RTL Radio in France Picks up the Digital Pace

week 26 / 26 June 2014

RADIO REINVENTED RTL Radio in France picks up the digital pace

Germany France The Netherlands A new structure M6 named audience’s Unlimited video fun for UFA Show & favourite channel Factual week 26 / 26 June 2014

RADIO REINVENTED RTL Radio in France picks up the digital pace

Germany France The Netherlands A new structure M6 named audience’s Unlimited video fun for UFA Show & favourite channel Factual Cover Montage with RTL Radio’s advertising

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 new structure for UFA Show & Factual UFA Show & factual p.8

M6 named audience’s favourite channel M6 p.9–10 Tristan Jurgensen: “Digital dovetails with our corporate culture” RTL Radio Unlimited p.4–7 video fun RTL Nederland p.11

Big Picture p.12

SHORT NEWS p.13

PEOPLE

p.14–16 On 17 June 2014, RTL Radio rolled out the brand new version of the RTL.fr website that aims to deliver ‘enhanced “DIGITAL radio’. Backstage talks to the project leaders to explore the new face of the DOVETAILS WITH leading radio site in France, showcasing the new digital strategy pursued by OUR CORPORATE RTL Group’s French radio stations. CULTURE”

France – 26 June 2014 RTL Radio

Tristan Jurgensen, Managing Director of RTL Net

4 Following the acquisition of Girls.fr in late 2013 and Commenting on the project’s goals, the hiring of two new managers (Thomas Karolak, Tristan Jurgensen, Managing Director of the Editor-In-Chief of RTL Net, and Antoine Daccord, digital subsidiary RTL Net, says: “The new site aims RTL’s Chief Digital Editor), the overhaul of the to become one of the leading news sites in France”. RTL.fr site is a new step forward for the pioneer of Already ﬁ rmly established with 3.7 million unique ‘social radio’ in France. The project lasted one year visits each month, RTL.fr has been the leading radio and cost nearly one million euro. The new site is site for 17 months in a row and is now one of the top actually part of the ambitious Renaissance project, 15 news sites in France. “Ultimately, we are aiming which aims to reorganise all digital productions by for more than four million unique visitors monthly in the RTL Group’s French radio stations (RTL, RTL2, the long term.” Fun Radio). RTL.fr: presentation of the new site RTL Radio is investing in ‘enhanced radio’ – an unprecedented experience in the French radio and An interface geared to consumption across television sectors – focusing on rich web content all devices and digital consumption across all devices. “The aim is to extend the radio experience by offering additional services, triggering new consumption habits and recruiting new audiences”, explains Christopher Baldelli, Chief Executive Ofﬁ cer of RTL Radio. “Digital dovetails with our corporate culture”, he added, stressing – just a few days before the launch of digital terrestrial radio (DTR) in France – that “RTL will not need DTR to go digital” (Editor’s note: RTL is one of the private national radio stations opposed to this project, which, in its view, does not The new RTL.fr site boasts a ‘responsive design’ interface have an economic model). What exactly has changed on the new “THE AIM IS TO EXTEND RTL.fr site? “We took advantage of the THE RADIO EXPERIENCE opportunities offered by digital while remaining faithful to our radio DNA. We took nothing BY OFFERING ADDITIONAL away, but went even further”, underlines SERVICES, TRIGGERING Jurgensen. In France, 30 per cent of radio is NEW CONSUMPTION consumed via mobile devices and six million HABITS AND RECRUITING people listen to the radio every day on a new device (computer, tablet or smartphone1) . NEW AUDIENCES” Accordingly, the new site boasts a ‘responsive Christopher Baldelli design’ interface capable of adapting to different screen formats. “For the RTL brand alone, new devices already account for 10 per cent of consumption. Indeed, such consumption has doubled in just one year; it barely existed three years ago”, adds Jurgensen. “FOR THE RTL BRAND ALONE, NEW DEVICES ALREADY ACCOUNT FOR 10 PER CENT OF CONSUMPTION. SUCH CONSUMPTION BARELY EXISTED Christopher Baldelli, CEO of RTL Radio in France THREE YEARS AGO” Tristan Jurgensen

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1 According to the Global Radio study published by Médiamétrie in 2013 5 Enhanced content The ‘Renaissance’ continues

Radio content linked to the station’s programming The new RTL.fr site is a prelude to the renovation (live and replay videos) and the news has doubled. of the RTL2 and Fun Radio websites within the next Since news doesn’t wait and radio is consumed in year, and to new mobile apps – beginning with the real time, priority has been given to instant access. app for the RTL.fr site, which is scheduled to be The rich site monitors and develops topics in real released during the autumn. “By June 2015, we want time via timelines, with modular sequences used on to have re-released our entire digital offering for our the various pages and sections of the site. The site three radio brands”, Tristan Jurgensen explains. is now more interactive, giving visitors a chance to “All of our digital products will be revamped by then”. engage and contribute to programmes and events In ﬁ nancial terms, the project should also make it via social conversations and the sharing of content. possible to develop the digital monetisation of our radio stations via new formats for advertisers and Video: the height of ‘enhanced radio’ systematic pre-rolls on all videos.

