week 34 - Backstage · 2016-12-22 · Martin Junker and Florian Calmbach will remain Managing...

LuxembourgGerhard Zeiler on RTL Group’s recent transactions

GermanyMediengruppe RTL Deutschland acquires Netzathleten Media

United StatesAmerican Idol to be introduced into Broadcasting & Cable’s Hall of FameFranceM6 Magazines continue to charm viewers

week 34

24 August 2011

the RTL Group intranetweek 34

Cover: Montage for the Interim results 2011

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How did the advertising markets in Europe develop in the first half of 2011?After the strong growth seen in the Western European TV advertising markets in 2010, the first six months of this year show a mixed picture. The markets in France, the Netherlands and Belgium were up year-on-year, the German market remained flat, while the markets in Eastern and Southern Europe showed negative growth.

How did RTL Group perform in these markets?In all countries, our families of channels clearly outperformed their respective TV advertising markets. As a result, RTL Group has again managed to improve all key indicators – revenue, EBITA and net profit.

These strong half-year results confirm our strategy of continuous development of our core business. Maintaining the strong audience popularity of our channels and programmes is essential to outperforming the competition in the advertising markets long-term.

Where did the EBITA improvement come from?Our strong EBITA was driven by very good performances from Mediengruppe RTL Deutschland, Groupe M6 and RTL Nederland.

The German family of channels increased their combined audience share to 35.7 per cent – further improving on last year’s record result. Total revenue of the profit centre increased 2.9 per cent, with EBITA rising to €268 million. As a result, the EBITA margin improved to just over 30 per cent.

In France, M6 was the only major channel to increase audience share in both total audience and in the main target group. Groupe M6’s television activities also reported solid revenue growth. Advertising revenue at the M6 main channel increased 5.3 per cent, while the digital channels’ advertising revenue rose 10.5 per cent. Based on significantly higher profit contributions from its TV channels, reported EBITA of Groupe M6 was up 11.2 per cent to €149 million, resulting in an operating margin of over 20 per cent.

RTL Nederland’s performance was simply outstanding: the combined TV audience share of the Dutch RTL family increased significantly by 2.8 points to 34.1 per cent. With double-digit growth in TV advertising revenue, RTL Nederland’s share of the TV advertising market increased significantly, up over 5 percentage points. Due to the significant improvement in the profitability of the TV activities the total EBITA of the profit centre soared 84 per cent to €59 million.

What are RTL Group’s strategic priorities?With stakes in 40 TV channels and 33 radio stations in 10 European countries and production companies around the world, we constantly review our portfolio. Our strategy remains in place – we have three investment priorities:

First, to further strengthen our family of channels. This includes investments in programming, in new free-TV and pay-TV channels, in on-demand platforms, mobile services and diversification activities. Just recently, we strengthened our positions in Hungary, Croatia and the Netherlands. These three transactions will give us more flexibility to build even stronger families of channels.

“Audience popularity remains key” On 24 August, RTL Group announced its half-year results 2011. Backstage asked RTL Group CEO Gerhard Zeiler about the current status of the company. Luxembourg - 24 August 2011

Gerhard Zeiler


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Second: FremantleMedia plays a key role for RTL Group and we want to grow the unit significantly across all markets and businesses. We have a strong commitment to further organic growth first and foremost, but our growth plan also includes acquisitions such as Original Productions, Radical Media and Ludia.

And third, we will also continue to consider further geographical expansion. We can and we will invest in high growth regions and businesses. In India, we’ll launch two channels with our joint venture partner Reliance in the next months. This is our first broadcasting venture in Asia.

Finally, what is your outlook for the full year 2010?We have very little visibility on the important fourth quarter of 2011. The comparatives are difficult and this is also coupled with a high degree of uncertainty over the broader macro-economic situation.

Nevertheless, based on our strong half-year results, we remain cautiously optimistic for the full year.

Revenue, EBITA, net profit – all key indicators up

• Reported Group revenue up 3.4 per cent to €2,751 million, reflecting higher TV advertising revenues in RTL Group’s key territories Germany, France and the Nether-lands plus growing revenue from FremantleMedia

• First-half EBITA up 3.7 per cent to €557 million, reaching its highest level yet; this improvement was mainly driven by higher profit contributions from Mediengruppe RTL Deutschland, Groupe M6 and RTL Nederland

• Net profit attributable to RTL Group shareholders up 26.1 per cent to €324 million

• Reported EBITA margin stable at 20.2 per cent

• Net cash from operating activities of €463 million, resulting in operating cash conversion of 96 per cent and net cash position of €973 million at the end of June

Most of RTL Group’s key businesses continue to outperform

• With RTL Television reporting significantly higher audience ratings, Mediengruppe RTL Deutschland continued to increase its clear audience leadership over its main competitor to a record 7.4 percentage points; EBITA up 4.3 per cent to €268 million

• In France, M6 and W9 reported significant growth, both in terms of advertising revenue and audience share; M6 was the only major French channel to increase its audience share year-on-year; EBITA of Groupe M6 up 11.2 per cent to €149 million

• RTL Nederland succeeded in capitalising its record audience ratings into double-digit growth of TV advertising revenue; EBITA up 84.4 per cent to €59 million

