Clic THE FUTURE. TOGETHER. NOW. - RTL Group title The Future. Together. Now. – the leitmotiv of...

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week 16 / 16 April 2015 THE FUTURE. TOGETHER. NOW. RTL Group Annual Report 2014: a fully interactive experience – online and offline Clic k to watch the top stori es of 2014

Transcript of Clic THE FUTURE. TOGETHER. NOW. - RTL Group title The Future. Together. Now. – the leitmotiv of...

Page 1: Clic THE FUTURE. TOGETHER. NOW. - RTL Group title The Future. Together. Now. – the leitmotiv of RTL Group’s Management Congress held in June 2014. The title demonstrates that a

week 16 / 16 April 2015

THE FUTURE. TOGETHER.NOW.RTL Group Annual Report 2014: a fully interactive experience – online and offline

Click to watch the top stori es of 2014

Page 2: Clic THE FUTURE. TOGETHER. NOW. - RTL Group title The Future. Together. Now. – the leitmotiv of RTL Group’s Management Congress held in June 2014. The title demonstrates that a

week 16 / 16 April 2015

THE FUTURE. TOGETHER.NOW.RTL Group Annual Report 2014: a fully interactive experience – online and offline

Click to watch the top stori es of 2014

Cover Montage

PublisherRTL Group

45, Bd Pierre FriedenL-1543 Luxembourg

Editor, Design, ProductionRTL Group

Corporate Communications & Marketing

backstage.rtlgroup.com backstage.rtlgroup.fr backstage.rtlgroup.de

Think before you print

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QUICK VIEW

“Colourful, entertaining and informative” RTL Group p.4–11

Big Picturep.17

SHORTNEWS

p.18–19

RTL Group invests in Clypd

RTL Groupp.12

New partnership for new series-power

Mediengruppe RTL Deutschland

p.13–14

Reaching millions of viewers

FremantleMediap.15–16

PEOPLE

p.20–23

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Unveil a dynamic, entertaining and diversified cover

“COLOURFUL, ENTERTAINING

AND INFORMATIVE”

Luxembourg – 16 April 2015

RTL Group

RTL Group published its 2014 Annual

Report with the Annual General Meeting held in Luxembourg on 15 April

2015. Committed to meeting the changing needs of its audience, in addition to the print version, RTL Group’s Annual Report is now

also available as a fully interactive online report,

allowing readers to interact directly with its content and access it

anytime, anywhere.

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The Annual Report highlights the four tasks that have been set to continue RTL Group’s success story: to be the best in TV, the best in online video, the best at monetising. The fourth task is to ensure the company has the best people.

To this end, the Annual Report is published under the title The Future. Together. Now. – the leitmotiv of RTL Group’s Management Congress held in June 2014. The title demonstrates that a dynamic journey has already begun towards an even more innovative and creative Group across the three pillars of broadcast, content and digital: “The future lies in fostering creativity and innovation. Together we can take advantage of our global scale. Because now we have the chance to shape our future.”

“Our Annual Report demonstrates the diversity of entertainment and information that RTL Group offers with all its units. It also shows how our recent investments perfectly complement RTL Group’s portfolio across broadcast, content and digital,” says Oliver Fahlbusch, Senior Vice President Corporate Communications & Marketing, RTL Group.

The Hamburg-based design studio Ringzwei was responsible for the concept, design and production of the Annual Report. Dirk Linke, Creative

and Managing Director of Ringzwei, says: “To emphasise RTL Group’s digital strategy we created an online version that offers readers a multisensory experience, while retaining RTL Group’s typical look and feel – colourful, entertaining and informative.”

As it does every year, in addition to corporate and financial information, many new features enrich the reading experience. Backstage lifts the lid on this year’s highlights.

The red plastic on the front of the report unveils a dynamic, entertaining and diversified cover, which the Annual Report demonstrates with the following new features:

Do you think you know all of RTL Group’s success stories of 2014?

As the leading European entertainment network, RTL Group opted for a more playful way to communicate its 2014 highlights. Inspired by its long-running successful quiz shows, The Quiz was created, featuring 24 questions around the world of RTL Group; 24 highlights that affected the Group in 2014; and 24 stories filled with fun facts and figures. From ants to Asterix, and football to basketball – test your knowledge and find out how well you really

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Discover the top series of 2014 in The Quiz. For a more interactive experience, play it online!

