19 March 2009

week 12

Fruitful synergies Thomas Valentin on the second Pitch & Meet

Germany Belgium RTL Television secures deal An hour without light with with Warner Bros RTL-TVI

France fights Aids El Internado becoming a video game 19 March 2009 week 12

COVER: Montage

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“More useful and efficient” At this year’s Pitch & Meet, eight production companies presented their programme ideas to 38 RTL Group Executives. Backstage talked to Thomas Valentin about the meeting and its development in the 12 months. Tom Sänger, Head of Entertainment at RTL Television Luxembourg - 12 March 2009

The first Pitch & Meet was held in Paris in March 2008, based on a simple but bright idea: to provide a unique forum for the creative directors of Europe’s leading production companies and the program- ming directors of RTL Group’s channels to share fresh format concepts. This way, production companies can pitch their formats to nine territories at one time instead of presenting their ideas to each individual broadcaster. By the same token, RTL Group’s programme directors have a direct way to discuss possible options for collaboration within the group. This year, creative executives from eight production companies inclu- ding BBC Worldwide, FremantleMedia, ITV Productions and Talpa attended the meeting in Paris. Gary Carter, Chief Operating Officer of FremantleMedia pitching slot: 20 to 30 minutes of presentation “Bringing together the creative potential of nine followed by a Q&A session. This year, the focus of RTL Group’s 11 countries and the leading was on prime time and access prime time for- production companies from all over Europe not mats, such as factual programmes, entertain- only makes sense in terms of refreshing and ment shows, event shows, reality formats and creating good relationships but gives us the infotainment. In order to continue discussion in crucial possibility to share our experiences, to a more informal setting, 40-minute breaks were be close to new ideas and evaluate their poten- scheduled after every two pitching slots, provi- tial well in advance of the usual marketplaces ding for perfect integration of networking and like MIP,” says Tom Sänger, Head of creative discussions in the event. Gary Carter, Entertainment at RTL Television in . Chief Operating Officer of FremantleMedia, comments: “I feel the format worked. The envi- As the name indicates, the Pitch & Meet is ronment was friendly, we could see who was in composed of two parts: the pitching sessions the room, the technology worked, and the and opportunities to get together. Each pro- break afterwards gave me a chance to talk to duction company had an exclusive 45-minutes many of my RTL colleagues in a relaxed set-

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ting.” In the evening, Groupe M6 had organised a dinner in the heart of Paris for RTL Group’s programming directors to discuss ideas in more detail in a relaxed ambiance. “The atmos- phere and setting was excellent and to be honest we don’t have any negative comment,” said Maarten Meijs, Director of Sales at Talpa.

The day after, RTL Group had organised a Programme Synergy Committee meeting where all the Programme Executives could review the ideas and discuss options for collaborating on special shows or events. This way the Pitch & Meet is not only a way of getting to know new programme trends, but also to interact on a group level.

To get an inside view of the Event, Backstage Thomas Valentin, Deputy Chairman of the M6 Management Board talked to Thomas Valentin, Deputy Chairman of time to exchange around new formats with nine the Management Board of M6, who chaired the different territories and eight production com- Pitch & Meet in Paris. panies during a whole day is a unique chance; and the more we will have the opportunity to Last year’s Pitch & Meet got a good respon- get to know us better, the more useful and effi- se, so a second meeting was organised this cient these sessions will be. year. What has changed compared to last year? In 2008, a Programme Synergy Commitee First of all, we were really happy to organise meeting was held the day after the Pitch & this second edition of the RTL Pitch & Meet, Meet. Did you repeat this as well? which turned to be a great success. This year, Yes, we decided to repeat the Programme we really worked on improving the ‘meet’ part Synergy Committee on the day after the Pitch & between production companies and RTL exe- Meet as well: it allowed us to debrief on all the cutives. Our objective was to ease the dialo- formats pitched and think about options for gue, so we decided to organize a 40-minute collaboration around certain programmes. coffee break after every two pitches, which Sharing views and experiences between coun- allowed for more informal and relaxed discus- tries is really a great way of learning how to sions with the producers. This new structure improve our formats, scheduling, develop- seemed to be really appreciated. ments, and it gives us a lot of interesting ideas. All of us are programme directors, we do the Do you see any particular trend in program- same job in respective different markets and mes at the moment? How would you descri- we are not competitors; this is why we can be the development of programme trends exchange our views and experience very open- since last year’s meeting? ly. It is very fruitful. The input from the producers – like last year – was very creative and diverse but we identified Did you already receive any feedback from one common feature among all the lineups pre- participants on RTL Group’s side? How sented: scalability. All producers have fully about feedback from the production compa- understood the difficult context in which all nies’ representatives? broadcasters are operating in 2009, and were The feedback from the production companies keen on proposing scalable formats that could as well as the RTL executives was very positi- be adapted to very tight budgets. ve this year, they found the day both interesting and interactive, and many of them thought that Do you think with the two meetings held so the atmosphere was excellent, which facilitated far, sharing experiences and synergies the discussions greatly. We are really happy within RTL Group have improved? with this year’s edition and we are encouraging It has clearly improved, and will even improve everyone to maintain the dialogue beyond last more with the following sessions. Having the week’s session.

