17 March 2011

week 11

Entertainment animals Markus Brunnemann on Phoenix Film, international cooperation and new ways of producing series

Europe Germany Correspondents reporting Antonia Rados interviews from Japan Muammar Gaddafi

Luxembourg New joint venture to launch M6 launches X Factor two TV channels in India the RTL Group intranet week 11

17 March 2011

week 11

Cover: German musician Guildo Horn and chimpanzee Charly in Unser Charly © ZDF/Phoenix Film/Daniela Incoronalo

2 Entertainment animals Markus Brunnemann on Phoenix Film, international cooperation and new ways of producing series

Europe Germany Correspondents reporting Antonia Rados interviews from Japan Muammar Gaddafi

Luxembourg France New joint venture to launch M6 launches X Factor two TV channels in India the RTL Group intranet week 11

The fine art of family entertainment Phoenix Film captivates millions of viewers with shows like Danni Lowinski and Unser Charly. Backstage spoke to Managing Director Markus Brunnemann about the company. Markus Brunnemann Germany - 17 March 2011

Phoenix Film has made a name for itself in Phoenix Film’s popular series include classics Germany with a special focus on family series such as Ein Heim für Tiere (ZDF), Jacob und and box office hits such as Unser Charly and Adele (ZDF), Dr. Stefan Frank (RTL), Verliebt in Danni Lowinski. Brunnemann describes his Berlin (Sat1), OP ruft Dr. Bruckner (RTL), Unser company as follows: “We love series, want to tell Charly (ZDF) and Hallo Robbie (ZDF). stories, we’re flexible, fast and can do movies, too.”

Since 2002, UFA has owned a 51 per cent stake in Phoenix Film, a production company founded in 1979. This makes Phoenix Film an independent sister company alongside other UFA subsidiaries in the market. The company has demonstrated its movie-making skills by producing TV films like the 2009 production Romy. Starring Jessica Schwarz, the screen biography of Romy Schneider covers the key milestones in the passionate, intense life of an international celebrity who continues to fascinate people to this day – a woman and artist who always remained somewhat of a mystery to herself and the world. It traces the myth of Romy Schneider, a celebrated star of the silver screen who – despite her triumphant career – spent her life Jessica Schwarz as Romy restlessly searching for happiness and love. The film was nominated for and has won many The second season of Danni Lowinski, one of national and international awards. In 2009 the company’s current flagship shows, kicked Phoenix Film made the leap from professional, off on Sat1 on 14 March 2011. The first season mass-audience television production into the about Danni Lowinski (played by Annette Frier), cinema market with the family-oriented a young lawyer who offers affordable legal football-friends film Teufelskicker (The Devil services to the needy for one euro per minute, Kickers), co-produced with UFA Cinema. was very well received, with an average

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Annette Frier (center) in Danni Lowinski Samuel Finzi plays Dr. Vincent Flemming © Sat1/Phoenix Film/Franck Dicks © ZDF/Phoenix Film/Aki Pfeiffer audience share of 15.2 per cent among viewers The 16th season of the popular ZDF family aged 14 to 49. The series also met with great series Unser Charly was filmed last year, and critical acclaim. After Annette Frier won the is scheduled for broadcast in autumn 2011. Bavarian Television Award for ‘Best Actress’ The hallmark of this series is the chimpanzee in May 2010, the series went on to win the Charly who causes all kinds of mayhem. German Television Award and the German On 18 March at 21:15 the crime series Comedy Prize. Frier also won the German Flemming will be back with eight new episodes Comedy Prize for ‘Best Actress’. What makes about the criminal psychologist/psychotherapist the series special for Brunnemann are its Dr. Vincent Fleming and his partner Ann Gittel. “strong, believable characters, combined with “German series have been very successful relevant, interesting stories and a good dose of for years with public service broadcasters,” humour.” says Brunnemann. “On commercial channels, however, there was a significant dry spell. The combination is clearly attractive to audienc- At least development activities have begun to es. The first episode of season two on 14 March pick up again there. However, we must prepare was watched by a total of 3.76 million viewers ourselves for further cuts in production budgets.” – market share in the series’ 14- to 49-year-old target group peaked at 15.5 per cent. In January In addition to fictional film and serial production, 2011 it was announced that the US network CBS the creative team of producers is also involved was planning to adapt Danni Lowinski for the US in the development of various documentary and market – the first German series ever to be thus transmedia formats. “We strive to exploit our singled out. The US pilot has now been shot. productions as widely as possible. We don’t limit “For us this is a great honour and a recognition ourselves to the new media but are also using of the work of everyone involved,” says new technologies, new production and financing Brunnemann. The makers of the US version models,” says Brunnemann. One example of are modelling it closely on the original German early steps in this field was the Kill Your Darling version. “The pilot that has just been filmed is project which was initially designed as a web based on Marc Terjung’s screenplay,” says series and was then made into a TV movie with Brunnemann. “They actually carried everything unique Web 2.0 marketing. The 30 three-minute over – the only adjustments were to the court webisodes were shown on the channel’s case because the US justice system simply website before the broadcast of the works differently to the German one. In recent film. “We are developing various months our colleagues at CBS have had various formats and are quite active in this phone consultations with Marc Terjung and area,” says Brunnemann. “There me, and made detailed enquiries about the are a lot of possibilities – but characters and their experiences.” it remains to be seen to what For more information see extent money can be earned with content not financed by TV.” Phoenix-Film.de

