week 35 / 30 August 2012
COMPETITIVE MARKET,
STRONG PRESENCE ADDEDMonica Galer, CEO of FremantleMedia DIMENSION France, on entertaining HowFrench M6 viewers has created a new way of consuming TV
GermanyLuxembourg The NetherlandsUnited States BelgiumGermany LuxembourgBelgium WolfAnke BauerSchäferkordt on RTL NederlandThomas Beers TélévieN-TV funds covers EnexRTL welcomes Belgium restructuringand Guillaume de launchesappointed app for CEO of107 researchUS elections Sky presentsNews Arabia its new UFAPosch on RTL Group’sGoede FremantleMediaTijden, projects programming results and future SchlechteNorth Tijden America strategy week 35 / 30 August 2012
COMPETITIVE MARKET,
STRONG PRESENCE
ADDEDMonica Galer, CEO of FremantleMedia DIMENSION France, on entertaining FrenchHow M6 viewers has created a new way of consuming TV
LuxembourgGermany The NetherlandsUnited States BelgiumGermany LuxembourgBelgium AnkeWolf BauerSchäferkordt on RTL NederlandThomas Beers TélévieIP Deutschland funds Enex RTL welcomes Belgium andrestructuring Guillaume de launchesappointed app for CEO of107 presentsresearch new Sky presentsNews Arabia its new PoschUFA on RTL Group’sGoede FremantleMediaTijden, projectsseason line-up programming results and future SchlechteNorth Tijden America strategy Cover A selection of FremantleMedia France’s hit shows
Publisher RTL Group 45, Bd Pierre Frieden L-1543 Luxembourg
Editor, Design, Production RTL Group Corporate Communications & Marketing
k before y hin ou T p r in t
backstage.rtlgroup.com backstage.rtlgroup.fr backstage.rtlgroup.de QUICK VIEW
A strong European group RTL Group p.8
Concentrated news Tom Beers appointed expertise for the CEO of FremantleMedia US elections North America N-TV / RTL Television FremantleMedia North America p.11 p.9 - 10
“Game shows, comebacks and farmers” FremantleMedia France p.4 - 7
A wealth of talent RTL Belgium p.12 - 13
Big Picture p.15 SHORT Slipping smoothly NEWS into autumn Bel RTL p.16 - 17 p.14 For nearly 25 years, FremantleMedia France – the French branch of RTL Group’s content production arm, FremantleMedia – has been producing some GAME SHOWS, of the country’s most-watched shows. Backstage talked to its CEO Monica Galer COMEBACKS about the company’s formats and plans for the future. AND FARMERS
France – 30 August 2012 FremantleMedia France
Monica Galer, CEO of FremantleMedia France
4 The jury of La France a un incroyable talent (Got Talent): Dave, Sophie Edelstein and Gilbert Rozon (from left to right)
What do La France a un incroyable talent, bring it back on-screen and asked us to co-produce L’Amour est dans le pré or L’Inventeur 2012 have this special anniversary season.” in common? Besides being successful prime time formats broadcast by M6, they are produced Commenting on the reason for these comebacks by FremantleMedia France. Set up in 1988, and the enduring popularity of these shows, FremantleMedia France produces an average of Galer explains that: “With the current economic 570 hours of TV a year, and its programmes are situation and declining advertising revenues as a regularly number one in their time slots. consequence, television channels in France as in other countries are quite cautious with new “I wish I knew exactly why our formats do well, I would formats. They are keener on investing in existing then only produce number one shows,” says Monica formats that made their mark, rather than taking Galer. “France remains a competitive market, but unnecessary risks.” FremantleMedia France’s game our presence is quite strong, especially for game shows have certainly made their mark: The Price shows which are very popular in access prime time. Is Right is the number one game show in France We are among the top producers in that segment.” for 2010 and 2011, and will return to screens in Indeed, some successful FremantleMedia France 2012. Going For Gold meanwhile continues to be produced game formats fi rst started airing 24 years the highest-rated game show on France 3, while ago. The quiz show Questions pour un champion Everybody’s Equal is the highest rated game show (Going For Gold) has been broadcast since 1988. on France 2 for 2012. Une famille en or (Family Feud) premiered in 1990 while Le juste prix (The Price Is Right) was fi rst For this coming season, FremantleMedia France is discovered by French viewers in 1987. Both enjoyed looking forward to the return of Nouvelle Star (Idols); a comeback fi ve and three years ago respectively, not on M6 – which broadcast the show from 2003 to after being off the air for nearly a decade. 