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know RTL Group. Not so sure about your answers? The red plastic foil integrated in the report, will tell you if you are right or wrong. A highly interactive version of the Quiz can be played online, featuring more videos and sound material. It’s fun and full of surprises.

The Annual Report goes digital

Click or swipe your way through the Annual Report on your PC or tablet. It’s now more interactive, more digital and packed with great features and videos. A reduced mobile version is also available for smartphones. Visit annual-report2014.rtlgroup.com and experience the ‘wow effect’ for yourself.

At RTL Group, we care

RTL Group’s seventh edition of its Corporate Responsibility (CR) Report How RTL Group gives back to society has been incorporated in the Annual Report as an A5 pull-out booklet. This change in format is the result of a decision to clearly reflect how strongly CR is integrated within RTL Group and to showcase its efforts even more. It highlights its positive impact on society in a new format with additional exclusive content. As in previous editions, the full spectrum of CR initiatives throughout the

Group is featured in storytelling form, structured according to the company’s CR pillars of Media Content and Society & Employees. The booklet includes an interview with CR Chairman Romain Mannelli about the main developments in CR organisation and strategy, as well as a Facts and Figures page containing key performance indicators. Caroline Chartier, CR & Communications Manager, was responsible for the CR productions.

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Explore the fully interactive online report here

Legend

The CR report 2014

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The Full-Year Results 2014 video reflects the financial year and features statements by the Co-CEOs and CFO of RTL Group

The Year in Review 2014 video is a fast-paced journey through the past year with highlights from broadcast, content and digital

The Corporate Responsibility Trailer presents the many initiatives of 2014, which support people in need and show that actions speak louder than words

The World of Multi-Channel Networks (MCNs) – learn more about the business model and how MCNs help Youtubers become successful influencers

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Action! You will discover many new videos in this year’s edition:

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Watch the Annual Report come to life

You can watch all the videos featured in the Annual Report online or with the Junaio augmented reality application. Download the app to your smartphone or tablet, scan the pages and the printed report comes to life on your device. It literally connects print with digital technology.

The small At a Glance booklet is printed in addition to the full Annual Report and presents the year 2014 in a nutshell.

If you would like a hard copy of the two publications, just complete the order from here or send an email to [email protected].

The RTL Group Annual Report and the At a glance mini-brochure were designed in collaboration with the agency Ringzwei and the help of all profit centres and the Corporate Centre’s Controlling and Finance departments. Communications Officer Isabell Ostermann managed the project. Andreas Meier, Communications Manager, coordinated the financial information in the Annual Report.

Cover of the At A Glance mini-brochure

AIMING HIGH PAYS OFF

The RTL Group Annual Report 2013 have won two ‘Grand Awards’: at the ‘ARC Awards 100’ which ranks the world’s best annual reports for 2014 it was ranked number five and won in the category `Best of International – Europe´. At the Mercury Awards it was selected as Best of Annual Reports – Interior Design.

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Dear colleagues,

In last year’s full-year results letter we promised you that “we won’t sit back and relax; we want to do more.” A year on, we are pleased to confirm that 2014 was indeed a year in which – thanks to you – we achieved three major financial goals in parallel: operating profitability remained at record levels, we made significant investments and our dividend payments are once again among the most attractive in Europe. Yesterday, the Annual General Meeting drew a final line under another very successful year by approving the 2014 accounts and deciding the final dividend payment.

We cordially invite you to read more about our strong performance in the newly published Annual Report 2014, which for the first time also has a fully responsive interactive online version athttp://annual-report2014.rtlgroup.com/

We also recently relaunched our corporate website RTLGroup.com, which alongside our intranet Backstage keeps you informed about news from the world of RTL Group. As the pace of change in the media industry continues to be very high, we have set ourselves four ambitious tasks to remain a leader in innovation: to be the best in TV, the best in online video, the best at monetising and have the best people. Here is some recent news that shows we are up to speed in all areas:

Finding new hits – both big and small – is a joint priority for our broadcasters and content production arm, FremantleMedia. As leading broadcasters we invest in development and launch our own initiatives. This week, Mediengruppe RTL Deutschland entered into an international co-production partnership with NBC Universal to produce original US-style TV procedural dramas, securing a pipeline of *top-notch content.

