What turns a series into a global hit? “Sullivan’s Crossing” returns for Season 4 on April 20 after building momentum on CTV in Canada and The CW in the US, a run that paved the way for an international breakout – its global debut on Netflix pushed it to No. 1 in the US and No. 3 worldwide. We spoke with showrunner Roma Roth—also the force behind “Virgin River,” one of Netflix’s longest-running originals—about how to build series with lasting global appeal.
You’re deeply involved not just creatively but in financing, packaging, and distribution. How does that 360-degree view change the way you develop a series?
Coming from distribution and production has helped me, as a creator, keep a global perspective in mind with anything I produce. The goal is to create a hit series that connects with an audience, in North America and abroad, not only through the scripts themselves, but also through engaging casting. All of these pieces play an equally important part in how the show resonates globally.
“Sullivan’s Crossing” has performed across linear, digital, and streaming platforms – did you design it with that multi-platform life in mind from the start?
Though our commissioning broadcaster is CTV, the expectation was that it would also air on Bell’s streaming platform, Crave, and ultimately, I had hoped it would end up on Netflix as well. So yes, the creative was designed to be binge-worthy, ensuring that audiences would return each week and ultimately want to binge-watch the series on a streaming platform.
Between “Sullivan’s Crossing” and “Virgin River,” you’ve built two successful relationship-driven dramas – what’s the “secret sauce” for creating stories with that kind of longevity?
Creating relatable and lovable characters who are faced with realistic challenges that audiences can identify with. The goal is to build a world that feels comforting to fans, allowing them to escape their own troubles while also offering a safe place to connect with their feelings.
How do you balance specificity – grounded, local storytelling – with the need for global appeal?
I focus on stories that revolve around universal themes such as hope, community, family, and love.