2010 – but on TNT channel Direct 8. Monica Galer says: “We hope to be poised for a long run of series Monica Galer confi rms: “In recent years, we have on Direct 8.” seen the return of various iconic game shows. For France 2 we produce Mot de passe (Password) Asked what else awaits viewers in the 2012/13 since 2009, adapted from a format fi rst broadcast in season, Monica Galer replies: “We will have 1961 on CBS. For the 20th anniversary of the Que fantastic new seasons of established formats, and le meilleur gagne (Everybody’s Equal) premiere on you can also expect brand-new formats around Antenne 2 (now France 2), the channel together with mid-season.” the format’s original presenter, Nagui, wanted to
5 One of the highlights of FremantleMedia France’s Finally, when asked stable of formats is undoubtedly the docu-reality about plans for the future, show L’Amour est dans le pré (The Farmer Wants A FremantleMedia France’s Wife): seven seasons, and more popular than ever. CEO mentions fi ction, and The matchmaking show has become the crown elaborates: “The excel- jewel of M6’s summer programming and has been lent ratings of the French the number one entertainment show on M6 for fi ve prime-time series Clem The Price Is Right is years. It is the most-watched programme during have motivated us to try broadcast in France under prime time every Monday. On 16 July it attracted fi ction. France proves to the name Le juste prix an audience of 6.5 million – its highest number of be a mature ground for since 1987 viewers ever. On 20 August it scored a total TV fi ction and we have audience share of 30.7 per cent, passing the 30 per signed an exclusive deal with production company cent mark with viewers over the age of 4 for the fi rst Satisfaction, set up by TV presenter and comedian time. Arthur to develop comedy short-coms”.
Refurbishment and decoration show D&CO
On the air since 1988, quiz show Questions pour un champion (Going For Gold) presented by Julien Lepers is FremantleMedia France’s longest-running production
Karine Le Marchand presents L’Amour est dans le pré (The Farmer Wants A Wife)
6 FACTS & FIGURES
FremantleMedia France was set up in 1988. Monica Galer has been the company’s CEO since 2007
The company produces different types of formats such as game shows, entertainment and factual entertainment, original hit shows and magazines, and has in recent years developed a cross-media project: Non Stop Joe
FremantleMedia France’s top productions include: Questions pour un champion (Going For Gold), Une famille en or (Family Feud), D&CO, C’est du propre (How Clean Is Your House?), Incroyable Talent (Got Talent), Mot de Passe (Password), La Nouvelle Star (Idols), L’Amour est dans le pré (The Farmer Wants A Wife), Le juste prix (The Price Is Right), X Factor and L’Inventeur 2012
FremantleMedia France’s prime time formats account for a yearly average of around 85 hours of programming
Nine FremantleMedia France formats were broadcast in prime time during the 2011/12 season, among them L’Amour est dans le pré, L’Inventeur 2012, A la recherche de…, D&CO une semaine pour tout changer and Incroyable Talent
In December 2010, Le Film français, a magazine specialising in audiovisual news, awarded FremantleMedia France the top spot in its ranking of Best Producers
123 PRODUCTIONS
In May 2012, FremantleMedia France merged all its DTT, cable and satellite production operations into a single entity called 123 Productions. The new subsidiary is led by Isabelle Mitsch as Head of Sales, and Bruno Fallot as Head of Programming and Development. They report directly to Monica Galer. “DTT, cable and satellite channels are transforming the French media landscape and will continue to grow. Their budgetary policies and programming needs are different. Our establishment of 123 Productions is in line with this trend and will allow us to be more active in these markets,” says Monica Galer.
The new prime-time docu-reality coaching format Nounou will soon premiere on Gulli as the first product of this new venture.