This week FremantleMedia announced an exclusive joint venture partnership with Shanghai Media Group and China Media Capital. As part of the deal they will create and develop entertainment formats for the Chinese market and take proprietary Chinese content to the world market through FremantleMedia’s global distribution network. In March 2015, RTL Nederland and SpotXchange officially launched a joint venture for the Benelux and Nordic regions. In addition, RTL Group invested in Clypd, a US-based platform for programmatic advertising sales on linear TV. Following this deal, RTL Group now holds a minority stake of 17 per cent in Clypd. We see great potential in the collaboration between SpotXchange and Clypd – in the US and Europe.

Above all, this letter is to thank you for your dedication and passion. Our business is people-driven. It is about compelling storytelling and engaging content. You are our most valuable asset.

In summary, thanks to you RTL Group has a solid base to grow further and to explore the additional opportunities presented by today’s digital world. We are looking forward to this journey and once again we promise that we won’t rest on our laurels, but will continue to do more.

Thank you for your hard work and commitment.

Yours sincerely,

Anke Schäferkordt and Guillaume de Posch, Co-CEOs of RTL GroupElmar Heggen, CFO of RTL Group

Letter from RTL Group’s

Executive Committee

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The Annual General Meeting (AGM) of RTL Group on 15 April 2015 has approved the statutory and consolidated accounts as at 31 December 2014 and approved all proposed resolutions.Luxembourg – 15 April 2015

At the AGM, RTL Group published its Annual Report 2014. In addition, the AGM decided to pay a final dividend of €3.50 per share – on top of the extraordinary interim dividend of €2.00 already paid in September 2014. The final dividend for the full year ended 31 December 2014 will be payable from 23 April 2015 on presentation of coupon N° 23 at the following banks:

In the Grand-Duchy of Luxembourg: ING Luxembourg S.A.In Belgium: ING S.A.In Germany: Deutsche Bank AG

Following the resignation of Judith Hartmann from the Board of RTL Group on 31 December 2014, the AGM appointed Thomas Götz, General Counsel of Bertelsmann SE & Co KGaA, as Non-Executive Director to RTL Group’s Board of Directors for a term of office of three years, to expire at the end of the Ordinary General Meeting of Shareholders ruling on the 2017 accounts. He had already been co-opted at the RTL Group Board Meeting on 4 March 2015.

The AGM also decided to renew the mandate of all Directors – including the Executive Directors Anke Schäferkordt, Guillaume de Posch and Elmar Heggen – for a term of office of three years.

The minutes of the AGM will also be available shortly on the company’s website via the link RTLGroup.com/agm

THE RTL GROUP ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING RTL Group

Next page’s captions

01. Welcome at the AGM 2015 02. Elmar Heggen, Anke Schäferkordt, Thomas Rabe and Guillaume de Posch03. The RTL Group Annual Report 201404. Guillaume de Posch05. The AGM 2015 at the “Grand Studio” of RTL Lëtzebuerg 06. Anke Schäferkordt and Thomas Rabe07. Anke Schäferkordt and Guillaume de Posch08. Alain Berwick, Vincent de Dorlodot, Gust Graas and Thomas Rabe

© Marion Dessard

Thomas Götz, new member of the RTL Group Board of Directors

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IMPRESSIONS FROM THE RTL GROUP AGM 2015

Captions: see previous page

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RTL Group leads the most recent financing round for Clypd, a US-based platform for programmatic advertising sales on linear TV, and now holds a 17 per cent minority stake in the company. Luxembourg – 10 April 2015

The Clypd platform, founded in 2012, is comprised of innovative components that automate workflows between buyers and sellers of TV airtime. It gives TV advertising sales houses in the United States the ability to allow media planners to discover TV inventory opportunities in a unique data driven and efficient manner.

Clypd is a pioneer on the programmatic TV front, focusing solely on offering linear TV inventory sales. Clypd operates the marketplaces on behalf of the broadcasters. Key clients include, Discovery Communications, Univision and Cox.

