23 October 2008 week 43 Creating Events Teamworx celebrates its 10th anniversary United Kingdom Belgium Tony Cohen about Mint leaves the airwaves FremantleMedia’s future Germany Spain RTL Interactive integrates Antena 3 launches subsidiaries video-on-demand service COVER: Montage with screenshots from Teamworx’s most popular programmes Creating Events 2 week 43 the RTL Group intranet A new definition of event television After ten years, Teamworx has more than 140 productions, is the European market leader in event productions, has amassed numerous suc- cesses at award presentations and international film festivals, and achieved remarkable interna- tional distribution rates. In a word, it is one of the leading producers in German television. Nico Hofmann Germany - 23 October 2008 The successful company was founded on 21 One of the biggest successes in the fledgling October 1998 by Nico Hofmann, Ariane company’s history is the anti-war drama Krampe, and Wolf Bauer. “Teamworx was born Dresden, which won a German TV Award in after a long conversation with Wolf Bauer,” 2006 for “Best TV Movie.” The two-part movie recalls Teamworx CEO Nico Hofmann. “We drew 12.68 million viewers, a new record for developed the concept of bringing young, crea- fictional TV productions, and thus became the tive talent together to make high-quality televi- most-watched TV movie on German television sion.” Since its founding, Teamworx has conti- since 1992. The historical two-part miniseries nually expanded its product portfolio, which Die Flucht starring Maria Furtwängler was also today includes ‘event’ TV movies and fictional enormously successful with television audien- programming as well as series and miniseries. ces and critics alike. Over 12.5 viewers wat- “We wanted to set up a young company in the ched the film when it aired in 2007, and it recei- truest sense of the word, and give a lot of talen- ved a number of prizes, including the German ted people the opportunity of expressing their TV Award, the Audience Bambi 2007, the Diva cinematic ideas,” explains Hofmann. “Bernd Award as “TV Movie of the Year” and “Best TV Eichinger, for whom I was working at the time, Movie” at the Shanghai Television Festival had taken a similar approach for the big screen 2007. and has very successfully produced films with Sönke Wortmann and others.” Teamworx not only produces outstanding fic- tional programming, but has also made a name Teamworx has shaped important trends with its for itself in high-end image films. Bertelsmann, sophisticated event productions, and has had a for instance, commissioned Teamworx to pro- formative influence on the German TV landsca- duce The Spirit about the Bertelsmann pe. Not only were many of the productions Essentials and the image films Catching the huge audience favorites, they have also won Stars – which was watched by over two million prestigious German and international TV and people at the Hannover Expo in 2000 – and film awards – some of them repeatedly, like Der World of Passion. Teamworx also produced Tunnel, Der Tanz mit dem Teufel – Die The Journey for RTL Group and the image film Entführung des Richard Oetker, Die Sturmflut, Just in Time for Deutsche Post AG, which took Die Luftbrücke – Nur der Himmel war frei, first prize for up-and-coming talent at the Stauffenberg, Toter Mann, Familienkreise, Die Business Film Awards in 2006. In January Flucht and Die Mauer – Berlin ‘61. “One 2008, Teamworx further strengthened its image mile–stone was Der Tunnel, which helped us to and commercial film operations by setting up establish large-scale event movies for televi- the new division Teamworx Commercial. sion,” says Hofmann. “Familienkreise by Stefan Apart from developing and producing its own Krohmer also opened up an entirely new genre materials and formats, Teamworx is committed in television plays.” to next-generation talent in the arts and spon- sors up-and-coming film- and TV makers. Nico 3 week 43 the RTL Group intranet Hofmann has lectured at the Baden- film Willkommen zuhause and our planned film Württemberg Academy of Film since 1995 as a about Scientology dropouts,” says Hofmann. “I professor in the “Scenic Film” department, and want to really get into the family structure even in 2000 jointly called into being the First Steps more than before and find a personalised nar- award for young filmmakers with Bernd rative perspective. And with projects like Die Eichinger. The prize aims to help young direc- Grenze and Unsere Mütter, unsere Väter, we tors get started in their career and gave talen- take a closer look at German history from an ted filmmakers like Stefan Krohmer (Grimme entirely new perspective.” Awards in gold, 2002 and 2004), Sven Taddicken (nominated for the Students Oscar Projects currently in the preparation and pro- 2000), Christoph Stark and Sven Bohse an duction process include Der Vulkan, Helmut opportunity to get their ideas on the