In line with the ‘live video’ approach launched in With their new digital strategy, RTL Group’s French April 2013, visual content – both photos and videos radio stations aim to consolidate their digital brands, – play a key role. RTL.fr publishes between ﬁ ve with other acquisitions along the lines of Girls.fr and ten videos per day, ranging from ﬁ lmed shows (see box on the next page) regularly considered. to news analysis by the station’s journalists. The “When an external acquisition makes sense within aim is to increase this to 20 videos per day. the company’s general strategy and offers obvious synergies with the station and with our websites, it It should also be mentioned that live and dovetails naturally with the development of the digital time-shifted viewing of videos enables new offerings of our radio brands”, concludes Jurgensen. audiences to discover RTL Radio’s programmes. Nearly half of the site’s visitors who consume “BY JUNE 2015, WE WANT RTL.fr programming do not listen to the station on a conventional radio, making this a new way to TO HAVE RE-RELEASED attract and retain new listeners. OUR ENTIRE DIGITAL OFFERING FOR OUR THREE RADIO BRANDS” Tristan Jurgensen

The new RTL.fr site gives visitors a chance to contribute via social conversations

Next > The new RTL.fr site: guided tour

6 RTL.FR: NUMBER 1 RADIO SITE IN FRANCE 3.7 million unique visitors per month Source: Médiamétrie//NetRatings, Panel France Fixed Internet, 1st quarter 2014. Rankings based on the Channels and Brands of radio station sites present in the Médiamétrie interface

Live rich radio and streaming views round the clock on all devices Consumption doubled in one Source: eStat-Médiamétrie, live streaming 2013

Now one of the top 15 news sites More than 1.3 million subscribers on social networks Source: Médiamétrie//NetRatings, Panel France Fixed Internet, Ranking in the News category, 1st quarter of 2014. Official RTL accounts, including presenters, journalists and shows

GIRLS.FR: RTL RADIO’S FIRST DIGITAL ACQUISITION

In late 2013, RTL Radio in France announced an agreement with Bauer Media France to acquire Girls.fr. Focusing on young women aged 15 to 24, Girls.fr covers fashion, beauty and people, but is primarily designed to help teenaged girls with their love life.

This first acquisition on the web is part of the company’s digital strategy to develop a number of vertical topics, combining the power of radio content with the depth and interactivity of the Internet. Previously, RTL Group’s French radio stations have developed their digital offering through internal growth (RTL.fr, RTL2.fr, Funradio.fr, RTLAstro.fr, RTLAuto.fr etc.).

With Girls.fr, RTL Group’s French radio stations are bolstering their expertise in coaching and interactivity with teenagers, two areas already extensively covered by Fun Radio via its cult show Lovin Fun. Offering a genuine connection with the Fun Radio audience, RTL Net, is continuing to develop Girls.fr with the help of the station’s listeners and the content covered on Funradio.fr.

Visit the RTL.fr website

7 A NEW STRUCTURE FOR UFA SHOW & FACTUAL UFA Show & Factual

UFA Show & Factual is restructuring its development work in the show segment with effect from 1 July 2014. In the spirit of the ‘One UFA’ approach, a new, simpliﬁ ed organisational structure will be established across UFA, to future-proof the company and enhance its innovative powers. Germany – 20 June 2014

Modelled on the ‘showrunner’ principle piloted by FremantleMedia in many countries, in the future all producers and Executive Producers (EPs) at UFA Show & Factual are expected to maintain quicker and more direct ties with the broadcasters. As they develop new shows, this will help them offer their customers everything from a single source – from the initial idea for a show, to adaptations, through to production.

Ute Biernat, Managing Director UFA Show & Factual

The restructuring of UFA Show & Factual comes in response to the rapid changes in the media market and strengthens the company’s competitiveness thanks to the focused interaction between producers and customers from now on.

Ute Biernat, Managing Director UFA Show & Factual, says: “By realigning our development work, we enhance our employees’ creative and producing know-how, which will allow us to offer our customers programme ideas and formats quicker and more ﬂ exibly.”

8 M6 NAMED AUDIENCE’S FAVOURITE CHANNEL M6

The M6 channel ranked at the top in the TV Notes 2014 survey carried out by Puremedias.com, RTL Radio and 20 minutes with a large panel of viewers over the course of June this year. France – 26 June 2014

L’Amour est dans le pré © M6

According to the poll, M6 is at the top of the podium in no fewer than ﬁ ve categories. The channel’s ﬂ agship presenter, Karine le Marchand, was awarded the title of audience’s favourite host. Also appearing in the results was the programme she presents, L’Amour est dans le pré, which was voted the favourite docu-reality show.

