8 October 2009
week 41
Rethinking Production Tony Cohen outlining the future of the production industry at the 2009 Mipcom
UK / Germany The Netherlands New joint drama initiative Celebrating 20 years on air
Hungary Luxembourg RTL Most, first catch-up RTL Group’s communications service in the country officers met in Brussels week 4
COVER: Tony Cohen, CEO of FremantleMedia
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“A new form of collaboration” Speaking at Mipcom, Tony Cohen reviewed the state of the production industry today and also outlined a new form of collaboration between producers and broadcasters. Tony Cohen at the podium during his Mipcom keynote France - 5 October 2009
With the TV advertising markets declining production does indeed have a future, “perhaps significantly throughout Europe, Backstage has even a rather good one,” Tony addressed three reported comprehensively how RTL Group is major topics: new opportunities in the online responding to the new market realities. Against world, current trends in TV viewing habits and this challenging economic background, decision- promising future strategies for production makers from the TV, film, digital media and companies when it comes to fostering creativity, advertising industries are gathering this week in increasing engagement with its audiences and Cannes, France, for the 2009 Micpom tradeshow securing funding. and conference which calls itself “the world’s entertainment content market.” Talking about audiences for online content, Tony shared his experiences from FremantleMedia’s As CEO of FremantleMedia, one of the largest TV various online projects. These range from the production groups worldwide, Tony Cohen casting portal Yourchance.de in Germany to delivered an instructive keynote entitled comedy like Toyboize in the UK and low-cost “Rethinking Production” on 5 October 2009. The dramas for online platforms such as Freak on My speech centred on one fundamental question: “Is Space in the UK. “Exercises like this are teaching there a future for the television production us a lot about what works online and what industry?”. To explain why he believes that TV doesn’t,” he said.
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The insights gained are clear and straightforward: “I believe that for the foreseeable future we viewers don’t mind the length of online videos should focus on what has for so long been our and they don’t want to be “manically interactive.” core business. By this I mean production for Instead, most people still just want to sit back broadcasters and the distribution and and watch. “Viewers also don’t want to decide exploitation of our programming brands.” the plot lines and what should happen to the characters. Professional writers do a much better And indeed, the fundamentals of this core job. What viewers really wanted was business remain strong: TV viewing is going up in engagement,” summarised Tony. Europe as well as in North America. The claim that young people are deserting TV is a myth as In terms of funding for online video productions, young adults in the US still spend 90 per cent of Tony said that the entertainment skills of their viewing time watching traditional scheduled producers make them a perfect partner for TV. American teenagers are actually watching 6 advertisers who want audiences totally engaged per cent more TV overall than they were five in their advertising and therefore with their years ago. In a nutshell, “young people want to product. He also advocated again for the watch television, almost as much as everyone potential of micro-payments – an approach else.”
Audiences of FremantleMedia’s blockbuster shows also go up series on series which could be applied to TV content like catch- Citing the rising audience figures of popular up, exclusive previews and special material for FremantleMedia shows such as Got Talent, The ‘superfans’ of shows such as Got Talent, Farmer Wants A Wife or the UK version of The The X Factor or Idols. Apprentice, Tony explained that “blockbuster entertainment” currently works best for everyone Tony also used his keynote to present Sun Quiz – for broadcasters because they are “big, proven Live, the world’s first live online pay-to-play game and live”, for producers because they work show. The project was launched this week on the everywhere in the world. “And audiences love website of the UK tabloid The Sun and is built on them because they can identify with the a micro-charging model. “You can watch the contestants and their journey. The shows build Quiz for free or pay to play. It’s quite addictive, if such large audiences that they become national I say so myself. And this show only costs EUR events that generate that watercooler chatter we 300 an hour to make,” Tony explained. were told we’d never hear again.” However, on the other side, more and more smaller shows While clearly being optimistic about the potential struggle to find an audience. for TV output online, he also made it very clear:
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“We need The brand extensions for The Price Is Right generate considerable ancillary revenues to be open to Based on the current state of the industry, Tony Thirdly, Tony addressed the outlined successful future strategies for biggest challenge of all – funding. discussion” producers, always sharing concrete experiences Referring to FremantleMedia’s from FremantleMedia’s international operations. successful German-British co- First, extending the scope of the most popular production Soko Leipzig/The Bill (see shows. These brand extensions can happen in also page 6 on the new joint drama several ways, for example by uploading new development unit), he said: “We’ve all got to content to special websites, even when the squeeze more value out of the resources we have shows are off the air. Or, as in the case with the that are too inefficiently spread throughout what iconic US game show The Price Is Right, by is a very fragmented industry.” In addition, board games, DVDs, online and mobile games or producers can achieve significant cost savings, even a live theatre show in Las Vegas that has without affecting the viewers’ perception of the run six days a week for the last two and a half show. Concrete measures could include years. Addressing the ‘superfans’ of The X Factor adopting more efficient technology like low-cost or Idols helped FremantleMedia to develop and low-energy LED lights, remaking the rules for considerable ancillary revenues – with the writing to save on actor time, make up and merchandising activities, live tours and The costume or trying harder “to stand up to American Idol Experience at Walt Disney World customers who demand expensive changes Resort, Florida. after a show’s already been cut”.