• RTL Group’s production arm FremantleMedia reported revenue growth of 4.2 per cent, driven by higher revenue in North America and the first-time full consolidation of recent acquisitions Radical Media and Ludia; FremantleMedia’s EBITA down 20.0 per cent to €72 million, mainly due to general pressure on margins and volumes from broadcasters

• RTL Group’s channel in Greece, Alpha TV, continues to operate in a difficult market environment: while the channel increased its audience and advertising share, the Greek TV advertising market was still down dramatically


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RTL Group’s new media activities continue to grow strongly

• RTL Group’s online platforms and on-demand offers across Europe collectively generated more than 928 million video views of professionally produced content – up 30 per cent year-on-year

• Total online advertising revenue up 27 per cent year-on-year, driven by video advertising

• In total, RTL Group companies have launched more than 80 mobile applications registering 16 million downloads to date

• Mobile live TV services available in Germany, France, the Netherlands, Belgium and Luxembourg

• In May, cable network operator Kabel BW and Mediengruppe RTL Deutschland signed an agreement to offer Kabel BW subscribers RTL Television, Vox and RTL II in high-definition (HDTV); in addition, the network operator plans to integrate the catch-up TV service RTL Now in its on-demand service

For more information, see

RTLGroup.com


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End of July, RTL Group announced three deals in three different countries – the Netherlands, Hungary and Croatia.

Gerhard Zeiler, CEO of RTL Group, explains the strategic rationale behind these moves as follows: “Although RTL Group already has a very strong presence on the European TV markets, we’re constantly working on further develop-ing our portfolio. We announced three different transactions that have one thing in common: all of them will give us more flexibility to build even stronger families of channels. In Croatia, we will gain full control of RTL Televizija and RTL 2.”

Zeiler continues: “In Hungary, we will acquire a highly attractive and profitable portfolio of seven cable channels. In addition, we will increase our shareholding in the market leader RTL Klub to 98 per cent. This combination opens up many new opportunities in the Hungarian market. In the Netherlands, the profitability of our TV activities has reached new dimensions. By exercising our put option, we will get back full control of these valuable assets – without paying out any cash.”

Here is an overview on the three transactions:

RTL Group exercised its put option towards Talpa Media Holding to get back Talpa Media’s 26.3 per cent minority shareholding in RTL Nederland in exchange for 100 per cent of the shares in Radio 538. In addition, Talpa Media will also take over Radio 10 Gold and Slam FM from RTL Nederland. In exchange, Talpa Media will reimburse RTL Nederland for the purchase prices paid for these stations. The exchange of the respective shareholdings is set to take place in 2012.

From its Hungarian business partner IKO Group, RTL Group will acquire 31 per cent of the shares in the country’s market-leading channel, RTL Klub, plus 100 per cent of a portfolio of seven Hungarian cable channels. This transaction will bring RTL Group’s share-holding in RTL Klub to 98 per cent, with the remaining 2 per cent held by the bank Sal. Oppenheim.

RTL Group reached agreements with its Croatian business partners, Atlantic and Agrokor, to re-align the shareholding structure of the Croatian broadcasting operation RTL Hrvatska (RTL Televizija, RTL 2). RTL Group will acquire their respective 13 per cent shareholdings in RTL Hrvatska.

Three deals, one leitmotifRTL Group CEO Gerhard Zeiler comments on the company’s recent transactions.Luxembourg - 29 July 2011

Gerhard Zeiler

Setting the logo a-sparkle

RTL II now has a new 3D on-air design.

The glowing new image, providing the filmic

frame for programme announcements,

was launched by singer Shakira. She stars

in elaborate productions of numerous

versions of trailers and station IDs.

The main objective is to improve on-

air navigation in this way, helping

viewers find their way around the

programming more easily.


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Netzathleten Media bundles and markets websites covering sport, entertainment, health, food and business and is a leading operator of vertical websites in German- speaking countries. The sites it has com-piled in this way are editorially independent and are marketed together as reach units, thereby guaranteeing advertisers access to their respective target demographic in selected, high-reach environments.

IP Deutschland will be responsible for managing Netzathleten Media as a wholly-owned media subsidiary. Mediengruppe RTL Deutschland’s advertising sales house is currently ranked at number three in the Arbeitsgemeinschaft Online Forschung online marketers rankings, and has marketed a large proportion of the Netzathleten Media offer in the past. Including these sites, IP Deutschland now reaches as many as 26.97 million unique users.

Peter Lauck and the company’s founders Martin Junker and Florian Calmbach will remain Managing Directors of Netzathleten Media following its acquisition by Mediengruppe RTL Deutschland. Another co-founder, Stefan Pfannmöller, will support the company during the transitional phase as a consultant.

RTL Interactive’s Managing Director Marc Schröder, who is responsible for the strategic development of Mediengruppe RTL Deutschland, says: “By investing in Netzathleten Media, we are expanding the field of online marketing as well as our own high-reach content sites. We look forward to even closer co-operation with the Netzathleten team, who have demonstrated considerable expertise in building vertical networks over the past few years.”