7 A STRONG EUROPEAN GROUP” RTL Group
On 24 August 2012, the French broadsheet Le Figaro published a joint interview with RTL Group’s Co-CEOs Anke Schäferkordt and Guillaume de Posch, addressing the group’s half-year results and the main lines of the group’s future strategy. Luxembourg – 27 August 2012
“TV advertising revenues have always refl ected the general state of the economy,” explained Guillaume de Posch with regards to the decline in most of the European TV advertising markets during the fi rst Anke Schäferkordt and Guillaume de Posch half of 2012. “In a macroeconomic situation as sensitive as today’s, advertisers tend to cut back on their investments. Visibility is very limited. Advertising space is being purchased on an ever shorter-term basis. It is hard to say what the situation will be in September,” he adds.
Asked about strategic intentions in terms of diversifying business activities, Anke Schäferkordt stated: “More than a third of the group’s revenue is independent of advertising. RTL Group is the only European broadcaster of free TV that has succeeded in building up activities across the entire continent, and it is this that enables it to face up to competition from the American giants, which are becoming an ever greater presence in Europe.” Reiterating her belief in the future of free-TV, she adds: “There are no more accessible media capable of instantly reaching a broad audience through broadcasts of highly emotional content.”
In response to whether the advent of digital technology posed a threat to production arm, FremantleMedia, Guillaume de Posch raised the key point of rights and their ownership. He explained: “Distributors want to have the ownership of these rights and exploit them on tablets, smartphones, social media and derived products. The main challenge we face is to retain intellectual ownership of content, however it is used or exploited. Especially since these new users will constitute our third lever of growth.”
Ultimately, Anke Schäferkordt explained the reasons for a partner- ship between FremantleMedia and Youtube: “For us, Youtube is like a virtual cable operator, like a distributor of content.” However, for RTL Group’s broadcasters Google is also a direct competitor in the advertising market. “The strength of these new operators is their ability to line up a global strategy. Even though RTL Group traditionally deploys its strategies locally. All the group’s entities are thinking about developing platforms for video-on-demand and video-by-subscription. Europe needs a more powerful content industry.” 8 THOM BEERS APPOINTED CEO FREMANTLEMEDIA NORTH AMERICA FremantleMedia North America
FremantleMedia appoints Thom Beers as Chief Executive Offi cer, FremantleMedia North America, effective 1 September 2012. United States – 30 August 2012
Beers, currently CEO and Executive Producer at the FremantleMedia- owned company Original Productions, will be based in Los Angeles and report directly to Cecile Frot-Coutaz, CEO of FremantleMedia. As CEO of FremantleMedia North America (FMNA), Beers will be responsible for the company’s overall management and business performance and will oversee the development, production and business operations of over 600 hours of network, cable and syndicated programming. He will lead a talented and experienced executive team that includes Donna Redier Linsk, FMNA’s Chief Operating Offi cer, and Trish Kinane, President of Entertainment Programming – American Idol, The X Factor and America’s Got Talent.
Thom Beers, the new CEO of FremantleMedia North America Cecile Frot-Coutaz, CEO, FremantleMedia, says: “Thom Beers has a creative vision that has placed Original Productions, the company he founded, at the forefront of the industry. Thom’s multi-award winning combination of experience, innovation and expertise has made Original a dominant force on US prime time cable networks, and as an existing member of the FremantleMedia family he has a deep knowledge of our people, our company and our operations around the world. Thom is the perfect choice to take the helm of FMNA as it continues to grow, and we are very pleased that he has agreed to build on his successful leadership of Original and take on responsibility for FMNA.”
Thom Beers, CEO, FMNA says: “I’m very excited to be taking on the challenge of leading FremantleMedia North America. FMNA has an unrivalled position in the largest television market in the world, creating some of the best loved, most successful television shows on the planet. Working closely in all areas with COO Donna Redier Linsk, we hope to strategically grow and expand our reach. The company’s productions and the teams behind them are amongst the most innovative and creative in the industry, and I am thrilled by the opportunity to lead the company. I look forward to working closely with FremantleMedia’s partners and to building on the considerable successes of FMNA.”