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More than 200 Motion Pictures and TV Series RTL Television and Warner Bros. International Television Distribution have signed a new, multiyear volume deal agreement which will make RTL Television the new broadcast home for all programming in Germany. Ocean’s Eleven Germany - 19 March 2009

Under terms of the agreement, RTL Television has obtained the German broadcasting rights to a slate of first-run feature films commencing with titles released theatrically in the US in 2010, along with a number of library motion pictures, as well as new television series star- ting with the 2010/11 US television season – in total more than 200 theatrical motion pictures and television series.

Dirk Schweitzer said, “We are extremely happy to acquire this package from Warner Bros. International Television Distribution, which is also one of the most attractive deals available to the German market in recent years. This acquisition continues to boost RTL Television’s level of proficiency in cinema and TV series.”

Jeffrey Schlesinger said, “We are pleased to have entered into this new agreement which will bring all of our new movies and television series to RTL Television beginning next year. We look forward to working closely with RTL to make this programming a hit with German vie- wers for years to come.” Lord of the Rings

Movies licensed by RTL under the new deal include numerous free-TV premieres, highligh- ted by the final two installments of the Harry Potter film franchise: the two-part Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows. Additional previously released motion pictures included in the pact are, among others, the three films in the Peter Jackson-directed Lord of the Rings trilogy as well as Ocean’s Eleven, Rush Hour 2 and Blade II.

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Haselhörnchen gets its own show From 19 April, the Super RTL Squirrel, Haselhörnchen, will ride out eight fur-raising adventures in Haselhörnchen – Hier knallt die Ente, aired in double episodes of eleven minutes each. Haselhörnchen and his friends Germany - 16 March 2009

The Super RTL Squirrel is getting its very own series, co-starring such characters as Jammerlappen (the wet rag), the little girl, and other fantastic creatures invented by the pup- pet builder, puppeteer and writer Martin Reinl. The furry little star is even getting his own promo flick, in which he introduces his new project to the press and doesn’t let Super RTL’s Watch the trailer on Managing Director Claude Schmit get a word in edgewise. “Haselhörnchen already lived in Backstage Cologne-Ossendorf before Super RTL settled here,” explains Schmit. “So when we construc- ted our building, we basically inherited the squirrel.” And turned it into a success story: Haselhörnchen has long since established him- self as the authority on anything off-the-wall, zany, radical and dishevelled – as on Toggo TV.

“It was time for Haselhörnchen to get his own show. And just look where it’s gotten us,” concludes Programming Director Carsten Göttel. “Not only did he get his own show, now he’s marketing himself with a specially produ- ced promotional film, too.”

What does the series squirrel on about? The really deep topics, the ones that have preoccu- Martin Reinl and the Jammerlappen pied mankind since time immemorial: crime stories, music, school, sports, holidays, ani- mals and the moon landing. No one will be able to accuse the squirrel of not having racked its cheeky little brains over some very profound content. It all starts at 17:15 on 19 April.

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Fighting Aids Groupe M6 is implementing a multiple-support initiative for Sidaction, a french charity organi- sation raising funds and awareness for the fight against Aids France - 13 March 2009

Once again this year, Groupe M6, conscious of its role in transmitting information to viewers and sensitive to the cause of the battle against Aids, is joining the national initiative. It is with determination that the group is rallying to pass along Sidaction’s message and call for dona- tions. This mobilisation involves all the media in the group: broadcasting, Web and mobile.

Since 16 March, the group’s channels (M6, W9, Paris Première, Téva, Hits, M6 Music Club, , TF6, Série Club), backed up by their presenters, started incorpo- rating Sidaction affirmatives into their program- mes: messages by the initiative, calls for dona- tions, information on prevention, special shows, subjects dedicated to the illness, rai- sing awareness, the broadcast of segments relating to the battle against Aids and the Sidaction public service announcement.

In the public service announcement on the media partners’ involvement, W9 presenter Sidonie Bonnec says, “One person in the world is contaminated every six seconds. Aids knows no shortage. That’s why W9 is supporting Sidaction and asking you to tune in on 20, 21 and 22 March. Be there.”