Paul Mudter, Managing Director of IP Deutsch-land, adds: “Quality and reach are what counts in online marketing. Netzathleten Media’s verticals offer both, and in highly attractive subject areas. This ensures that we will continue to offer high relevance in campaign planning. We will successively expand this marketing edge in terms of content and advertising opportunities.”

Florian Calmbach, Managing Director at Netzathleten Media, comments: “Together with our first-choice partner IP Deutschland, Netzathleten Media is now ideally positioned to consolidate and further expand its market leadership among vertical providers in the German-speaking regions of Europe, long-term and especially with regard to marketing.”

A boost to the online portfolioMediengruppe RTL Deutschland has acquired Netzathleten Media. The company specialises in thematic web portals, often called verticals.Germany - 9 August 2011


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In summer 2010, the multi-award winning RTL Television correspondent (most recently: Special Jury Award, Bayerischer Fernsehpreis in June 2011 for her Middle East coverage) had set out to track down Somali pirates with her cameraman. Under extremely difficult conditions, she managed to visit the pirate hideout in Hobyo, where she was able to speak with village elders and pirates and provide unprecedented insights into the world of piracy in the Horn of Africa. Unter Piraten is a production by Info Network, a wholly owned Mediengruppe RTL Deutschland subsidiary that is in responsible for the group’s information programming.

Whether the report wins a prize will be decided on 26 September. The International Emmy Awards for Current Affairs are presented jointly with the News & Documentary Emmy Awards. The Emmy Awards are among the most prestigious TV awards in the world. The International Emmy Awards honour outstanding TV achievements outside the US. RTL Television has scored three nominations to date, including one in 2002 for its more than seven hours of coverage under the heading Terror gegen Amerika (Terrorism Against America) on 11 September 2001.

Antonia Rados nominated for International Emmy AwardsUnter Piraten (Among Pirates), a report by Antonia Rados broadcast on RTL Television and N-TV in November 2010, is one of four international productions shortlisted for the International Emmy in the Current Affairs category.Germany - 23 August 2011

Antonia Rados in Somalia


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Compared with last year, this year 13 per cent more German households have a flat-screen TV – 59 per cent in all. This was found in a follow-up survey by the ad sales agent IP Deutschland, which last year documented the great influence that television has on people’s daily lives in the Kartografie deutscher Wohnzimmer study jointly carried out with TNS Emnid. Of the 318 households that were re-questioned about their TV equipment in spring 2011, some 20 per cent had bought a new TV set over the past twelve months. In nearly all cases (99.6 per cent) the new set was a flat-screen.

Often, it was bought to replace a broken set (45 per cent), or because the respondents wanted a better (40 per cent) and/or larger screen (37 per cent). In most cases, the new TV sets are much larger than the ones the house-holds owned in 2010, with screen diagonals now averaging 93 cm (approx. 37 inches), vs. 77 cm (30 inches) in 2010. As the centrepiece of the living room, the new TV set has a decisive influence on the rest of the living room furnish-ings: roughly a third of respondents moved their furniture around or bought new furniture after purchasing their new TV.

Even though TV consumption has hardly risen due to the new flat-screen sets, the majority of those surveyed (75 per cent) now enjoy watching TV more: 64 per cent feel nearly as if they were watching movies in a cinema theatre, and 58 per cent agree that programmes watched on a flat screen are much more gripping and engaging. Above all, the respondents want to be able to enjoy conventional, linear television in the best possible image quality (64 per cent). Only 31 per cent feel it is important to also be able to use Internet services – this was ranked below large screen, flat screen and 3D technol-ogy.

Flat-screens edge out cathode ray tubesMore than half of all German living rooms are now home to a flat-screen TV, concludes a follow-up survey to the Kartografie deutscher Wohnzimmer (Cartography of German Living Rooms) study carried out by IP Deutschland.Germany - 8 August 2011

More and more households have a flat-screen TV


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With another €100,000 in emergency relief funds from the Stiftung RTL, the total in aid provided to East Africa has now reached €1,034,269 – but more is still urgently needed. RTL Television’s partner Care is using the money to provide life-saving aid to the refugees in the camps of Dadaab in northern Kenya.

Beginning of August, RTL Television and other Mediengruppe RTL Deutschland channels launched a series of TV commercials asking for donations for East Africa.

Wolfram Kons, Head of RTL Charity, says: “Viewers have already saved lives with their generosity, and my heartfelt thanks go out to them. Unfortunately, however, there is still a long road and much suffering ahead, so every Euro continues to count. Our reporters, who travelled to the camps to see what is happening with the money, confirm that the local relief workers are working hard and making a big difference.”

Stiftung RTL’s co-operation partner Care is currently providing aid to about 400,000 victims of the ongoing drought. Every day more than 1,000 new people pour into the camps in northern Kenya. 70 per cent of the people, most of whom have marched through the desert for weeks before reaching the camps, are women and children. Care has been working in Daadab for nearly 20 years and is responsible for educa-tion, water and food distribution in three refugee camps.