Rhys Noelke, Vice President Business Development at RTL Group, who will join the Board of Clypd, says: “Clypd is one of the first companies that created a strong platform for programmatic sales for linear TV in the US. It offers a unique set of tools to the market at a crucial time, as programmatic video sales are growing rapidly. In conjunction with our investment in SpotXchange, Clypd adds key TV sales competencies that will potentially offer groundbreaking solutions for TV and online advertisers. We see great potential in the collaboration of both companies – in the US and Europe.”

Joshua Summers, CEO of Clypd, says: “Clypd is squarely focused on helping television media owners and distributors enhance the value of their inventory. As one of the most powerful media companies in the world, we are excited to have RTL Group lead our Series B round of financing. RTL Group’s global footprint will certainly help accelerate our efforts to deliver on the promise of programmatic TV.”

Following the acquisition of SpotXchange in summer 2014, the investment in Clypd underlines RTL Group’s strategy to become a leading player in all video segments. It complements RTL Group’s growing presence in online video, linking monetisation capabilities in linear and non-linear TV with data and technology-based businesses.

RTL GROUP INVESTS IN CLYPD RTL Group

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On 13 April 2015, NBC Universal International Television Production, Mediengruppe RTL Deutschland and TF1 announced that they have entered into an international co-production partnership to produce original US-style TV procedural dramas. Germany – 14 April 2015

It is the first time that European broadcasters have partnered with a major US media company for a deal of this nature. This unique tripartite collaboration, conceived by Michael Edelstein, President of NBC Universal International Television Production (NBCU-ITVP), brings together leading international broadcasters – Mediengruppe RTL Deutschland and TF1 – with a major US media company that produces world class content across multiple genres. The partnership is designed to produce up to three new dramas over two years and will benefit from NBC Universal’s wealth of expertise in producing high-quality, long-running procedural dramas such as Law & Order and House.

Jörg Graf, Mediengruppe RTL Deutschland’s Executive Vice President Productions and International Acquisitions, comments: “NBC Universal and Mediengruppe RTL Deutschland have enjoyed an outstanding track record that includes tremendous hit shows such as House MD, a long-running hit on German TV. NBC Universal and Mediengruppe RTL have recently closed a long-term output deal that guarantees RTL and its affiliates the broadcasting rights to such tentpole feature films as 50 Shades of Grey and exclusive access to some of the most highly sought-after TV shows on the market. We have negotiated this new form of collaboration because we are both firmly convinced that now the time is right to take the next step – which means to develop and produce procedural drama shows with strong, proven partners particularly for the European free TV market. This will give Mediengruppe RTL not only the opportunity to produce tailor-made formats for our national markets in Europe but also allows us to secure the entire scope of rights for these programs for all forms of distribution.”

NEW PARTNERSHIP FOR NEW SERIES-POWER Mediengruppe RTL Deutschland

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Jörg Graf, Mediengruppe RTL Deutschland

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Commenting on the partnership, Michael Edelstein says: “Procedural drama is a highly popular TV format in the global marketplace due to its episodic, rather than serialised, format. This pioneering venture with RTL and TF1 has the ability to create a number of exciting new series and represents the bold approach of these forward thinking broadcasters. For the first time, our partners will have the opportunity to commission US procedural drama directly from a company with a proven track record of success in the genre.”

Procedural drama is particularly valuable to European broadcasters who are able to schedule programs with far greater freedom – episodes can be stacked and aired out of sequence. Traditionally US studios have been the primary and most successful originators of procedural dramas; in the last few years, new procedural dramas have become scarce in the international market place. This venture will secure a pipeline of exciting new content.

The projects will be written, shot and cast in North America. The dramas will be developed to have broad international appeal, with each season comprising between 12 and 14 episodes. Production is targeted to begin in Spring 2016 for a fall/winter delivery.

RTL and TF1 will own the rights in their territories (Germany and France respectively); and NBC Universal will license the rights for the US and the rest of the world on behalf of the partnership. This long-term strategic relationship also includes a meaningful financial participation in success.

All partners will have an active role in the co-production partnership. A dedicated Creative Board, led by JoAnn Alfano, NBC Universal International Television Production’s EVP of Scripted Programming, will direct editorial and greenlight decisions and will comprise: RTL’s Jörg Graf, EVP Productions & International Acquisitions; Bernd Reichart, CEO, Vox Television; as well as two executives from TF1; and, Michael Edelstein.