In an interview with Puremedias.com, Thomas Valentin, Vice President of the M6 Board of Directors, said: “Apart from having a lot of viewers watching every day, it’s nice to get high-quality feedback. We have paid attention to this ever since launching our channels. We’re tied for ﬁ rst place with TF1 on the number of awards. M6 is the second most popular channel among Internet users. W9 and 6ter are also well placed among the DTT channels. M6 is behind four of the top ﬁ ve reportage magazines. So it’s very gratifying that these are especially important awards, such as the one for Karine Le Marchand.”

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9 Commenting on Karine Le Marchand, he added: “Millions of viewers love her because she sounds authentic and shows things you don’t normally see on TV. She transports very positive values that are fully consistent with those of our channel.”

M6 came in ﬁ rst in the following categories as well: for a French series, with Scènes de Ménages, for a magazine programme on society, with 100% Mag, and for a newsmagazine programme, with 66 Minutes.

Asked about the decline in M6’s viewership, the Valentin replied: “All over the world, television is passing through turbulence. In France, the major fragmentation due to digital media and replay has been further exacerbated by the passage of 25 free-to-air channels. So M6 had a bit of a shakeup this season, partly caused by that. In response to a question about whether some formats might be somewhat ‘well-worn’ by now, he concluded: “The problem is that M6 is often copied. Capital, Zone interdite, Le Loft, our JT, coaching formats, anything and everything we do is always copied. Hence, perhaps, the sense of saturation. But that won’t stop us from doing a third season of La meilleure boulangerie.”

The TV Notes annual survey, carried out by Puremedias.com, RTL Radio and 20 Minutes, is designed to name the favourite programmes, hosts and television channels of French viewers via an extensive online survey. This year, the survey was carried out between 2 and 22 June 2014 and registered an exceptional number of votes (740,852 in total, to be precise).

10 UNLIMITED VIDEO FUN RTL Nederland

The ‘Videoland Unlimited’ range is now live and accessible to all users – via the completely redesigned website and apps. For a ﬁ xed amount, users get unlimited access to movies and series. The Netherlands – 26 June 2014

Even before the go-live, interest was huge, with 150,000 prospective customers registering for the new platform. Anyone can now sign up for a free one-month trial of the service.

The ‘Videoland Unlimited’ range is now live and accessible to all users

Co Mast, CEO of The Entertainment Group, says: “The new platform has already exceeded all expectations, which is why its development took a bit longer than anticipated. During the past few months, we’ve redesigned the platform from the ground up and adapted it for various channels. Then, in the past few weeks, we ﬁ ne-tuned it further based on initial feedback from users.”

Arno Otto, Managing Director of RTL Digital Media, comments: “People’s enthusiasm for VOD is undiminished. It quickly became clear that the advance registrations for Videoland Unlimited were on a very rapid increase. We don’t want to make the Netherlands wait for our series and movies any longer.”

Videoland can be accessed on iPads, Android tablets and Samsung Smart TVs. Apps for iPhone and Android smartphones, the Playstation 3 and 4, and Smart TVs by Philips, LG, Toshiba, Sony, Panasonic, Sharp and Loewe are being developed by the end of the year. Videoland Unlimited has already been available from the TV providers KPN, Telfort, XS4ALL, Delta, Glashart and Caiway since November 2013. Besides the Netherlands, Videoland Unlimited is now also available in Belgium. 11 Paris Première for all On 23 June 2014, Groupe M6 unveiled a full page advertisement in the daily newspapers Le Monde, Libération and Le Figaro announcing that: “Paris Première is the most anticipated channel on free DTT”. Designed in-house, the campaign supports Paris Première’s switch to free DTT in France and calls the media regulatory authority (CSA) to green light this request. The decision is expected to be made at the end of July 2014. SHORT NEWS 1/1

Kate & Mim-Mim land in Germany FremantleMedia Kids & Family Entertainment / Super RTL

FremantleMedia Kids & Family Entertainment’s animated series Kate & Mim-Mim has been sold to broadcaster Super RTL in Germany. The deal will result in Kate & Mim-Mim going to air on the channel later this year. Super RTL will also manage the licensing and home entertainment rights for the series in Germany. United Kingdom / Germany – 24 June 2014

To new heights – on high heels Vox

In the new coaching show Chicas Walk Academy, Catwalk trainer Jorge González will bring Cuban ﬂ air to Germany. The six part show started 24 June 2014 on Vox. Germany – 24 June 2014