The Care team ensures the distribution of clean water with water trucks as well as by installing new water pipes and repairing existing ones. In addition, Care organizes the disposal of waste and provides hygiene training. Each day, about 15 gallons of water per person is supplied to 446,000 people. Refugees also receive water containers in order to safely transport the water – a canister costs $5. Newly arrived refugees receive 10 liters of water per family. When they register with the UNHCR, new arrivals get a Care basket containing wheat and maize flour, beans, oil, sugar, salt and a corn-soy mix, as well as blankets, plastic sheeting, mats, buckets and cooking equipment. Care is the lead partner organisa-tion of the World Food Programme (WFP) for distributing these items.

More than €1,000,000 for East AfricaOn 10 August, the foundation Stiftung RTL – Wir helfen Kindern reported an impressive €934,269 in donations received for the victims of the disastrous drought in East Africa.Germany - 11 August 2011

Wolfram Kons

Logo of Stiftung RTL – Wir helfen Kindern


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RTL Interactive presents a new version of the RTL App, now available from the Apple App Store. Given optimum wireless or mobile signal reception, the revised app lets I-Phone and I-Pod Touch users receive live RTL Television broadcasts at maximum quality levels. In addition, the design has been refreshed, and the picture now appears brighter and clearer on the touchscreen.

Robert Fahle, Head of Mobile at RTL Interactive, says: “The RTL App is now even more closely aligned to mobile use. Along with the live TV sig-nal we’ve also further improved usability, for an ideal mobile browsing experience. So users of the offer can now view their favourite RTL shows even better on the move, access comprehensive infotainment services, and download programme information.”

The RTL App has given users access to the mobile world of RTL Television with all its functionalities since July 2010. On request, a personalised TV planner with a reminder function provides constant updates about RTL Television’s programming, and links directly to the live stream. A convenient video search takes viewers directly to the requested clips. Numerous individually subscribable alert services in user-definable sections – News, Sport, Soaps, Advice or TV Formats – keep users constantly up to date.

Use of the app is free for 30 days, after which the added functionality and exclusive features cost €1.59 per month. 180 days’ use costs €6.99, and as a re-launch campaign the RTL App is currently available for 360 days for €8.99 instead of €11.99.

Faster, brighter, betterThe RTL App for the I-Phone and I-Pod Touch now offers an even better mobile TV experience: maximum live streaming quality, a new navigation structure, fast updating and a bright new design.Germany - 26 July 2011

The RTL I-Phone app


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“This is an exceptional honour for all of us,” says Cecile Frot-Coutaz, CEO of Fremantle-Media North America and Executive Producer of American Idol. “It is quite extraordinary and rare for a television show to receive such recogni-tion for its achievements alongside some of the most accomplished individuals in the broadcast industry, and for that we are truly grateful.”

American Idol is an undisputed ratings jugger-naut, has ranked as the number one show for eight consecutive seasons in the US and has shattered a series of long-standing television records. In 2011, the season finale garnered a record-breaking 122 million votes, the high-est number of votes in the show’s history. The talent show set out to prove that one audition can change the rest of someone’s life. Today, the show’s talent roster reads like a Who’s Who of the entertainment industry. It includes Kelly Clarkson, Carrie Underwood, Jennifer Hudson, Daughtry, Adam Lambert and David Cook. Idol finalists have also been awarded a long list of accolades, including nine Grammy wins.

“American Idol has been a broadcasting phenomenon from the moment it debuted, and it just keeps getting stronger,” said Bill McGorry, Chairman of the Broadcasting & Cable Hall of Fame. “This honour is richly deserved for a show that has had such an unprecedented impact on the entire industry.”

Simon Fuller, Creator of American Idol, adds: “It’s always special when American Idol gets honoured, and even more so when it is by a distinguished organisation such as the Broadcasting & Cable Hall of Fame.”

The 21st annual awards dinner, honouring the broadcast industry’s best, is set for 26 October at the Waldorf Astoria in New York City. Additionally, Nigel Lythgoe, Executive Producer of American Idol, will receive the 2011 Founders Award presented by the International Academy of Television Arts & Sciences at the 39th International Emmys gala on 21 November.

Honouring American IdolThe talent show American Idol will be introduced into Broadcasting & Cable’s Hall of Fame.United States - 4 August 2011

Kelly Clarkson won season one of American Idol


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“I am very pleased to have our panel of judges back for the 11th season of American Idol,” says Cecile Frot-Coutaz, CEO of FremantleMedia North America and Executive Producer of American Idol. “Their chemistry and ability to select amazing talent made last season one of our most successful yet, and we look forward to going on another exciting ride.”

“Having both Jennifer and Steven return to American Idol in 2012 alongside Randy is such a positive reflection on what was a wonderful and hugely successful season last year, and every-one is delighted,” adds Simon Fuller, Creator and Executive Producer of American Idol. American Idol is produced by 19 Entertainment,a division of CKX, and FremantleMedia North America. Season 11 is set to debut on 22 January 2012 on Fox.