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Reporting from the risk region The danger of nuclear radiation is causing many correspondents to leave Japan. Backstage gives an overview of what’s happening with RTL Group journalists. Luxembourg - 16 March 2011

Carsten Lueb Roger Saha

The repercussions of the nuclear disaster in ments in Fukushima. We have kept an eye Japan are as yet unforeseeable. As the danger on the risk of radioactive radiation from the to correspondents reporting from Japan for beginning. Unfortunately, we cannot say how viewers and listeners rises and falls with the reliable the data issued by the Japanese wind, decisions have to be made at short notice government really is. So there is no question about who can report from where, and who that we do not want to expose our journalists needs to be taken to safety. The editorial teams to this danger.” Jacques Esnous, Information bear a great responsibility and the correspond- Director at RTL Radio, adds: “Simply put, this is ents themselves face difficult decisions. about exercising the principle of caution.” Meanwhile Joel Legendre, the station’s Tokyo Peter Kloeppel gave viewers a live update on RTL correspondent, has decided to continue Aktuell: “We moved our correspondents to Osaka reporting from Japan. this morning for safety reasons,” he announced on 15 March. Correspondents Carsten Lueb M6 in France has provided continuous and Roger Saha relocated from Tokyo to Osaka coverage of the 11 March earthquake, includ- some 300 kilometres further to the south, which ing an 18-minute special presented by Nathalie puts a somewhat greater distance between them Renoux. The channel recently decided to and the out-of-control reactors. From there, they withdraw its two correspondents from Osaka. will continue to supply Mediengruppe RTL They arrived in on the evening of 16 March. Deutschland’s news desks with the latest reports. Info Network correspondents Sascha The Japan earthquake is a central topic at Zebel and Nils Büngen left the country, along RTL Nieuws in the Netherlands as well. Its with numerous other correspondents from four-strong team consisting of a reporter, a various Media. “We are in regular contact with foreign correspondent, a cameraman and a our staff members in Japan,” says Michael Wulf, producer, has since left the country again. Managing Director of Info Network. “Their safety Three of the four returned to the Netherlands on is the number one priority.” 16 March, while the correspondent returned to China. RTL Radio in France is also keeping its listen- ers abreast of developments in Japan. Thomas In Belgium, RTL Belgium’s flagship channel Proteau and Franck Antson were on the ground RTL-TVI is in charge of keeping viewers up to reporting for France’s leading radio station, date. The group has now decided to bring its but left Tokyo and returned to France on reporter Modave Julien and his cameraman 16 March. Editorial Director Christine Mangin back home from Japan. Since their flight explains: “This decision was made by mutual from Tokyo was cancelled, they are on their agreement with the two reporters and based way to Osaka and are expected to be back in on the information we have about develop- Belgium on Thursday 17 March. 5 the RTL Group intranet week 11

New joint venture to launch two TV channels in India RTL Group has signed a preliminary, non-binding term sheet with Reliance Broadcast Network Limited to possibly set up a 50/50 joint venture for the launch of a bouquet of several thematic TV channels in India. Luxembourg - 11 March 2011

The initial scope of the investment would include a reality channel with international content, mainly from FremantleMedia, and a channel primarily targeting male viewers with action- oriented content. Both channels would mainly target the urban population in India and be distributed via satellite, cable, DTH and IPTV.