Double success FremantleMedia North America

At the Daytime Emmys 2014 ceremony, FremantleMedia North America’s shows Family Feud and Let’s Make A Deal won awards in the respective categories of ‘Outstanding Game Show Host’ and ‘Best Original Song’. North America – 25 June 2014

FMI on board to distribute WWI documentary FremantleMedia International

FremantleMedia International will distribute the World War One documentary series Railways of the Great War with Michael Portillo globally (excluding the UK). The series is produced by the FremantleMedia UK company, Boundless for BBC Two (UK). United Kingdom – 25 June 2014

Top Chef comes back Antena 3

The second season of the Spanish version of the popular cooking competition returns to Atresmedia’s fl agship channel Antena 3. Fans can upload a fi ve minute audition video on the Antena3.com website until Friday 27 June and get a chance to compete against Top Chef’s offi cial contestants. Spain – 25 June 2014

13 PEOPLE JEAN-MICHEL KERDRAON RTL Radio France – 20 June 2014

After 14 years at RTL Radio in France, Jean-Michel Kerdraon, Vice President of the Management Board, is leaving the company at the end of this season to devote his time to new projects and to exploring new horizons.

Christopher Baldelli, Chief Executive Ofﬁ cer of RTL Radio in France, had the following comment for this occasion: “I sincerely wish to thank Jean-Michel Kerdraon for all of the work he has accomplished and for the remarkable investment he made in our company. I wish him much success in his future endeavours.”

Holding a Bachelor’s degree in Law and a graduate of the Ecole supérieure de commerce of Brest and the Institut d’études politiques (IEP) of Paris, Jean-Michel Kerdraon began his career in 1980 as a Management Controller with the Compagnie Luxembourgeoise de Télédiffusion (CLT). In 1983, he was named Executive Assistant for the same Jean-Michel Kerdraon, Vice President of the Management Board company. Following that, he was promoted to the position of RTL Radio in France of Director of Subsidiaries and Participation in 1991. In 1997, he became Executive Vice President of Radio for RTL Group. In 2000, Jean-Michel Kerdraon joined the Ediradio-RTL company, where he became Vice President of the Management Board in 2002. Jean-Michel Kerdraon is also an administrator for IP France, RTL2 and Fun Radio.

14 PEOPLE CAROLINE ESKDALE W9 France – 24 June 2014

Caroline Eskdale has joined W9 as a Short-Term Formats Project Manager. She will be part of the team led by Pierre-Guillaume Ledan, Head of Short-Term Formats at W9.

Caroline Eskdale brings her expertise in production Caroline Eskdale, Short-Term formats Project Manager development and monitoring and will work closely with outside producers in the making of short-term format shows for W9. She will also be responsible for maintaining the channel’s editorial identity in these programmes.

In 2006, Caroline began working as a Production Manager for self-promotion programmes and was subsequently promoted to the position of Programme Manager at TH6 and Série-Club. Caroline has been in charge of productions there since 2012.

15 PEOPLE CHRISTIAN NIENABER RTL II Germany – 25 June 2014

RTL II is expanding its digital business and has recruited Christian Nienaber as Director Digital with effect from 1 July.

In this newly created position, he is responsible for the digital departments – Online, Mobile, Smart TV and Social Media – and reports directly to RTL II Director Andreas Bartl.

RTL II Managing Director Andreas Bartl says: “The digital sector constantly gives rise to new opportunities and challenges. In Christian Nienaber, we have gained an outstanding professional who has long years of experience in the digital sector and will help us to further expand our digital business. We are excited to be putting our ambitious goals into action with him.”

Nienaber, a business graduate, was a Senior Manager at Mediengruppe RTL Deutschland, most recently as Vice President Video on Demand & Video Production at RTL Interactive. Here he was responsible among other things for the design and operation of the TV channels RTL Television, RTL Nitro, Super RTL, N-TV and Vox’s digital VoD offerings. Previously, Nienaber had served as Project Manager Business Development, and at RTL Creation, as Project Manager for RTL Television’s marketing campaigns. Christian Nienaber, Director Digital of RTL II

RTL II’s digital business is being given more of a priority on the sales side as well. Martin Wendler, who has worked media activities on Facebook, Twitter and Youtube. Social at RTL II’s marketing sales house EL CARTEL MEDIA media campaigns tying in to TV programmes, such as the since 2012, was appointed to head the newly created award-winning Facebook activities of the soaps department Digital Media Solutions with effect from Berlin – Tag & Nacht and Köln 50667, celebrate 1 June. In this position, he is now responsible for nationwide ratings records and demonstrate the developing and expanding the digital marketing relevance of digital measures. department.

The digital sector plays a key role at RTL II as a modern and innovative media company. The TV channel attracts a great deal of trafﬁ c to its own platforms RTL II Now and RTL2.de and is continuously expanding its social

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