Secondly, Tony turned to the specific challenges Tony concluded by calling for a new form of of producing drama today as reality and collaboration between producers and their oldest entertainments shows have taken over many partners, the broadcasters. “Would broadcasters narrative elements such as heroes, villains, hand over a share of advertising revenue and conflict or raw emotion. “There are things that we give more control to producers if we took on can do to make drama able to thrive in the new more risk and helped fund their programmes? realities. Viewers are demanding a much more Would producers give up some of their rights to intense experience than they used to. Most help broadcasters expand their channels and dramas already consume a great deal more story online services? Can we together create content than they did even five years ago. However, we that we can launch across multiple platforms to can still shoot more scenes and cut them faster. create compelling new brands? I am very open to We can improve production quality by moving to discussion on this. I think we all need to be.” high definition, and upgrading sets, costumes and music. In the writing we can increase the emotional stakes,” he explained. 5 week 41 the RTL Group intranet
New UK/German joint drama initiative Talkback Thames and UFA Fernsehproduktion, the UK and German production companies of FremantleMedia, are to form a joint Drama Development Unit. Germany / United Kingdom - 6 October 2009
The Bill and SOKO Lepzig
The Drama Development Unit, based in Berlin, FremantleMedia is working across our will be jointly managed by Gary Carter (Chief worldwide network of companies to leverage Operating Officer, FremantleMedia), Norbert our shared experience and expertise, and Sauer (Chief Operating Officer, UFA create unique opportunities in the global Fernsehproduktion) and Lorraine Heggessey market. The creation of this unit also represents (Managing Director, Talkback Thames). The our strong commitment to drama and reflects operative management will be ensured by the investment that we continue to make in our Johnathan Young (Head of Drama, Talkback global businesses around the world." Thames) and Jörg Winger (Executive Producer, UFA Fernsehproduktion). The unit will focus Lorraine Heggessey, CEO Talkback Thames primarily on producing dramas for the UK and commented: “We are very excited about this German television markets with a view to initiative and to work again with our German expanding internationally and into the digital sister company. Our success with The Bill and media market in the future. Soko Leipzig collaboration has taught us that we have a lot of common ground and a strong This follows a successful collaboration creative partnership with our German between Talkback Thames and UFA counterparts that we can build on. With the Fernsehproduktion last year on The Bill and current challenges in the drama arena and the Soko Leipzig, successful prime-time police shifting media landscape it is more important dramas in Britain and Germany respectively. than ever that we find new ways to fund The unique partnership saw producers from drama.” both companies work together to develop a special two-part story-line which featured in Norbert Sauer, Managing Director UFA both shows. In a ground breaking European Fernsehproduktion, added: “We hope that this first, filming took place in London and Leipzig, initiative will broaden our range of drama using the characters from both programmes production bringing an international aspect that and was broadcast on ITV in the UK and ZDF in we didn’t have before. We believe that drama Germany. formats programmes which are successful in two European markets can also be sold and Tony Cohen, CEO FremantleMedia, said: “This exploited in more markets, and this new unit initiative is a great example of how will help us achieve this goal.”