RTL Group and Reliance Broadcast Network Limited intend to sign the final Shareholders’ Agreement in the first half of 2011. The first channel is scheduled to be launched in autumn 2011.

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Exclusive interview with Muammar Gaddafi Antonia Rados, a correspondent with Mediengruppe RTL Deutschland, has become the first German-speaking journalist to interview the dictator Muammar Gaddafi since civil war erupted in . Germany - 16 March 2011

Antonia Rados with Muammar Gaddafi

Rados met the Libyan potentate in a tent in Asked about the international protests and harsh the Bab al Azizia military camp in Tripoli for her criticism from US and EU, Gaddafi responded: exclusive interview. The camp had been bombed “What have I done to disappoint them?” When in 1986 under the then US President Ronald Rados reminded him that he had peaceful Reagan. Gaddafi had survived the attack. demonstrators beaten down, Gaddafi answered: Gaddafi arrived for the 40-minute exclusive “Those are lies.” The Libyan ruler demanded interview alone, driving a Golf caddy – and that a committee be sent to review the events of without a single bodyguard. the past weeks in his country.

“He seemed very confident and completely Gaddafi also said that he no longer trusts the without self-doubt,” says Rados. “There were no West. “We don’t trust their ambassadors, they signs of nervousness; instead, he radiated the conspired against us. We don’t trust their com- image of a potentate firmly in power.” Gaddafi, panies.” He also announced the consequences who has said that the revolts in the country were from this: “We will now invest in Russia, India and instigated by the Al Qaeda the terrorist network, China. Our money will be invested there. Our oil described the riots to Antonia Rados as a “minor contracts will go to Russian, Chinese and Indian incident” that would soon come to an end. “There companies. Forget the West!” He did, however, were no demonstrations in Libya. Al Qaeda explicitly exempt Germany from his criticism of never does demonstrations, never. Bin Laden’s the West. armed thugs and the mercenaries he has in the country’s East will be destroyed and everything N-TV was the first Mediengruppe RTL will go back to normal. Everything is normal in Deutschland channel to air the interview, most of the country. Everything’s calm there.” on 15 March starting at 18:00. Afterwards, it was covered in the main news programme RTL Aktuell and the late-night RTL Nachtjournal.

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Exclusive surveys map TV usage This year’s TV-Wirkungstag (TV Effectiveness Day) takes place on 31 March 2011 with the confident slogan ‘Everyone Loves TV!’ Germany - 11 March 2011