The judges returnJennifer Lopez, Steven Tyler and Randy Jackson will return to the judges’ panel for the 11th season of American Idol. The trio, along with host Ryan Seacrest, will begin their search for America’s next singing superstar in January 2012.North America - 18 August 2011

Ryan Seacrest, Jennifer Lopez, Steven Tyler and Randy Jackson (from left to right)


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This year’s exciting new judging panel consisting of Gary Barlow, Kelly Rowland, Tulisa and Louis Walsh hit the road and travel the length and breadth of Britain for live audi-tions with potential singers. And this year’s contestants give the judges more action and entertainment than ever before, as Gary is forced to take to the stage to eject rejects, Kelly mops up tears, Tulisa rows with an angry contestant and Louis finds an Irish singer he doesn’t like. Additionally, season eight features extra audition shows, an even bigger boot camp, where contestants will perform to an audience of thousands, more reality and action and a spectacular live finale with 10,000 fans at the Wembley Arena.

Talk Talk, a phone, broadband and mobile provider, is now the title sponsor for both the TV show and the live finals, to be held at Wembley in front of an audience of thousands including many lucky Talk Talk customers. In total 100 tickets will be offered to 25 families of four, every day for 100 days. The competi-tion will start on the 23 August 2011 to build the momentum towards the spectacular grand finale. To be entered in the prize drawing, customers are invited to take a simple daily musical challenge on the Talk Talk Facebook page, www.facebook.com/TalkTalkXFactor.

Talk Talk customers will also get the chance to be part of The X Factor during commercial breaks, as FremantleMedia Enterprises (FME) and TalkTalk have launched the augmented reality platform Bright Stage, which offers the nation’s budding pop stars the chance to create their own music video and have it screened in front of millions on the sponsor’s ad break bumpers each week. Bright Stage combines augmented reality and facial tracking technology to enable the millions of devoted The X Factor fans and families nationwide to trans-form their living rooms into their very own stage. The augmented reality performances can also be posted on the Talk Talk Facebook page.

Jana Gray, Vice President Sponsorship UK, FME, says: “We are thrilled to be continuing our relationship with Talk Talk and look forward to a fantastic finale at Wembley as well as to their new, fully integrated multimedia sponsorship program. The X Factor continues to be one of the most successful entertainment shows in the UK and this interactive campaign is sure to bring audiences and Talk Talk customers closer to the brand.”

On 20 August, almost 13 million viewers tuned in to watch the start of the new season on ITV One. The audience peaked at 12.6 million, translating into half of the TV-watching audience.

Here comes season eightOn 20 August, the multi Bafta-award winning entertainment show The X Factor returned to British screens for an explosive eighth season.United Kingdom - 17 August 2011

The X Factor jury: Louis Walsh, Tulisa Contostavlos, Kelly Rowland and Gary Barlow (from left to right)


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The film’s website has been viewed almost 500,000 times. Thousands of individuals have supported the project with small and medium-sized donations. In addition, investors helped raise the target sum of €170,000 through “crowd-funding”. Shooting is planned for late August and begins shortly in Berlin at locations including the Presidential Suite of the 5-star hotel The Regent Berlin.

Sergej Moya, the film’s writer and director, says: “I’m delighted to finally be able to tell the story of Hotel Desire. Despite the great success of the funding we have had to endure a tinge of disappointment: unfortunately Anna Maria Mühe is now so heavily involved in another production in terms of time, that it’s not possible for her to participate in our project. But in Palina Rojinski – soon to be seen alongside Florian David Fitz in Jesus loves me – we have already found an ideal successor for the role of Julia.”

Hotel Desire is a 45-minute feature film that depicts the interplay of yearning, lust, desire, intimacy, sexuality, sensuality and spontaneity in a sensitive and direct way. It stars Saralisa Volm and Clemens Schick, with Palina Rojinski, Herbert Knaup, Frederick Lau, Trystan Pütter and Jan Gregor Kremp. Hotel Desire is produced by Teamworx and Von Fiessbach Film.

Teamworx producer Sascha Schwingel says: “On behalf of my co-producers Julia Moya and Christopher Zwickler, I’d like to wholeheartedly thank all the investors and supporters. Only with their help was it possible to finance a film project exclusively via the internet for the first time in Germany.”

Crowdfunding experiment works out wellOn 19 August 2011, ahead of the official end of the 80-day of fundraising drive, the makers of the film Hotel Desire have secured their financing.Germany - 22 August 2011

Saralisa Volm and Clemens Schick in Hotel Desire


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The new Monsuno series is being co-produced by FremantleMedia Enterprises (FME), Pacific Animation Partners and The Topps Company. On 20 July 2011, FME announced a global content distribution deal with leading children’s entertainment network Nickelodeon, for worldwide broadcast rights to this new original animated entertainment franchise.

The series targets boys aged 6 to 11 and will comprise 52 episodes running 30 minutes each. It is an epic boy’s action adventure. A race to harness the power of Monsuno ensues between a group of heroic kids and the evil forces focused on destroying the Earth.

Nickelodeon will launch the series to audiences on owned channels in the United States, Latin America, the United Kingdom, key European and Eastern European territories, Australia and New Zealand, India, Southeast Asia, Russia and Africa. The Monsuno series will first launch in the United States on Nicktoons, and select English-speaking countries.

FME’s Sander Schwartz, Head of Children’s & Family Entertainment, comments: “Monsuno is a truly epic entertainment project. With Nickelodeon on board as the international broadcaster, this will complete an already stellar line-up of partners including Jakks Pacific, Dentsu Entertainment USA and Topps. We believe that Monsuno has all of the ingredients to become a hugely successful multi-platform boys’ action adventure property.”