Next >
9 Emmy award-winning Thom Beers has an extensive background as both a television executive and producer, most recently acting as CEO and Executive Cécile Frot-Coutaz, CEO of FremantleMedia Producer at Original Productions, a company he founded in 1997. Since its inception, the company has been the recipient of numerous awards and accolades, including six Prime Time Emmy Awards and 24 Emmy nominations from the US Academy of Television Arts and Sciences. Under Beers’ leadership Original Productions has created a string of run-away ratings hits including Deadliest Catch, 1,000 Ways to Die and Ice Road Truckers. In February 2009, FremantleMedia acquired a 75 per cent stake in Original Productions, cementing a successful long-term pre-existing partnership between the two companies. Prior to founding Original Productions, Beers served as a Production Executive and Series & Specials Producer for 11 years at Turner Broadcasting, later holding a similar position at Paramount syndicated television in Los Angeles.
Ice Road Truckers
10 CONCENTRATED NEWS EXPERTISE FOR THE US ELECTIONS N-TV / RTL Television
The news channels N-TV and CNN Interna- tional have teamed up with the German daily Die Welt for the ‘Battle for the White House’, the joint claim under which viewers, users and readers will get comprehensive, cross-media information about the race between Barack Obama and Mitt Romney. Clemens Wergin, Isabelle Körner and Frederik Pleitgen (from left to right) Germany – 28 August 2012
As they did four years ago, the news professionals will be pooling their US election-related expertise in 2012 to report on its implications for German audiences. CNN guarantees ready and direct access to US politics; N-TV and Die Welt analyse breaking news and put them into a broader German and European context.
The team of experts is composed of: Isabelle Körner, N-TV presenter and economic policy expert; Frederik Pleitgen, CNN International’s Germany correspondent in Berlin since the end of 2006; and Clemens Wergin, head of the International desk at Die Welt.
All three partners contribute different competencies to the co-opera- tion: CNN the election infrastructure in the US and great proximity to the candidates; Die Welt is a distinct expert in coverage from Germany about the US; and as a news channel, N-TV is capable of processing information quickly and reliably and preparing it for viewers. N-TV, CNN International and Die Welt will put the race between Barack Obama Screenshot of N-TV.de/Wahlblog and Mitt Romney in context on TV, online and in the papers for their viewers, readers and users.
Following the initial TV trailer introducing the three experts, the next step was the go-live of the joint US Election blog on 27 August 2012. At Welt.de/wahlblog or N-TV.de/wahlblog, experts from Die Welt, CNN and N-TV present analyses and backgrounders on the US elections and assess the candidates’ chances.
The next major events on the agenda are the national conventions of the two parties: the Republican National Convention in Tampa (Florida) and the Democratic National Convention in Charlotte (North Carolina). Both will be covered by the editors of the co-operation partners.
On 6 November, Bertelsmann Unter den Linden 1 in Berlin will become the German-American election headquarters. The fi nale in the battle for the White House will be witnessed with guests from politics, business and society. On the agenda: analyses and backgrounders, topical interviews and commentary as well as live feeds from the most important political arenas in the US. A central element of the coverage is a joint election special produced by N-TV and RTL Television. 11 A WEALTH OF TALENT RTL Belgium
RTL Belgium presented the new programmes for RTL-TVI, Club RTL and Plug RTL, starting on 3 September. Belgium – 27 August 2012
Belgium’s Got Talent is undoubtedly the highlight of the season on RTL-TVI. Presented by Julie Taton and Jean-Michel Zecca, the Belgium’s Got Talent FremantleMedia-produced talent show airs on 10 September and will search for exceptional artists over 11 episodes. “We can expect great entertainment with lots of colour, proximity, emotions, true stories and talent from all across our community,” says Stéphane Rosenblatt, Director of Television at RTL Belgium.
Jean-Michel Zecca and Julie Taton present Belgium’s Got Talent
Other innovations to be broadcast in prime time include a marriage coaching format, the title of which is to be confi rmed. The programme features Belgian couples who dream of getting married being given the chance to do it for free. On a different note, the international format Le meilleur pâtissier amateur will launch as a coproduction with M6. In this culinary competition, contestants compete over macaroons and lemon tarts over three episodes. Viewers also have an appointment with Stéphane Plaza, the most famous real estate agent in France, in Ma maison est la plus originale, a coproduction with M6.
Philippe Delusinne, CEO of RTL Belgium, says: “For years our talent has been a talent of continuity, rigorousness, innovation without change and I think RTL’s talent lies in serving up surprises each year without breaking away from what people like us to show.”