“NBC Universal and Mediengruppe RTL Deutschland have enjoyed an outstanding track

record that includes tremendous hit shows such as House MD,” says Jörg Graf

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On 13 April 2015, FremantleMedia and Shanghai Media Group (SMG)’s Bes TV and China Media Capital (CMC) announced an exclusive joint venture partnership that will create and develop entertainment formats for the China market. United Kingdom – 14 April 2015

Based in Shanghai, the bespoke development team will include international experts and local producers and will draw on FremantleMedia’s creative strength to develop original entertainment intellectual property (IP) set to reach millions of viewers on Dragon TV and Bes TV platforms. Outside of mainland China, FremantleMedia International will represent the newly-created IP through its worldwide distribution network.

Cécile Frot-Coutaz, Global CEO of FremantleMedia, says: “The Chinese television market is rapidly becoming one of the most important in the world. This new relationship with Bes TV, SMG and CMC allows FremantleMedia to build on its existing presence in China and strengthen our ties in this territory. It brings with it the opportunity for FremantleMedia to showcase its world-renowned creativity to millions of new viewers, with content that is made specifically for them.”

Ruigang Li, Founding Chairman of CMC, says: “China’s TV sector is undergoing the most exciting transformation, and the value of premium content is being created and manifested with unprecedented enthusiasm. CMC is delighted to team up with SMG and FremantleMedia, a global leader in entertainment content, to bring together the profound understanding of the market, the established creative capacity and the strength of a global network to further shape the China TV landscape and take more of China’s original content to the world market.”

REACHING MILLIONS OF VIEWERS FremantleMedia

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Cécile Frot-Coutaz, CEO of FremantleMedia: “This new relationship allows FremantleMedia to build on its existing presence in China.”

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Madame Wang Jianjun, President of SMG, says: “We envision Bes TV to be a new media conglomerate after the restructuring and China’s foremost OTT service provider. It will build a new media eco-system in which Bes TV straddles over content production, distribution channels, and products and services. As format and idea development is a key part in content production, the joint venture will undoubtedly bring the best resources from all the companies together and gives a strong boost to Bes TV. The collaboration will give SMG the wonderful opportunity to learn how to create good ideas and how to grow these ideas into formats and productions. It will greatly enhance SMG’s production capacity and help SMG make phenomenal variety shows in the future.”

Ian Hogg, CEO, FremantleMedia Asia Pacific, whose team oversaw this deal, adds: “This is a ground breaking deal, not only for Bes TV, SMG, CMC, and FremantleMedia, but for Chinese audiences. The opportunity to create and execute story telling that focuses on Chinese values and tastes blended with western structure and creativity is a very powerful combination.”

FremantleMedia has already forged strong relationships with a number of China’s leading broadcasters and has successfully licensed around 20 titles, including Got Talent, Idols and The X Factor, Don’t Stop Me Now, Take Me Out, Hole in the Wall and Family Feud.

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Take a look behind the scenes of the Belgian charity campaign Télévie and find out more about the latest CR initiatives within RTL Group. Click or scan

to read the CR Newsletter

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Video expertise meets analytics player BroadbandTV On 2 April 2015, BroadbandTV announced an exclusive partnership with Social Blade, Youtube’s leading analytics platform. Social Blade user will now have access to BBTV technology and services.Canada – 7 April 2015

Prehistory from a hilarious point of view Groupe M6 Co-produced by M6 Films, Pourquoi j’ai pas mangé mon père premiered in cinemas in France on 8 April 2015. Directed by Jamel Debbouze, the film tells the story of a monkey who is rejected by his family, but saved by his ability to think. Watch the trailer here. France – 8 April 2015

BCE exceeds expectations in Ethiopia BCE Following the international call for tenders won in 2013, Broadcasting Center Europe (BCE) and Grass Valley just delivered their new TV infrastructure platform to the Ethiopian Broadcasting Corporation (EBC).Luxembourg – 9 April 2015