FME will be responsible for the exclusive world-wide distribution of Monsuno TV programming except for Asia and will act as the Master Licens-ing agent for the Monsuno brand outside of Asia. Jakks Pacific is the creator of the underlying Monsuno property and master toymaker for the Monsuno toy line, which is expected to hit the United States retail shelves to coincide with the North American TV series premiere anticipated for spring 2012. The Topps Company has signed on to produce Monsuno trading card games, confectioneries and related products.

An epic entertainment projectOn 20 July 2011 FremantleMedia Enterprises announced a deal with Nickelodeon that will see the children’s entertainment network broadcast the new animated series Monsuno globally.North America - 22 July 2011

Monsuno


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Launched in 1990, Capital is the standard economic magazine that explains and deciphers how the economy functions and shows viewers what goes on behind the scenes. Broadcast in prime time since 1994, Capital is now the number one magazine in terms of prime time ratings.

Following Guy Lagache’s departure, Thomas Sotto joined the magazine programme’s teams. He will serve as co-editor-in-chief alongside Jean Bernard Schmidt and will also be the show’s presenter. Thomas Sotto was a hit on his first evening at the helm of the show, drawing 3.7 million viewers for a total audience share of 18.8 per cent. It was the highest total audience share for an edition of Capital since November 2009. Capital airs on Sunday at 20:45 on M6.

During summer, M6 broadcasts a summer edition of the popular magazine Zone Interdite called Zone Interdite – les inédits de l’été. Presented by Mélissa Theuriau, the edition on 10 August gathered 2.8 million viewers, for a 14 per cent audience share of viewers age 4 and up. M6 ranked number one with house-wives under 40 that evening, with an audience share of 22.4 per cent. It was one of the best performances for an edition of Zone Interdite this summer.

Magazines continue to charm viewersThomas Sotto joined M6 this summer as the new presenter and co-editor-in-chief on Capital – with good audience figures. Many viewers also tuned in to Zone interdite.France - 26 July 2011

Mélissa Theuriau

Thomas Sotto


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Thanks to two new partnerships, viewers of the RTL Belgium channels (RTL-TVI, Club RTL and Plug RTL) will be able to watch their favourite programmes wherever they are in Belgium as long as they are equipped with a computer, tablet or smartphone.

In fact, an agreement concluded between RTL Belgium and the digital television platform Belgacom TV has given birth to a new service called TV Partout. TV Partout is an application that allows the viewer to watch television on screens other than the classic television set. The application is accessible to all Belgacom TV subscribers on tablets and smartphones with Android and soon on the I-Pad, I-Phone and computer (PC/PC laptop), on Wi-Fi or via Hotspots throughout the Belgian territory.

So that as many people as possible can watch RTL Belgium TV channels on the go, RTL-TVI, Club RTL and Plug TV are now also available in simulcast (shown simultaneously on the internet) on Mobistar’s 3G Mobile TV service.

The RTL Belgium channels are the first Belgian television channels to be available on the Belgacom networks on TV, Wi-Fi and 3G networks. Having barely made its debut as part of Mobistar’s 3G Mobile TV service, RTL-TVI is already ranked number one in all categories of the service among 27 channels available in high quality.

Channels go digital everywhereRTL Belgium channels are now available in all digital media throughout Belgium.Belgium - 25 July 2011

New advertising campaign

Vox has been hanging giant posters featuring

an X in Germany’s major cities since early

August as part of a new advertising

campaign, promoting the new season of

‘X Factor’, starting 30 August 2011. The

Vox logo was deliberately omitted in

the first phase of the campaign.

On 19 August, the secret

behind the X was

revelead.


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The German TV market in JulyMediengruppe RTL Deutschland’s channels together attracted 33.9 per cent of the 14- to 49-year-old viewer market in July, putting them 0.8 percentage points above the previous month and well ahead of ProSiebenSat 1.Germany - 2 August 2011

An excellent start of the summer for M6M6 was the only major national channel to increase its audiences in July and maintain its position as the number three channel for the sixth consecutive month this year.France - 3 August 2011

Best July since 1997RTL Nederland’s channels together attracted 33.6 per cent of the 20- to 49-year-old viewer market in July 2011. RTL 4 and RTL 7 once again did especially well.The Netherlands - 8 August 2011

Bel RTL and Radio Contact confirm their leading positionsOn Thursday, 18 August 2011, the CIM published the results of the latest wave of radio audience ratings. Bel RTL confirms its position as the most-listened-to radio by the French-speaking community of Belgium and Radio Contact maintains second place in the overall ranking.Belgium - 19 August 2011

Coming fifth and intending to stay thereIn August 2011, the French TV channel W9 reached a 4 per cent audience share for the first time ever, making it the 5th-ranking national channel, a position it intends to keep, according to an article in les Echos.France - 22 August 2011


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The latest from the Soko Leipzig teamShooting on a 90-minute special edition of ZDF’s crime series Soko Leipzig began in Leipzig on Tuesday 26 July 2011.France - 3 August 2011