The Belgian version of L’Amour est dans le pré will be back on air with Sandrine Dans who will pull on her boots and make her debut in helping Walloon farmers fi nd love. For his part, Jean-Michel Zecca will return for a second season of Total Blackout and 60 secondes chrono which will be transmitted as a two-pack from now on. Stéphane Pauwels meets new personalities in a new season of Orages de la vie, and Top Chef, the biggest cooking contest for professionals, will return for a fourth season.
Next >
12 In access prime time, viewers will be treated to a new season of the game show Septante et un, presented as always by Jean-Michel Zecca, while Un dîner presque parfait continues to delight apprentice cooks with a special picnic, special guests including Daniel Evenou, and other features.
Sandrine Dans will make her debut in L’Amour est dans le pré
When Belgium’s municipal and provincial elections are held on 14 October, the editorial team will be mobilised to cover this event, which is of great interest to Belgians as it concerns the level of power closest to everyone’s’ daily lives. In November, the editorial team will devote signifi cant resources to the US presidential elections. News magazine shows will continue to provide in-depth coverage of current affairs with Images à l’appui, Enquêtes and Tout s’explique.
As it does every season, RTL-TVI offers a wide range of fi lm premieres. To mark the broadcast of Rien à déclarer, the channel will broadcast a special evening event honouring the two stars, Dany Boon and Benoît Poelvoorde. The channel will also broadcast The Social Network, 2012, Twilight – Chapitre II: Tentation and Toy Story 3. New series include the eagerly awaited Homeland, in which the return of a soldier missing in Iraq for ten years triggers an FBI agent’s suspicions. New seasons of Desperate Housewives, House and Bones also feature in the programme line-up.
On 3 September, RTL-TVI will unveil a new look and brand identity for the channel, to continue to highlight its proximity to viewers by making the channel even more attractive.
Its sister channels Club RTL and Plug RTL – whose brand identities were refi ned during the last season – will also transmit their share of must-watch programmes. Club RTL offers reruns of fi lms (X-Men, National Treasure, The Departed) and series (Les trois Experts, Esprits criminels, The Unit), as well as family nights (Aladdin, Chicken Little) and children’s programmes with RTL Kidz. Sports fans will be offered top European football with Champions League, Europa League and Belgian national team matches. Besides the series it already offers (Supernatural, One Tree Hill) Plug RTL will offer premieres such as the mini-series Bref, Grimm, Teen Wolf and Kaamelott Livre V.
13 SLIPPING SMOOTHLY INTO AUTUMN Bel RTL
On 28 August 2012, the Bel RTL team presented its autumn schedule, featuring few changes and the return of a great classic. Belgium – 29 August 2012
“We haven’t tampered with too much,” says Eric Adelbrecht, General Manager of RTL Belgium’s radio stations, on the subject of Bel RTL’s 2012/13 radio season that starts on 3 September. “The big changes Alain Simons, Presenter of Tirlipote were made last season, so we’ll be maintaining continuity.” The return of Tirlipote, relaunched last season to celebrate the radio station’s 20 years, is the big new change. Buoyed by its success on Saturday afternoons, the cult game show will move to a weekly timeslot (Monday to Friday from 11:00 to 12:00), with Alain Simons still at the helm. It will be followed by the musical game show Le Challenger presented by Ingrid Franssen, which was already part of the summer schedule.
Other major entertainment programmes such as Beau Fixe, Ma semaine avec, Bel RTL va vous aider and Les Grosses Têtes will continue on the air this autumn. There is no signifi cant reshuffl ing to report in the magazine category. RTL-TVI news presenter Caroline Caroline Fontenoy (second from the left) will now host Fontenoy will now host Vivrensemble (Monday to Friday, from 19:00 to Vivrensemble © RTL / JM Clajot 20:00), a programme that deals with topics in daily life.
Bel RTL, the number one French-language radio station, will also be the number one news station this season with the communal and provincial elections on 14 October. No fewer than 34 local debates will be aired prior to the elections on 30 September and 7 October.
