Berlin’s Drive Beta Partners With Beta Film’s Cologne-Based Rosebank Entertainment

EXCLUSIVE: Berlin-based digital studio Drive beta and Cologne-based production outfit Rosebank Entertainment have joined forces.

Rosebank is a subsidiary of heavyweight German production and distribution group Beta Film and will take a minority stake in Drive beta. Despite the ‘beta’ in the name, Drive is not owned by Beta Film. Its founder and CEO, Hannes Jakobsen was, however, one of the execs who recently set up an AI-focused joint venture with Beta Film called Chapter41, per our report from last Nov.

Rosebank works across drama and unscripted with production labels including Bantry Bay, Dreamtool, and Brot&Butter Entertainment under its umbrella.

The Drive and Rosebank partnership will see the former bring its distribution and social media expertise to properties emanating from Rosebank’s various production entities. Rosebank, meanwhile, will support Drive across development and back office functions.

“From the outset, our aim with Drive beta was to produce contemporary media with a clear signature and great appeal,” Jakobsen said. “The partnership with Rosebank enables us to build on this success, and, with the help of the holding company’s structures, to focus even more strongly on developing new projects and genres, as well as on entrepreneurial development.”

Jan Kromschröder and Stefan Oelze, Managing Partners at Rosebank jointly added: “With its clear focus on on-demand content and distribution, Drive beta complements Rosebank’s existing creative portfolio – and thus also has a promising unique position within the entire Beta Group. We are also looking forward to the creative exchange between the teams at Drive beta and the Rosebank companies.”