Sidonie Bonnec, W9 presenter

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In harmony with the youth M6 Mobile by Orange is launching La Chaîne Vidéo: a video service for mobile devices aimed at 15 to 24 year-olds. France - 17 March 2009

La Chaîne Vidéo offers M6 Mobile subscribers New M6 Mobile subscribers will have unlimited the possibility of watching hit shows from the access to La Chaîne Vidéo via the Inside M6 Groupe M6 channels any time on their mobile. Mobile Internet portal that is dedicated to them. The programmes are shown in full length, with This launch is accompanied by a TV campaign ads for upcoming shows running throughout on the Groupe M6 channels and on the Web to the day. promote this new service and encourage vie- wers to discover it via a viral contest highligh- The video-on-demand service follows the pace ting a hit programme: Caméra Café. of youth, offering new videos during their spare time: in the morning, at lunchtime and in the evenings (Caméra Café every day at 17:00, Kaamelott at 18:00…). Once added to the pro- gramming, the videos are archived for a mini- mum of 15 days and are accessible at all times on the mobile site.

The offer by M6 Mobile including La chaîne video

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Interactive telenovela Grundy UFA, Teamworx and ZDF have joined forces to give Internet users the chance to become protagonists in their new telenovela, Alisa.

Germany - 13 March 2009

After public broadcaster ZDF aired the first epi- “In co-operation with Micro Movie sodes of Alisa – Folge deinem Herzen (Alisa – Media, Grundy UFA, Teamworx Follow Your Heart), its fans can now go online and ZDF are creating the first Check out to become protagonists in the telenovela them- truly interactive and customisa- selves. A unique technology that automatically ble story, with various plot Alisa.zdf.de splices faces into videos inserts them right into strands for users to follow,” says the series’ action. Jan Marquardt, Producer New Media at Grundy UFA. “The combi- All users have to do is upload a digital photo of nation of the two in particular is themselves. They are then issued a “staff ID” unprecedented in Germany. This is an for the company Alisa works at, ‘Castellhoff- up-to-the-minute project that takes advantage Optik’. One of the characters in the Internet of cutting-edge technologies.” telenovela then takes on the user’s features (from the uploaded photo) and the user beco- mes part of the fictional events. Fans can share a souvenir of this custom experience with their friends by sharing the video clip and joining in an entirely new phenomenon: the ‘telenovela to go’.

Alisa.zdf.de

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An hour without light to save the climate RTL-TVI is actively committed to the protection of the environment and is fighting global warming alongside WWF. Belgium - 19 March 2009

On Saturday 28 March 2009 from 20:30 to 21:30, public authorities, cities, companies and citizens will turn off their lights for one hour – a symbolic gesture to proclaim “Earth Hour”, a worldwide event for climate protection. This year, for the first time, Belgium is taking part in the initiative. RTL-TVI alongside with Michel De Maegd, presenter of the and Face à Face, is lending its support to Earth Hour.

On 28 March, Michel de Maegd will be in Sydney for live coverage of “Earth Hour”. Then, he will depart on a long journey on a microlight Michel de Maegd, presenter of the news and Face à Face as part of the “Earth Challenge” project. During this flight from Australia to Brussels, Michel de Maegd and six other pilots will fly over zones registered “at risk” as a result of global warming and will draw the audience’s attention to the climatological and ecological threats facing millions of men and women living in these regions.

Plug RTL is also participating in “Earth Hour”. The channel will broadcast public service announcements for Earth Hour throughout the month of March, as well as segments that explain the problems that are arising due to glo- bal warming. The web site will also provide visitors with explanations about this worldwide solidarity initiative.

The “Earth Hour” initiative was started in 2007 by WWF (formerly the World Wildlife Fund) in Sydney as a symbolic event for climate protec- tion. While 50 million people in 35 countries participated in this initiative in 2008, WWF esti- mates that this year, in 2009, one billion people will make the symbolic gesture of turning off their lights for an hour.

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25 years of the unusual On the occasion of I Comme’s 25th anniversary, a video module has been set up on the programme’s blog allowing to watch reports from the last 25 years. Belgium - 17 March 2009

Every week, I Comme travels the world to find king toward the future and the most unusual people. Since its inception, I we always want to chan- Comme has never failed to win notoriety, beco- ge. The show is now ming a programme that is widely appreciated 25 years old, because by audiences today. we never cease to evolve. We are conti- See I Comme is the oldest programme on RTL-TVI nually looking for new today, because it has never rested on its laurels ideas, new kinds of www. and has kept up with the times. When we ask reporting, new sour- rtlinfo.be/icomme its presenter, Jacques van den Biggelaar, how ces.” he sees the future of I Comme, he replies: “I think that at I Comme, we are constantly loo-