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Communication in times of crisis RTL Group’s communications officers recently met in Brussels for the fourth ‘Communications Network Meeting’. In addition to a number of work-related subjects, the communications professionals also explored the repercussions and implications of the economic downturn. Cover of the Communications Network Meeting 2009 brochure Luxembourg - 8 September 2009
Since 2006, RTL Group’s communications rate: “Last year, we spoke about elements of executives have met once a year for the fear which overshadowed our day-to-day work. ‘Communications Network Meeting’. This This year, we are riding the storm. All of us have year’s meeting, held last week in Brussels, had to cut our budgets significantly. At the clearly showed how important it is, especially in same time, the management’s demand for times of crisis, to network across Profit Centre professional communications remains high, borders in a trustworthy atmosphere and and the expectations of our stakeholders have broaden one’s horizons beyond the day-to-day hardly lessened.” business. In his opening presentation, Gerhard Zeiler In all, 32 press officers from the TV and radio made it clear that he doesn’t expect to see a stations, production firms and from Corporate quick recovery of the TV advertising markets, met at the ‘RTL House’ in Brussels, including – which makes it necessary to continue cutting for the first time – colleagues from Alpha TV costs in the core business. At the same time, and IP Network. The meeting once again he was careful to emphasise that “our strong received active support from RTL Group’s top brands are our most important assets – management: CEO Gerhard Zeiler provided a protecting and cultivating them is first-hand report of the state of the Group and Communications’ job. We will not call that into how it is responding to the crisis. Philippe question.” Delusinne, CEO of this year’s host RTL Belgium, provided an impressive As in prior years, the meeting served to demonstration of the central role played by the disseminate useful professional knowledge, ‘RTL’ brand in the French-speaking part of the including and especially by outside speakers. country, and of how the company meets the Utta Tuttlies of the European Association of social responsibility that arises from this fact. Commercial Television (ACT) explained why ongoing public relations directed at EU The participants spent two days discussing institutions is essential for the heavily regulated professional issues and recent developments in medium of television – after all, these the Group, and swapping notes, e.g. about regulations are primarily decided in Brussels. “If their experiences with communications for the you don’t make your voice heard, your digital special-interest channels. The ongoing competitor will,” said Tuttlies. This proactive economic downturn was also an ongoing topic approach was supported both by Gerhard of conversation. In his welcome speech, Oliver Zeiler and by Philippe Delusinne, who was Herrgesell, Head of Corporate recently elected President of the ACT as Communications at RTL Group, expressed his reported. gladness at the continued high attendance
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RTL Group communications officers support for few instants the game show contestants of Touch My Car (see page 12)
A presentation on ‘Agenda-Setting’ by BMW’s The meeting ended with a competition on former Chief of Communications Richard Gaul Friday morning, organised by Rupert Younger, was very well received. Gaul, one of Germany’s Director of the Oxford Centre for Corporate most senior PR experts, urged RTL Group’s Reputation. He was assisted by two experts in press officers not to merely strive for maximum youth marketing, Rupert Brankin-Frisby of attention for their programming. The FremantleMedia’s UK subsidiary Talkback programmes should be embedded in larger Thames, and Yannis Kavounis of The Futures public discourse early on – in fact, ideally they Company, a trend consultancy. Participants should trigger public discourse, thereby were split up into three groups and given very “setting the agenda”. For instance, intensive little time to outline a communication concept media relations pertaining to matters of for the Talkback Thames production Celebrity parenting in general could have helped a Juice, focusing especially on what tools they format like Super-Nanny achieve larger-scale would use to reach the format’s young target acceptance in the lead-up to its broadcast. audiences. Following a brief and entertaining This “second currency” in media relations, as presentation of the results, the jury of three Gaul called it, would in turn help to improve the experts picked the winning concept. overall image of commercial television. The fast-paced programme of the event went down very well with the communications professionals: in a feedback questionnaire, 72 per cent of participants indicated that the meeting was “likely” or “very likely” to have a positive impact on their daily work.