“We will continue to invest in the digital space.” RTL Group TheVideoInk.com has performed an in-depth analysis of the development of RTL Group’s online video activities. The online magazine concludes that hardly any other traditional media company has invested more in its online video business over the past few years than RTL Group. The complete article can be read here. Luxembourg – 10 April 2015

SHORT NEWS 1/2

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Boosting its digital footprint FremantleMedia UK FremantleMedia UK (FMUK) has launched a new digital media company called Shotglass Media. Kat Hebden will head up the operation as Managing Director. The new digital entity will focus on creating innovative digital experiences for fans and brands.United Kingdom – 13 April 2015

Scaling new heights with comedy Mediengruppe RTL Deutschland Mediengruppe RTL Deutschland has launched a new free video platform for comedy content: comedyrocket.de. The Comedy Rocket platform will host an entertaining mix of professional content produced exclusively for the internet. Germany – 13 April 2015

Clear leader according to all the indicators RTL Radio From January to March 2015, RTL Radio (France) remained the leading radio station according to all indicators with 11.8 per cent audience share of the target group (+ 0.6 points over one year) and a cumulative audience of 6.5 million listeners (12.1 per cent) – the strongest increase ever recorded with 543,000 listeners gained in one year (Source: Médiamétrie). France – 16 April 2015

SHORT NEWS 2/2

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PEOPLE

INGEBORGVAN DER EIJK

RTL Ventures Netherlands – 7 April 2015

On 1 April 2015, Ingeborg van der Eijk was appointed Managing Director at Dutch Learning Company (DLC) in which RTL Ventures holds a 79 per cent share.

In addition to the general management of this online course provider, Van der Eijk will also be ultimately responsible for the continued development and innovation of iedereenEHBO.nl, the largest blended learning platform in the Netherlands.

Nicolas Eglau, Managing Director RTL Ventures at RTL Nederland: “Dutch Learning Company is currently undergoing the transition from a B-to-B to a B-to-C organisation. Ingeborg is a marketer through and through. To enhance DLC’s position in the consumer market, we can really use somebody with her knowledge of change processes in online organisations utilising new technologies.”

Ingeborg van der Eijk: “Wouldn’t it be fantastic if everyone in the Netherlands would have a first aid diploma within ten years’ time? To get there, I’m convinced that online learning, which makes learning accessible to everyone, won’t be the only factor. The creative expertise and media reach provided by RTL Nederland will also make a crucial contribution to reaching this noble goal.”

Van der Eijk will succeed Frank Meijer. He served as interim Managing Director at DLC and paved the way towards making the organisation ready for the next phase in its development. Meijer will now focus on projects within RTL Ventures.

Before her appointment at DLC, Ingeborg van der Eijk held various marketing and sales positions at nationally and internationally operating companies. Ingeborg graduated from Erasmus University Rotterdam with a degree in Business Management. She also completed the CBS Executive Marketing Programme at the Columbia Business School in New York.

Ingeborg van der Eijk, Managing Director at Dutch Learning Company

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PEOPLE

LUCAS GREEN

Thames United Kingdom – 8 April 2015

Richard Holloway, Interim CEO of FremantleMedia UK and Managing Director of FremantleMedia UK label Thames has announced the appointment of Lucas Green as Head of Development of Thames.

Lucas Green joins Thames from Superhero Television, the indie he founded with backing from Sebastian Scott in 2011. Lucas has worked closely with the Thames team previously, on Let’s Get Gold, a sports entertainment format co-produced by Thames/Superhero for ITV. Prior to Superhero, Lucas was Head of Entertainment Development at Princess Productions, where he successfully developed and won commissions for entertainment formats including Got to Dance (Sky), Must Be the Music (Sky) and Something for the Weekend (BBC Two).

Richard Holloway comments: “We are delighted to welcome Lucas to Thames – although he is not a new face to us, given that we have worked together on projects in the past. He has a wealth of experience in developing entertainment formats, and we are looking forward to continuing to expand our development slate and creating brand new, unmissable entertainment shows.”

Lucas Green adds: “I am really excited to be joining one of the best entertainment producers in the world. Having worked with FremantleMedia UK before as a co-producer, I know the team well and cannot wait to be a fully-fledged member of the Thames family. We want to focus on creating the next generation of big entertainment events that will bring Britain together on their sofas, their smart phones and their Saturday nights around the country.”