Anniversary show for Mónika One of Hungary’s most popular and longest- running programmes celebrated its 1,500th show on RTL Klub at the beginning of March. Mónika Erdélyi cutting her anniversary cake Hungary - 16 March 2009

Mónika, aired on RTL Klub and hosted by share their problems with Mónika honestly, and Mónika Erdélyi, is one of the most-watched talk have sometimes been able to make life-chan- shows in Hungary. Its guests discuss their bro- ging decisions with her help. ken relationships, reveal the biggest secrets of their lives or finally meet their long-lost loved In her 1,500th show Mónika hosted celebrities ones. who were finally able to settle their differences with each other. At the end of the anniversary The show has been on air since May 2001 and show everyone shared a huge anniversary cake has welcomed about 15,000 guests from and wished Mónika the best of success for the around the country and even abroad during next 1,500 shows. that time. ‘Ordinary folks’ are always happy to 11 week 12 the RTL Group intranet

El Internado now as a video game In spring of 2009, Virgin Play will release its adaptation of Antena 3’s popular series as a video game for Nintendo DS. El Internado Spain - 18 March 2009

The game follows the plot of the series, but builds on additional content and storylines that run parallel to the actual series. Among other things, the interpersonal relationships between the boarding-school students play an important role in solving the mystery at the heart of the game. Players choose to be one of the five main characters: Carol, Ivan, Mark, Julia or Vicky.

El Internado – Laguna Negra is more than a mere transferral of the series to the virtual realm – it is a graphic adventure full of riddles for veteran fans as well as newcomers. Each game maintains the dramatic suspense of the story and players can review the progress of their investigation at any time. The game’s graphics are a winning mix of 2D and 3D elements. Interval sequences are rendered in the Sin City style: black-and-white with very little use of colour. The game will be released in spring of 2009, to accompany the start of the fifth sea- son on Antena 3.

Season four of El Internado was watched by an average 3.8 million viewers, or 22 per cent of Spanish TV audiences. The format has also sold to various countries including Italy.

El Internado video game

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New giveaways now available A small memento is always welcome among business partners and helps to lighten the tone of a meeting. RTL Group recently gave its giveaway catalogue an overhaul. Luxembourg - 17 March 2009

Umbrella Phone Buddy Eco-friendly bag

As well as tried and tested products, such as the popular RTL Group pens, the new catalogue contains plenty of branded novelties. They include an elegant bottle opener magnet, an eco-friend- ly jute carrying bag, a new trolley that’s sure to make a good impression on business trips, a new version of the popular umbrella, and an ‘environMIND’ shirt to match the ‘environMIND’ section on Backstage and the ‘environMIND’ Day last November.

The technology range has undergone some upgrades as well: the new USB stick comes with 2 GB of memory, the watch is available in an elegant new model, and the new Phone Buddy ensures pride of place for a mobile phone or Blackberry.

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American Idol on iPhone A new mobile application for the Apple iPhone and iPod Touch based on the talent contest American Idol was launched recently by FremantleMedia. United States - 13 March 2009

The radio station that loves books From 13 to 18 March, RTL Radio France was broadcasting live from the 29th Salon du livre in Paris and awarded the Grand Prix-Lire 2009 to Olivier Adam. France - 13 March 2009

Citroën adds a new kind of fare to commercial breaks UFA Entertainment is producing a new advertising format for Citroën, which made its on-air debut on 16 March on N-TV. The new infotainment format stars veteran talk master Hans Meiser. Germany - 13 March 2009

Humour and impertinence On 23 March Azap, a new and unconventional news magazine, comes to W9 at the start of the evening. France - 16 March 2009

More twists and turns Sir Alan Sugar returns with -produced The Apprentice on BBC One to challenge a new group of aspiring tycoons, who will battle it out in the toughest challenge of their lives. - 17 March 2009 14 week 12 the RTL Group intranet

Princess Lillifee: Dancing with children The beloved children’s character Princess Lillifee is getting her own dance show on the German public children’s channel, Kika. Tanz mit Prinzessin Lillifee will be produ- ced by Grundy Light Entertainment. France - 11 March 2009

The everyday problems of a time-travelling hero RTL II will begin airing the mystery series Journeyman – Der Zeitspringer on 25 April 2009. The series combines elements of mystery and science fiction, while also dea- ling with the fictional everyday problems encountered by time-travellers. France - 11 March 2009

Next round of giving performers their chance On Friday 20 March 2009 the Zénith in Strasbourg will host the third M6 Mobile music live event. The event will be broadcast on M6mobile.fr and the mobile portal InsideM6mobile.fr starting 24 March as well as on the channel M6 on 28 March. France - 19 March 2009

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