There will be no shortage of event-related programmes on Bel RTL, with special activities, concerts and popular events on the schedule. From 3 to 28 September, Bel RTL will run a campaign entitled “Le plein d’énergie” [“Fuelling Up”], offering listeners vouchers worth up to €1,000 for gas, electricity or petrol. In addition to this, the station will closely follow the new season’s fl agship programme on RTL-TVI, Belgium’s Got Talent, with interviews with the various protagonists. As a sponsor of the Fêtes de Wallonie, which will be held in Namur, Bel RTL will bring the concerts live to its listeners. The music calendar is action-packed, with Bel RTL fi rst in line to follow the George Michael, Katie Melua and Johnny Hallyday concerts.
“The objective this season is obviously to strengthen our number one ranking,” explains Eric Adelbrecht. “The radio world is coming up against some stiff competition and it’s important that we listen to “Le plein d’énergie” campaign billboard motif our audience to learn what they want to listen to, and when. At RTL, we know that the community is important and we’ve worked hard to hopefully make the most of our leading position.”
14 Timeless Martine Fifty-eight years and 60 picture books later, Martine continues to enchant millions of children around the world. Starting on 27 August 2012, she comes to life on M6 in a completely new animated series. SHORT NEWS 1/2
X Factor reinvents itself RTL Television / Vox / Grundy Light Entertainment
On Saturday 25 August X Factor returned to German TV screens – with a new jury, tougher rules, unique new camera views, top-notch social-TV offerings and an extraordinary deal for the winner. Germany – 24 August 2012
The search for the ‘best voice of Holland’ is on again RTL 4
The long wait is fi nally over for Dutch viewers, as the new season of hit talent show The Voice of Holland begins on 24 August 2012. The show was watched by 56.7 per cent of the viewers in the target group of shoppers aged 20 to 49. The Netherlands – 24 August 2012
Deutschland sucht den Superstar rolls to a start again RTL Television / Grundy Light Entertainment
On Friday 24 August, the big Deutschland sucht den Superstar Auditions Truck Tour started in Bern, the city where former DSDS winner Luca Hänni was born. Germany – 24 August 2012
Leading positions reinforced Bel RTL / Radio Contact
Over the past 10 months, Bel RTL reinforced its number one status among French-language radio stations, while Radio Contact remains the number one music station. Belgium – 21 August 2012
16 SHORT NEWS 2/2
Flirt, chat, and fall in love RTL Interactive
In an exclusive co-operation between RTL Interactive and Friendscout 24, singles can now fi nd their dream partner via RTL.de. Germany – 28 August 2012
HD reach extended Mediengruppe RTL Deutschland
The high-defi nition programming of RTL Television HD, Vox HD, RTL Nitro HD, Super RTL HD and RTL II have additionally been broadcast via Kabel Deutschland’s cable networks since 28 August 2012. Germany – 29 August 2012
Consumers come fi rst M6 Web
Groupe M6’s comparative price website AchetezFacile.com had its “Charte Comparateurs” (comparative seal of approval) renewed by Fevad, following the review audit carried out by Ernst & Young. France – 29 August 2012
Top ratings day RTL-TVI
On 28 August 2012, RTL-TVI and Club RTL scored well with audiences and boasted seven of the day’s eight highest-rated programmes. The special edition of the Journal de 19h on RTL-TVI dedicated to the liberation of Michèle Martin, the former wife of Marc Dutroux, was by far the most-watched programme that day with 655,400 viewers (a 49.2 per cent total audience share). Belgium – 30 August 2012
17 More about Backstage
BACKSTAGE DAILY NEWS FROM ‘AT RTL GROUP, IS AVAILABLE ACROSS THE WE CARE’ IN THREE GROUP – DIRECTLY LANGUAGES IN YOUR INBOX
You can read In addition to the RTL Group is committed Backstage in your weekly newsletter we to effectively combine preferred language – offer to registered users business success with in English, German a daily newsletter socially responsible actions or French. available in three towards local communities languages. and to protect the environment. Visit the Corporate Responsibility news section on Backstage (CR news) and fi nd out how RTL Group aims to improve the societies in which we operate.
backstage.rtlgroup.com backstage.rtlgroup.fr backstage.rtlgroup.de
For more information, don’t hesitate to contact the editorial team: [email protected]