screen. Kohl – Der Film, Unser Mütter, Unsere Väter, Grzimek, Rommel, Die Grenze, Hindenburg and “One challenge for the next few years will be to many more. find a new definition of event television. We must find more unpredictable and relevant material, the kind picked up on by Das Millionenspiel by Tom Toelle and Smog by Wolfgang Menge have taken on,” says Hofmann, looking to the future. “We have alrea- dy set out down this path with our Afghanistan Coming up on TV: Die Patin – The Godmother Broadcast 14 December 2008, RTL Television, 20:15 15 December 2008, RTL Television, 20:15 17 December 2008, RTL Television, 20:15 Willkommen zuhause – Welcome Home Broadcast 21 January 2009, ARD, 20:15 4 week 43 the RTL Group intranet Successful Teamworx productions (a selection): Das Wunder von Berlin (ZDF – 2008) – The Miracle of Berlin Ratings 8.01 million viewers, 21.5 per cent total audience share Awards & Festivals Nominated for German TV Award 2008 – Best Film; Montreal World Film Festival 2008; German-Ukrainian Film Week 2008 Die Flucht (ARD – 2007) – The Escape Ratings Part 1: 13.55 million viewers, 29.5 per cent total audience share Part 2: 12.16 million viewers, 20.7 per cent total audience share International distribution 41 countries Awards & Festivals Diva 2008 – Best TV-Movie; Bavarian TV Award 2007 Camera – Holly Fink; German TV Award 2007 Supporting Role – Gabriela M. Schmeide, Music – Enjott Schneider, Production Design – Knut Loewe, Wiebke Kratz; Jupiter 2008; Audience Bambi 2007; Shanghai Television Festival 2007 – Best TV-Film Dresden (ZDF – 2006) Ratings Part 1: 12.68 million viewers, 32.6 per cent total audience share Part 2: 11.25 million viewers, 31.2 per cent total audience share International distribution 95 countries Awards & Festivals German TV Award 2006 Best TV Film Diva 2007 – Best TV-Movie; Jupiter 2007 – Best TV-Film; Bavarian TV Award 2006 Young Talent Award 5 week 43 the RTL Group intranet Die Sturmflut (RTL Television – 2006) – The Storm Tide Ratings Part 1: 11.59 million viewers, 38.9 per cent audience share in the 14 to 49 age group Part 2: 11.20 million viewers, 39.2 per cent audience share in the 14 to 49 age group International distribution 59 countries Awards & Festivals DVD Champion 2006 Der Tunnel (Sat1 – 2001) – The Tunnel Ratings Part 1: 7.31 million viewers, 19.8 per cent total audience share Part 2: 6.76 million viewers, 19.6 per cent total audience share International distribution 71 countries Awards & Festivals German TV Award 2001 Best Film Golden Camera 2002 Lead – Heino Ferch; German Camera Award 2001; Editing/Scenic Peter R. Adam Bavarian TV Award 2001 Best Director – Roland Suso Richter, Best Lead Actor – Heino Ferch; Jupiter 2001 – Best Film; Cologne Conference – Producer’s Prize 6 week 43 the RTL Group intranet Focus on the future Last week, Tony Cohen, CEO of FremantleMedia, spoke at Mipcom about FremantleMedia’s future. United Kingdom - 21 October 2008 by continuing to create grade ‘A’ programmes that broadcasters want,” Tony Cohen said. 2. Investment: FremantleMedia will increase investment in its distribution, licensing and merchandising company FremantleMedia Enterprises, as well as its Talent Fund partner- ships in acquisitions and in new ventures like FremantleMedia Gaming. 3. Network: The company will continue to build a unique, creative and commercial global net- work, which is a combination of production and Tony Cohen enterprise companies around the world. “In the last few weeks every new day has brought a new financial headline. We are not 4. Execution: “We will continue to be obsessi- insulated from the recent economic turbulence ve about the quality of our productions in both and it’s clear that things are going to be tough drama and entertainment,” Cohen explains. in the future. But, we need to plan now on making sure we can continue to grow the com- Tony Cohen concluded by pointing out that pany,” Tony Cohen said. He continued explai- 2008 has been an outstanding year so far both ning the company’s strategy for the future creatively and commercially. He said: which contains four main elements: “FremantleMedia continues to produce the highest rated shows in the world. We have 1. Development: FremantleMedia will increase number one shows in every major market, whe- its investment in development. “This year’s ther it is the USA, UK, Germany, France, The slate is our best ever and we will build on that Netherlands, Italy, Australia or elsewhere.” Breaking new ground The finale of Latin American Idol aired live to all 24 countries in Latin America on 9 October, making it the only show in Spanish television history ever to air simultaneously to all territories. Latin America - 20 October 2008 FremantleMedia Latin America has thus wrap- The finale also included exclusive special ped up another season of the continent’s first appearances, live via satellite, by the presi- and only multi-territory Pan-Latin production.