Step onto the dance floor with W9W9 launches La meilleure danse at the end of this summer – a new show where dancers of all ages and styles compete before a prestigious jury for a €30,000 prize. France - 28 July 2011

New channel image for NeoxSpanish digital channel Neox, aimed at young viewers, has recently revealed its new channel image. Spain - 1 August 2011

Shooting starts in NurembergThe film adaptation of the Enid Blyton classic The O’Sullivan Twins (Hanni und Nanni in German) continues. UFA Cinema is shooting part two in Nuremberg and Berlin until mid-September. Germany - 28 July 2011

Number one for the fifth consecutive yearIn the Kress Saisoncheck (seasonal review), Grundy Light Entertainment is at number one for the fifth time running – as is its parent company UFA.Germany - 25 July 2011


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Music ‘to go’The new Clipfish Music 2go lets users see and hear their favourite music while surfing the Internet, even while they are not on the Clipfish sites.Germany - 11 August 2011

Clipfish users cast their voteIn December, Oliver Geissen will celebrate the 100th episode of Die ultimative Chart Show with a big anniversary show on RTL Television. At the occasion, viewers will determine the hits played in the musical ranking and which song will make it to number one.Germany - 16 August 2011

A new website for radiophilesOn 11 August, the new Radio 538 homepage went live – a state-of-the-art website with a nostalgic look that recalls the olden, golden days of radio.The Netherlands - 16 August 2011

Going live with new mediathequeRTL II viewers now have their own online mediatheque.Germany - 17 August 2011

Wanted: the best impersonatorOn 20 August the search for the best impersonator in Belgium and the Netherlands began once more with a new season of My Name Is... on RTL 4 and VTM.The Netherlands - 19 August 2011


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Lending an ear to its listenersSince 22 August 2011, Flavie Flament has been opening the line to RTL Radio listeners in a new programme called On est fait pour s’entendre.France - 23 August 2011

Tips, ideas and current trends On 22 August 2011, Estelle Denis returned to the screen for a new, fifth season of 100% Mag. As usual, she presented practical advice for better everyday living. 1.5 million viewers watched the season’s first episode, a 10.8 per cent audience share among viewers aged 4 and over, making M6 the most-watched channel in the early evening.France - 23 August 2011


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People

Monica GalerUnited Kingdom - 5 August 2011

FremantleMedia intensifies focus on French market and appoints Monica Galer as CEO of FremantleMedia France.

From 1 September 2011, Monica Galer, who has worked in a dual capacity for the past two years, will concentrate solely on the overall manage-ment, strategy and business development of FremantleMedia France, in the newly created role of CEO of that company. This move signals an intensification of FremantleMedia’s focus on France, a key territory for the company.

The appointment also marks the end of a process of revitalisation of FremantleMedia’s operations in Northern and Southern Europe, led by Ms Galer as CEO, Northern and Southern Europe. During this time, she built new management teams in The Netherlands, Belgium, Italy and Spain, while also acting as CEO, FremantleMedia France.

Under Galer’s leadership, FremantleMedia France has produced market-leading game shows, entertainment, and factual entertainment programming including The Farmer Wants a Wife (L’amour est dans le pré) which is attract-ing record audiences in its sixth series, and Got Talent. During her tenure, the French company developed the global hit format Take Me Out, which has been on the air in more than 15 territories worldwide.

Tony Cohen, CEO FremantleMedia, says: “Monica Galer is one of the architects of the European format and production industry, with formidable experience and a significant track record of success across Europe. Her creative leadership has resulted in substantial renewal across our Northern and Southern European businesses, and I am very confident that her renewed and exclusive focus on France will assure us of further success and growth in this key territory. Monica’s appointment to this role is an indication of the strategic focus we are placing on maintaining momentum in France.”

Ms Galer joined FremantleMedia in April 2002 and is a highly experienced international TV executive, having worked for Endemol and RTL among others during her career. She established Blue Circle, FremantleMedia’s Dutch operation, as a company of outstanding creativity, produc-ing many of the most successful shows on Dutch television. Ms Galer reports to Gary Carter, COO, FremantleMedia and remains on the Blue Circle board.

Monica Galer


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Wim ter LaakThe Netherlands - 1 August 2011

RTL Nederland has appointed Wim ter Laak as Senior Vice President of Programming Strategy, effective as of 22 August 2011.

In this new role Ter Laak will function as an advisor to the Executive Director of Content and the Programming Directors regarding content strategy and marketing. He will particularly focus on trends related to new formats as well as on-air and off-air promotions. He will also develop TV formats for online platforms and web-only formats.

Matthias Scholten, Executive Director of Content at RTL Nederland, comments on Wim ter Laak’s appointment: “Many successful formats originate from the US or Great Britain. It is therefore important that RTL closely moni-tors trends in these countries. Wim has many years of experience in programme development and channel programming. In addition, he has further developed his expertise in the American format and concept sector. This knowledge will be extremely useful for the continual modernisa-tion and optimisation of our channels.”

Wim ter Laak comments: “The experience that I have gained in recent years working for channels and production companies in both the Netherlands and abroad make a perfect basis for my new role. I relish the challenge of further reinforcing and building upon the solid and successful foundations of the RTL channels by means of cutting-edge formats and themes.”