Television continues to play a central role in land Management Board, will also focus on people’s everyday lives and is the medium the future, highlighting the latest trends and with the highest emotional engagement. This elaborating on the possibilities and limits of emotional engagement is the central object tomorrow’s technology. The full-assembly under study in the joint genre survey carried session will close with a bit of cosmopolitan out by the organisers to take a closer look at flair when Alan Boyd, former President of motivations for use and future technologies Worldwide Entertainment at FremantleMedia, in the everyday routine. The research project and Mike Parker, Head of Strategic Sales at manager Olaf Rüsing, co-founder and CEO of Britain’s Channel 4 talk about international the market research company Rich Harvest, trends in programme production and innovative will first present the results of the “Everyone communication techniques in advertising. Loves TV” survey to the public at the 8th TV Effectiveness Day. Apart from an innovative Following the full-assembly session, there will be research approach that combines quantitative five parallel ‘working sessions’ during which the and qualitative techniques, visitors can look topics of the day’s presentations will be explored forward to direct insights into viewer behaviour in in greater depth along with other effectiveness- front of their living-room screens. related subjects. The working sessions will be led by the speakers from the plenary session as well The 8th TV Effectiveness Day, which will again as some 20 branding experts. In the afternoon, be emceed by Wolfram Kons, will begin with there will also be an opportunity to experience two keynotes. Dr. Silke Borgstedt, head of the state-of-the-art TV technology live and first- social research unit at the Sinus Institute, and hand. Visitors can explore next-generation TV Dr. Christian Wenger, a social economist with in showcases highlighting 3D, HDTV and Hybrid the Gesellschaft für innovative Marktforschung TV and see where the technology is headed. (GIM – Society for Innovative Market Research) will highlight the most important drivers of social The 8th TV Effectiveness Day is hosted by and media change in Germany. Dr. Horst Stipp the six advertising sales house, IP Deutschland, of the Advertising Research Foundation in New SevenOne Media, El Cartel Media, Viacom York will then give a keynote explaining why Brand Solutions, Discovery Networks Deutsch- television is defending its status as key medium land and Constantin Sport Marketing. The six in a complex media environment, and provides firms represent a total of 16 TV stations which exciting insights into the US market. have a combined share of about 90 per cent of the TV advertising market. This year’s After the lunch break, Prof. Dr. Christian TV Effectiveness Day will be held at Blümelhuber, founder of the Ideenparc agency, the Maritim Hotel in Dusseldorf on will present further exclusive research results 31 March 2011. The all-day under the heading ‘My Media and Me’. The congress will end with an qualitative survey takes a look at the future evening event at the futuristic and deliberately centres on the media-user ‘Station Airport’ at Dusseldorf For more information, see generation. Participants wore an innovative Airport. Wirkstoff.tv head-mounted camera so that the researchers could accompany them through their day of media usage. The presentation by Martin Winkler, a member of the Sony Deutsch-

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“If people loved Nouvelle Star, they’ll adore X Factor” The show’s slogan: “You’ve never seen what you’re about to hear” – Tuesday 15 March in prime time, M6 launched X Factor. France - 15 March 2011

The judges are Henri Padovani (artists’ manager as well as founding member and former guitarist of The Police), Olivier Schultheis (composer, director and conductor), Christophe Willem (singer and winner of Nouvelle Star 2006) and Véronic Dicaire (Canadian singer and mimic)

M6 viewers are already familiar with the concept example, internet users will be able to ask of Nouvelle Star, and now X Factor moved in to their questions live during the performance or take its place on the air. Although both shows exchange views about the contestants’ perform- have in common the search for the rare pearl ances. In addition, a “special correspondent” will among singers, there are major differences report the latest news, anecdotes and scoops between the two formats: “With X Factor, the and post new photos and videos every day on auditions are live. Contestants of all ages show the social networks. up at Zénith concert halls across France to pass tests before a thousand people,” said M6 “It’s truly marvellous that a contest like Programme Director Bibiane Godfroid to the this allows people of my age to perform press on Friday 11 March. “The objective is to in public,” says Simone, enthusiastic and see if they’re able to keep their head, because 88 years young, who charmed 3.3 million we’re looking for star performers. The other viewers. The show’s premiere attained a difference is that the judges are also coaches total audience share of 13 per cent and who will teach the contestants how to have a attracted 24.1 per cent of the housewives under star attitude, how to choose their songs and how 50, making M6 the most-watched channel in this to improve their live performances. I would say demographic. All singers, from 16 to 88, whether that X Factor is complementary to Nouvelle Star. solo or in groups, whatever their background or And if people loved Nouvelle Star, they’ll adore musical style, can audition – provided, of course, X Factor.” that they have at least a bit of a nice voice and the seed of stardom in them. X Factor is presented by Sandrine Corman and Jérôme Anthony, who has also been set up This diversity is accepted and actually actively by the Programme Director as “Webmaster”. sought by Christophe Willem, who is one of the For the first time in France, a show will actually judges: “We often say that new talent is young, develop a second digital life in parallel, notably beautiful and stylish… to me, talent isn’t just that. on M6.fr, Facebook and Twitter. On the evenings X Factor sets no age limit and this is a revolu- of performances, internet users will thus be able tion of sorts. Why not be surprised by someone to watch a programme on M6.fr: the web show who is 45 who sets the stage on fire? I’m really F@n Factor which is broadcast live and hoping to be astonished.” simultaneously offering a backstage view. For 9 the RTL Group intranet week 11