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Travelling formats – a growing business The Format Recognition and Protection Association (Frapa) has published the international Frapa Report 2009 – TV Formats to the World, analysing the TV format business worldwide. Ute Biernat Germany - 8 September 2009
On 6 October 2009, the international trade Ute Biernat, Chairman of Frapa association Frapa presented at this year’s and CEO of Grundy Light Mipcom the new Frapa Report 2009 – TV Entertainment, a subsidiary of Formats to the World, compiled in association UFA, points out the with the global TV research agency The WIT importance of the new and TV Sisters, a journalistic office that report: “We very proudly provides international programme research. 14 present the impressive Visit countries comprise the focus of the report: results of the new Frapa www.frapa.org Argentina, Australia, Canada, France, Germany, Report. Once more it shows Italy, Japan, The Netherlands, Spain, UK, USA the impact of the format and three Nordic countries, Denmark, Norway business on the media industry and Sweden. and the relevance of the protection of format rights, which Formats such as Deal or No Deal, Hole in the becomes more and more obvious.” Wall and the telenovela Lalola travel around the world inspiring millions of people. 445 original Frapa was founded in 2000 and is the formats found their way to foreign countries international format industry association from 2006 to 2008. The number nearly doubled dedicated to the protection of formats. Ute from the first report made on behalf of Frapa, Biernat has served as chairman of Frapa since which analysed the formats traded from 2002 2005. The association represents more than to 2004. 100 companies in the television industry. Its members include FremantleMedia, Grundy The production volume generated by traded Light Entertainment, Endemol and others. formats has grown to EUR 9.3 billion for the years 2006 to 2008. This is an enormous increase of 45 per cent in comparison to the first report. The UK still leads in the number of exported formats, followed by the USA, The Netherlands and Argentina. Countries such as Germany, Spain and Italy started to improve their format business.
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The East has outdone Paris On Monday evening M6 served audiences the greatest cooking competition finale ever seen on French TV, a tournament that placed M6 in the number one spot with viewers under 50. Georges Blanc (left), Grégory’s three-star “godfather”, is proud of his protégé France - 7 October 2009
Un dîner presque parfait: le combat des regions by three tenths of a point, who won the (Come Dine With Me: the battle of the regions) approval of Cyril Lignac and the five other crowned Grégory the grand champion while chefs. The very emotional Grégory was handed delighting the taste buds of 4.5 million viewers a cheque in the amount of EUR 10,000 as a on average for the entire evening – a total reward. audience share of 22.4 per cent. Throughout this national grand finale the four candidates Since five weeks that M6 is broadcasting in the went from one surprise to the next with three evenings this spin-off of Un dîner presque major original challenges, featuring judges like parfait, the programme outperformed in the chefs Cyril Lignac, Laurent and Jacques second part of the evening four times the Pourcel for the southern region, Georges Blanc competition, knowing that TF1 was for the East, Jean-François Piège for Paris-Ile broadcasting at that time the top US series de France, and Marc Meurin for the northern Dr. House. On Monday, Le combat des régions and western regions. came to end by gathering at 22:35 4.6 million viewers – a total audience share of 35.8 per For the first challenge they headed for a large cent – making M6 the clear number one Parisian market in the midst of which they had channel among the total audience during this to prepare a dish worthy of a finale before time slot. curious and amused bystanders. The second challenge was just as original, because this time the contestants had to cook for a wedding. In a majestic setting, each contestant had one afternoon to prepare a cocktail party for 150 guests with five different recipes. It was a huge gamble because they were judged not only by the chefs but the wedding couple and their guests as well.