Ter Laak began his career in 1988 as an editor and reporter at Veronica Radio. Subsequently, he fulfilled various functions at Veronica and RTL Nederland. In 2004, he was appointed Director of Programming at RTL 4. He remained in this function until 2007, when he left RTL Nederland to work for Eyeworks in Los Angeles and Amsterdam.

Wim ter Laak


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People

Andreas KöslingGermany - 9 August 2011

Andreas Kösling has been appointed Director of Sales at El Cartel Media, succeeding Martin Michel with effect from 15 August 2011.

Kösling has worked at El Cartel Media since its founding in 2003, and has served as its sales manager for the past six years. The wholesale and retail salesman gained extensive experience during his career in marketing advertising airtime at companies including Bayerische Rundfunkwerbung and Deutsches Sportfernsehen.

Jan Kühl, Managing Director of El Cartel Media, says: “Over the past few years, I’ve come to know and appreciate Andreas Kösling as an outstandingly dedicated and talented sales manager. He is the perfect man for the job. I am also pleased that we can offer our business partners continuity and reliability by appointing a replacement from within the company.”

Andreas Kösling


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Sylvie DegrelleBelgique - 22 July 2011

After two seasons as the co-presenter of Bel RTL Petit Matin (Bel RTL morning show) alongside Fabrice Collignon, Sylvie Degrelle is moving to a new time slot: she will present Bel RTL’s evening show Bel RTL Soir together with Pascal Vrebos from September.

Sylvie Degrelle comments on the switch: “After nearly ten years of morning shows, I will be completely changing my schedule, my course and my work as well. Working evening or daytime radio is entirely different from working on a morning show. And I’ll be part of a new duo too, with Pascal whom I got to know when substituting for Bel RTL Matin’s Barbara Mertens on weekdays.”

After earning a degree in communications, Sylvie Degrelle started her career as a journalist in the newspaper industry. In 2002, she joined a private radio station where she was responsible for the morning news-flashes and discovered her love of working for radio. In September 2004, she began her adventure at RTL Belgium, witnessing the first hours of BXL, RTL Belgium’s former radio station, and also presenting Bel RTL Petit Matin. In 2006, she joined Mint, the pop-rock radio station born from the merger of BXL and Contact 2. When Mint was discontinued, she rejoined the Bel RTL team, where she worked together with Fabrice Collignon on Bel RTL Petit Matin.

Bel RTL Soir is a magazine show broadcast Monday to Friday from 18:00 to 19:00. It features guests and columnists and above all, listeners calling in to the radio station.

Sylvie Degrelle

People

Alexandra De PaepeBelgium - 3 August 2011

Following Sylvie Degrelle’s departure for Bel RTL Soir, Alexandra De Paepe will join the morning team of French-speaking Belgium’s number one radio station on the show C’est pas trop tôt, which she will host with Fabrice Colli-gnon starting in September.

After obtaining a Bachelor’s Degree in Com-munications in 2007, Alexandra De Paepe began working both in radio on Bel RTL and in the press. On Bel RTL, she held a succession

of positions, working as a journalist/reporter, editorial assistant and presenter of news bulletins and news programmes. She also replaced Ingrid Franssen for a year on Liège Info, Bel RTL’s regional broadcast for local news in the province of Liège.

The programme C’est pas trop tôt will be on the air as of September, Monday to Friday morning from 4:40 to 7:00.


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Vanessa ZaherGermany - 3 August 2011

People

Michael GrubingerGermany - 23 August 2011

Vanessa Zaher has been hired as a new press officer to enhance Grundy UFA’s Corporate Communications team.

In her capacity as press officer, her supervisor is Thea Wulff, Head of Corporate Communica-tions. Zaher’s first major project at Grundy UFA will be the communication measures surround-ing the company’s 20th anniversary next fall.

Rainer Wemcken, Managing Director Grundy UFA, says: “In Vanessa Zaher, we have recruited an absolute PR expert. Her experience in traditional PR and the Social Media will help her to successfully manage our dialog with target groups across all channels going forward.“

In the past two and a half years, Zaher worked as a project manager in the PR and Social Me-dia departments at Piâbo Medienmanagement in Berlin, where she played a formative role in building Piâbo’s Publishing department.

Michael Grubinger will enhance the programme management team at RTL II from 1 September 2011.

In the newly created position of Head of Pro-gramme Management, Grubinger, 37, will be responsible among other things for production management and will provide support in strate-gic programme planning. He reports directly to RTL II Programme Director Holger Andersen.

Andersen says: “We are happy to welcome Michael Grubinger, a bona fide TV expert, on our team and very much look forward to working with him.”

Michael Grubinger, a native of Austria, has served as Vice President and Head of Chan-nels Nordic at Discovery Networks Nordic since 2009. Prior to this, he supervised the establish-ment and positioning of the channel DMax in the German market as Director Channels. In September, Grubinger returns to RTL II, where he already worked from 1999 to 2006 as Deputy Head of Controlling and later as Head of Pro-gramme Coordination.

Vanessa Zaher Michael Grubinger

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