Lucas Green, Head of Development of Thames

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PEOPLE

MARK DEETJEN, JAIME KLEIN, KIESHA MCCORRY, MARISSA MONGIELLO

FremantleMedia North America North America – 15 April 2015

marketing, sales and distribution positions at Fearnet, NFL Enterprises, Comcast, and Lifetime Television, as well as publicity at Miramax Films.

Rounding out the Buzzr executive team is Marissa Mongiello as Vice President of Traffic. Mongiello has joined Buzzr from NBC Universal where she served as the Traffic Director for E! and Style Networks. While there, she oversaw the day-to-day network operations while working with sales, pricing and planning, programming and marketing to ensure the networks were as profitable as possible and exceeded projected goals. During her tenure, she was the strategic and tactical lead through two network migrations to new traffic systems. Mongiello has also held prior positions at G4 Network, Youthstream Media and Robert A Becker, Inc.

Set to launch on 1 June 2015 in all 17 Fox O&O markets, Buzzr will tap into the company’s vast portfolio of more than 40,000 episodes of game shows, including some of the most celebrated titles of yesterday and today, such as Family Feud, Let’s Make A Deal, To Tell The Truth, Password, Match Game, Beat the Clock, What’s My Line, Blockbusters and Card Sharks. Debmar-Mercury brokered the Buzzr and Fox Television Stations deal on behalf of FMNA, and continues to lead the distribution efforts to expand the network’s footprint.

FremantleMedia North America (FMNA) has announced the appointment of its executive team for Buzzr as channel ramps up for June 2015 launch. Joining FMNA’s CEO, Thom Beers and the channel’s Executive Vice President and General Manager, Ron Garfield, are Mark Deetjen as Vice President, Programming, Jaime Klein as Vice President, Creative Services, Kiesha McCorry as Vice President, Marketing and Marissa Mongiello as Vice President, Traffic.

“Buzzr is FMNA’s first entry into the channel space. It was paramount that we put the right team in place to launch the destination for fun and play through some of the most iconic game shows of our time,” explains Ron Garfield. “The team we’ve assembled has the combined channel experience, market penetration expertise and love, passion and respect for our content needed to create a highly successful launch for Buzzr and a sustaining entertainment brand.”

Mark Deetjen, Vice President of Programming and Operations for Buzzr, was previously serving as the Vice President of Programming for Sony Pictures Television where he oversaw the launch of three of the company’s TV networks, along with their corresponding VOD services. Deetjen also held executive positions at Viva Vision, Amp’d Mobile and Fountain Productions.

Jaime Klein is joining the team as Vice President of Creative Services for Buzzr and FremantleMedia North America. Klein comes to FMNA from GSN where he served as the Vice President of On-Air Promotion. In this role, he produced short-form programming, promotional spots, and digital content for the network. Previously, he also served as the Vice President of On-Air Promotion for E! Network.

Kiesha McCorry, Vice President of Marketing for Buzzr, comes to FMNA from Lionsgate Television where she served as a Vice President of Domestic TV Marketing. While there, she was responsible for the public relations, marketing and merchandising surrounding hit shows such as Mad Men, Orange Is The New Black, Nashville and Nurse Jackie. Previously, McCorry also held prominent

Mark Deetjen Jaime Klein

Kiesha McCorry Marissa Mongiello

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23

PEOPLE

ANJAREICHERT

RTL Group Luxembourg – 16 April 2015

Romain Mannelli comments: “With more than 10 years of experience in Human Resources, Anja has the expertise and capacity to embrace this new role and to support our plans and ambitions to take Talent Management in our group to the next level of excellence.”

Anja Reichert says: “I am really pleased to be entrusted with this new role and I am looking forward to further develop the group-wide management development strategy with Romain, Bertelsmann and the HR professionals across our Group.”

On 13 April 2015, RTL Group announced the promotion of Anja Reichert to Head of Management Development effective immediately. Anja will report to Romain Mannelli, Executive Vice President Human Resources of RTL Group.

In this new position Anja will manage the identification and development of talent across the Group. She will also drive the internal mobility programme launched in 2014. She will contribute to the annual Management Review process and participate in the yearly succession planning exercise for executive positions.

Anja Reichert, Head of Management Development

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