For the finale in the second part of the evening, the show went live. In the space of one hour, the two remaining finalists had to prepare two dishes worthy of great restaurant chefs. Between Flore from Paris-Ile-de-France and Grégory, representing the East, it was the latter, The Pourcel brothers, two top chefs among the six who judge the series of culinary challenges
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Celebrating 20 years on air On 2 October 1989, RTL Nederland started out as the Netherlands’ first commercial broadcaster under the name RTL Véronique. Carlo Boszhard and Irene Moors in De TV Kantine: 20 Jaar RTL The Netherlands - 2 October 2009
The pioneering channel was soon renamed of the nostalgic game show Rad Van Fortuin RTL 4 and grew into the Netherlands’ largest (Wheel of Fortune), whereas Friday 23 October commercial TV channel, becoming a subsidiary will mark the start of the nine-part Typisch RTL of an all-round media company, RTL (Typically RTL), showcasing the broadcaster’s Nederland. And not only will RTL Nederland best, most striking memories. The grand finale spend October looking back at its beginnings will be on Saturday 24 October, with Ik Hou Van and the programmes it has aired down the Holland Viert 20 Jaar RTL (I Love Holland years; it will also be launching a fifth, special- Celebrate 20 years of RTL) in which teams of interest channel called RTL Lounge. well-known RTL faces will celebrate RTL’s milestone together with Linda de Mol. RTL Nederland CEO Bert Habets said: “In just 20 years, RTL has grown from a pioneering Not just RTL’s programmes, but above all its channel into an all-round media company that viewers, will play a central role in celebrating is firmly anchored in the heart of Dutch society. the broadcaster’s 20 years on the air. To this We’ve pulled that off thanks to the efforts and end, viewers will be able to use a special passion shown, both on the screen and off it, website to vote for their favourite RTL by our staff members down the years. The programme over the last 20 years. Voting jewel in our crown is the trust of our viewers opened on Friday 2 October and will close on and advertisers. So I’d really like to thank Saturday 24 October. The results will be everyone who has a soft spot for RTL and has announced on RTL Boulevard towards the end contributed to its achievements over the past of October. 20 years”. On RTL’s birthday in the Netherlands, viewers On RTL 4, the anniversary month started on will also be able to tune in for the first time to 2 October with a special edition of De TV RTL Lounge. This new special-interest channel Kantine: 20 Jaar RTL (The TV Canteen: 20 will broadcast round the clock, showing drama Years of RTL). On 3 October there was a and lifestyle programmes aimed at today’s daytime review of the popular children’s young women. RTL Lounge is available through programme Telekids. Starting on Sunday 11 the UPC and Ziggo digital packages. October there will be four totally new episodes
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Hand on car for almost 62 hours Last week, David Antoine presented the new show Touch My Car live on Plug RTL from the courtyard of the RTL House in Brussels. Belgium - 5 October 2009
A total of 15 candidates with the necessary On Friday afternoon, after 36 hours of amount of control over mind and body competing and two cold, rainy nights, only five appeared on the show hoping to win a brand- of the original 15 candidates were left: three new car. They had to withstand every adversity men and two women. Exhausted, they thrown at them and keep their hand as long as struggled on for a few more hours, knowing possible on the car. To check this, the that the car, a Ford Fiesta Econetic, was “within candidates were given an electronic glove to reach”. Despite being cheered on by many wear, which determined whether they Belgian artists and celebrities on location, constantly kept one hand on the car or broke Ludivine stopped on Saturday morning. After contact at any point. A referee was on hand exactly 61 hours and 52 minutes, Maxime was around the clock to ensure they stuck to the declared the winner of the car. rules. Each time they let go without permission the candidate was given a yellow card. Five of While the candidates were connected to the these meant they were out. Every hour they car, viewers and Internet users could also win a were given a five-minute break plus a half-hour Ford Fiesta Econetic by correctly guessing the break every six hours. total duration of the contest and sending an SMS to RTL. Plug RTL’s Website was broadcasting the whole game live while Contact Radio was a partner of the adventure.
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RTL Most is here! RTL Klub has launched RTL Most, the first catch-up TV service in the Hungarian market. At present, all domestic programmes are available online shortly after they air on TV, including Hungary’s most popular series, Barátok közt. Hungary - 5 October 2009
“We are planning to make our foreign series Registered RTL Most users receive advance and films available at a later stage,” says Péter notification about online programmes or series Kolosi, RTL Klub Programme Manager. “We along with several other benefits. And those also intend to make some programmes looking for even better viewing quality can look available to our registered online users even forward to November, when a Silverlight before they are broadcast on television,” Kolosi application will make RTL Most’s content adds. available in enhanced quality.