Let’s talk about diversity, let’s talk about disability Grégory Cuilleron, a former contestant on a culinary show on M6, becomes the spokesperson for disabled workers. Georges Blanc and Grégory Cuilleron France - 14 March 2011

Taking over from comedian Jamel Debbouze, In its 10 March 2011 Internet edition, L’Express Grégory Cuilleron will be the new ambassador asked Grégory Cuilleron if he himself had ever to Agefiph, the Fund Management Organisation been a victim of discrimination because of his for the Professional Integration of People with disability. His response indeed reflects the Disabilities in France. On Thursday 10 March scope of the task that remains to be accom- 2011, the institution launched its new commu- plished: “When I wanted to go into cooking, I nications campaign to encourage companies to ran up against a number of refusals from chefs hire disabled people. One must recognise “the who I nevertheless knew well. On the pretext of company’s driving force” in them, said the new pseudo-friendlyness, they refused to take me spokesperson. on because it was a milieu that they implied was too difficult and too tiring for a disabled The French have not forgotten Grégory person. There is still work to be done to end Cuilleron, the 2009 winner of Dîner presque discrimination in the professional world: parfait – Le combat des regions, who won we have to change the outlook of the jury’s honour and the audience’s favour. employers and make them understand that it is M6 viewers very quickly fell under the charm not because people are in a wheelchair or blind of this impressive amateur cook who had that they are not as effective as their co-workers. everything going for him: talent, modesty, Quite the contrary – these are people who are kindness and a healthy ambition. And yet, often highly motivated. They receive many types Grégory started off with a disability, because of assistance. If they didn’t really want to work, this young man is missing his left forearm, a they would pass it up. But one also must not malformation from birth. hire a handicapped person in order to fill quotas: one should take them on because they see the On Thursday 10 March, speaking on RTL company’s driving force in them.” Radio in France, Grégory began by quoting the slogan of the new campaign: “We are 630,000 disabled workers in companies and it’s normal, but we need to do much better tomorrow, and for that, we can count on Agefiph.” He said he is “delighted and honoured” to be considered for this role as spokesperson. He urges companies to try the experience and advises the disabled to push open the door and not to be afraid. “Compa- nies and disabled people need to be convinced that nothing is impossible. The problem with the disabled is that they often do not dare to take that first step. What is important is to try and go for it because, if we don’t ask, no one will ever say yes to us.” Having a physical disability is not prejudical to having a successful career

10 A new diversification Costa Croisières and M6 present the “M6 Cruise”. Embarking in Marseille, this exceptional cruise aboard the Costa Serena sails from 18 to 25 June, with stops in Italy, Sicily, the Balearian Islands and Spain. On board, travellers will find the ambience of M6 programmes and find out what goes on behind the scenes in the world of television. the RTL Group intranet week 11

‘Stiftung RTL – Wir helfen Kindern’ is collecting donations for Japan Immediately following the Japanese ambassador’s official appeal for international assistance on 16 March, RTL Television began a fund drive for earthquake and tsunami victims in Japan. Netherlands - 17 March 2011

Are you an entrepreneur at heart? In its tradition of service to its listeners, RTL Radio in France organised a special day called Business Creation and Acquisition (Création et reprise d’entreprise) on 14 March 2011. France - 14 March 2011

FremantleMedia to produce Bauer sucht Frau itself in Germany, too RTL Television, Grundy Light Entertainment and MME Entertainment have signed an agreement stipulating that Grundy Light Entertainment will produce the long-estab- lished hit format Bauer sucht Frau from now on. Germany - 15 March 2011

Ruttes Rapport now on RTL Z Ruttesrapport.nl, a Dutch website that reports on the progress of the political cabinet Rutte’s work, is now also an information magazine on RTL Z. Minister Edith Schippers was the first guest on the show on 16 March 2011. Netherlands - 17 March 2011

Holdings on track RTL Radio Deutschland’s radio holdings continue their good track record with the results of the latest Media-Analyse survey (MA 2011 Radio 1). Germany - 11 March 2011

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People Julian Weiss Germany - 16 March 2011

Julian Weiss (38) has been named Head of Marketing at IP Deutschland. He succeeds Florian Ruckert.

