HBO Adria to identify and develop projects in Slovenia, Croatia, Serbia, Bosnia & Herzegovina, Macedonia and Montenegro.

Balentovic will report to HBO Central Europe original programming VP Jonathan Young and HBO Europe drama development VP and executive producer Steve Matthews. She will be charged to developing original series from the Adria region.

Balentovic was previously head of development for talent incubator ContentLAB & Factory and as a producer on various prime-time fiction series at Croatian commercial broadcaster RTL Televizija.

The drive into the Adria region follows HBO Europe’s development of original production in Poland, the Czech Republic, Hungary and Romania, where the company has been producing original series and documentaries since 2010.

“Central Europe is rich in storytelling and talent, and having embedded ourselves in the local industries over the past few years we’re looking forward to the next phase of production in the region,” said Antony Root, EVP, original programming and production, HBO Europe.

“Ana’s appointment reflects our continued commitment to discovering new and original voices, and our wider ambition to expand the breadth and range of programming across our Central European territories.”