The RTL Most website offers viewers RTL Simultaneously with the start of RTL Most, RTL Klub’s own productions in high quality and has begun the relaunch of RTLKlub.hu as part soon after their TV broadcast. So if someone of the transformation of its online portfolio. The misses the midday episode of Híradó, Fókusz, online developments are being implemented by Fábry Showder or Barátok közt, they can ‘catch Blogter and Konzorcia, and the launch of RTL up’ anytime, anywhere. Users can even put Most is accompanied by on-air, print and online together a collection of their favourite videos, campaigns featuring a character known as ‘the add personal notes to them and rate the chicken guy’. contents.
RTL Most
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An outstanding start to the season Mediengruppe RTL Deutschland’s channels attracted 35.1 per cent of the 14- to 49-year-old viewer market in September, which puts them more than four percentage points ahead of the ProSiebenSat.1 group, which scored 31.0 per cent. Germany - 2 October 2009
Connecting to the outside world at any moment RTL Belgium’s news site RTLInfo.be can now be consulted from any mobile telephone with internet access. Belgium - 2 October 2009
Léon is a hit on W9 W9 registered a record audience among all DTT channels with 1.1 million viewers for the film Léon bradcast on Sunday 27 September. The channel also confirmed its status for September as number one among DTT channels with DTT-equipped viewers under 50. France - 2 October 2009
RTL Belgium reports brilliant season kick-off September 2009 marked the most successful start to a TV season for RTL Belgium’s family of channels since the introduction of modern audience ratings measurement in 1997, scoring a 35.3 per cent share of the total audience market. Belgium - 5 October 2009
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Wireless tariff for social network users launched in Germany WKW-Mobil gives users unlimited Internet access via their mobile phones and they can also phone and text other members all over Germany as much as they want for no extra charge. Germany - 6 October 2009
Tension, excitement, and surprises The iconic format Name That Tune is to return to British Television with a brand new, updated version of the classic series, to air exclusively on Five. United Kingdom - 6 October 2009
If you knew what your future held, what would you do? With an average of 3.2 million viewers on 28 September, followed by 3.3 million this Monday, the gripping new US series FlashForward is a hit on Five. United Kingdom - 8 October 2009
A voyage of discovery to mysterious depths unknown On 4 February 2010, Unsere Ozeane, the German edition of the French nature documentary Océans will open in box offices across Germany – distributed by the RTL Group subsidiary Universum Film. Germany - 8 October 2009
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People News Suzanne Lopez Germany - 5 October 2009
On 17 September 2009, Chief Executive Officer Cécile Frot-Coutaz announced the nomination of Suzanne Lopez as Executive Vice President, Business and Legal Affairs for FremantleMedia North America.
Suzanne Lopez, who previously served as the department’s senior vice president, will continue to oversee all business and legal affairs for FMNA, the US production arm of global media giant FremantleMedia. She will report to Donna Redier-Linsk, who was recently named Chief Operating Officer for Suzanne Lopez FremantleMedia North America (FMNA).
“Suzanne’s expertise has played a key role in helping build our U.S. division,” said Cécile Frot-Coutaz in making the announcement. “This promotion exemplifies our regard for her dedication and enthusiasm for the job at hand, and I’m thrilled that she continues to be an integral part of our team.”
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People News Matthias Dang Matthias Dang Germany - 7 October 2009
Matthias Dang has been appointed Deputy Managing Director of IP Deutschland with effect from 15 October 2009.
In his new role, Matthias Dang (42) will continue to supervise the Sales department, which he has headed since June 2004.
Martin Krapf, Managing Director of IP Deutschland, comments: “Matthias Dang understands TV marketing like few others, and was formative in developing this field at IP Deutschland over the past few years. His appointment as Deputy Managing Director is not least an expression of our appreciation for this achievement. I very much look forward to our continued work together.”
After studying business administration in Mainz, Matthias Dang began his career in 1993 as Marketing Assistant RTL at IP Deutschland. After further stints in marketing, he was Sales Director from 1998 to 2002. From 2003 to 2004, he moved back into marketing as a business manager, before taking over as Director Sales in June 2004
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