Julian Weiss’s future area of managerial responsibility includes research, strategic marketing and marketing communications as well as product management and programme communication. Weiss joins IP Deutschland from N-TV, where he has supervised the

Marketing, New Media, Business Development Julian Weiss and Technology departments as the news channel’s Chief Operating Officer since 2007. Martin Krapf, Managing Director of IP Deutsch- He additionally took over the Marketing, land, says: “We are delighted that we have once Graphics and Merchandising departments in again managed to appoint a colleague from 2010. Mediengruppe to such an important position. Julian knows the broadcaster’s perspective and Weiss studied Journalism at the University knows how TV and new media marketing works of Mainz and Design at the FH Mainz. After a – ideal conditions for continuing and evolving Master’s degree in Marketing Management our effective marketing efforts. I would like to from the University of Westminster in London, take this opportunity to sincerely thank Florian he earned a PhD in media convergence from Ruckert for six years of creativity and jointly Mainz and Berlin. Weiss began his career mastered challenges. I greatly enjoyed working in 2002 at the Bertelsmann Stiftung in with him.” Gütersloh. In June 2004, he was appointed to the position of assistant to RTL Group’s Hans Demmel, Managing Director of N-TV, says: CEO, Gerhard Zeiler, and went on to work “We are both sad to see Julian go and delighted for Anke Schäferkordt in Mediengruppe RTL for him. We thank him for his extraordinary Deutschland’s management in Cologne. The dedication as Chief Operating Officer at N-TV precise time of his taking over his duties at during the past three and a half years. We wish IP Deutschland has yet to be determined. Julian all the best in his new position and are Florian Ruckert is leaving IP Deutschland to happy that he will remain associated with the take over as CEO of the radio advertising sales group and hence with N-TV.” house RMS, Hamburg.

People Kim Younes France - 15 March 2011 Kim Younes joins M6 Publicité as Director she joined Groupe M6 as a Project Coordinator of Programme Studies and Marketing, starting in Programme Management. In 2010, she 14 March 2011. successfully ensured the continuity of manage- ment in Programme Services. A graduate of the HEC management school in 2006, Kim Younes started her career as an analyst with the Olivier Wyman firm. In 2008 13 the RTL Group intranet week 11

People Jörg Graf Germany - 17 March 2011

Jörg Graf (44) will be in charge of international third-party programme purchasing for RTL Television and Mediengruppe RTL Deutschland as of 1 April 2011. He succeeds Dirk Schweitzer (47), who is leaving to join the Tele München group.

Graf will supervise the department in addition to his role as Head of Production Management.

After completing his vocational training and university degree, Graf worked for various production companies before joining RTL Television’s production management department in 1995. He has been in charge of negotiating all of RTL Television’s commissioned produc- tions in his current position since 2009. As part of the reassignment of Dirk Schweitzer’s duties, Jörg Graf Klaus Holtmann has been appointed to head the special-interest digital channels RTL Crime, Passion and RTL Living as department manager.

Anke Schäferkordt, CEO of RTL Television and Mediengruppe RTL Deutschland, says: “Jörg Graf knows the production business inside out. I am delighted that I have been able to recruit an expert who is very highly respected and experi- enced in our company as well as in the market for this job. I wish him and Klaus Holtmann a lot of success. I would also like to thank Dirk Schweitzer for his great commitment over the past few years and wish him all the best in his personal and professional future.”

Jörg Graf: “I very much look forward to my tasks in the third-party programming department and to working with our international partners. Dirk Schweitzer has set up an excellent team over the past few years, and I would like to work with them to build on and expand our success in international film and series buying. Our goal is to continue offering viewers attractive fictional entertainment from the US.”

International third-party programme buying allows channels like RTL Television and Vox to secure a steady supply of attractive US series and movies. Mediengruppe RTL Deutschland’s current contract partners include Hollywood studios such as Warner Bros and Universal. 14 http://backstage.rtlgroup.fr http://backstage.rtlgroup.com http://backstage.rtlgroup.de

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