26 April 2012

week 17

New management Introducing Anke Schäferkordt and Guillaume de Posch

Luxembourg France Farewell to Nicolas de Tavernost Gerhard Zeiler on Club Liza

United Kingdom Belgium / Luxembourg Cécile Frot-Coutaz Télévie ends with to lead FremantleMedia record sum week 17 the RTL Group intranet

Cover: Anke Schäferkordt and Guillaume de Posch, the new Co-CEOs of RTL Group

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Message from the Co-CEOs On 19 April, one day after Gerhard Zeiler’s farewell (see report on page 10), the new Co-CEOs Guillaume de Posch and Anke Schäferkordt took offi ce. In this edition, Backstage portrays the two Chief Executives. Anke Schäferkordt and Guillaume de Posch Luxembourg - 19 April 2012

On their fi rst working day, Guillaume de Posch During the Annual General Meeting, both and Anke Schäferkordt addressed the of them and Elmar Heggen have also been RTL Group employees. appointed as Executive Directors to the RTL Group Board of Directors. In a joint letter they said that they consider the Group being in “great shape.” They continued: Andreas Rudas will continue developing “We can rely on highly creative, skilled and business opportunities in Central and motivated employees, both in our operations Eastern Europe, and in Asia. He will report and in the Corporate Centre.” to Guillaume de Posch. He also oversees RTL Group’s operations in Croatia, Further, they gave a brief overview of how they Hungary, Russia and the German radio intend to manage the company jointly in the business. future: Guillaume de Posch and Anke Schäferkordt Anke Schäferkordt continues to manage the emphasised that in a decentralised Group such German TV business of Mediengruppe RTL RTL Group, it’s vital that they have a fi rst-hand Deutschland, in addition to her role as Co-CEO understanding of the Group’s multi-language and of RTL Group. multi-faceted businesses: “For this reason, we Guillaume de Posch takes over intend to visit, step by step, our various profi t responsibility for the Group’s broadcasting centres and the departments of the Corporate operations outside Germany, and for Centre – indeed, we have already started this FremantleMedia as Co-CEO of RTL Group. process.” In his capacity as CFO and Head of the Corporate Centre of RTL Group, Jointly, they concluded: “We all share the Elmar Heggen remains responsible for same passion, we love television and radio. Finance and Administration matters. He also And we know that this passion, combined with oversees UFA Sports and RTL Group’s your trust and support will help to lead our strong, operations in Luxembourg and, together creative and diverse entertainment network with Nicolas de Tavernost, in Spain. into the next phase of its development.” Both Co-CEOs will be jointly responsible for Group Strategy, Corporate Communications, Media Policy, Internal Audit and – together with the CFO – Group HR.

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Guillaume de Posch – International mover and shaker Guillaume de Posch Luxembourg - 26 April 2012

Roll up your sleeves, make things happen, But the successes of RTL Group’s channels in develop businesses: Guillaume de Posch is a the various countries aren’t the only important man of action, a doer. What drives him? “I enjoy aspect. De Posch sees content production as challenges,” says the Belgian. “I like to take the a key pillar within RTL Group as well: “I see initiative, develop new ideas and put them into FremantleMedia as a jewel,” he says. “At my practice. I like to form things. That’s always been last international TV market in Cannes you could important to me.” New channels, new markets, see how highly FremantleMedia is regarded new programmes and studio deals: these are the around the world – also among its competitors.“ kind of things that de Posch loves to talk about. De Posch plans to continue expanding the international production business. One reason With his passion for fast, concrete for this are the global internet media companies: implementation, Guillaume de Posch had come “Our new competitors have recognised the value to the right place in the TV and radio business: of audiovisual content and are now buying up “For close to 20 years and in various positions, rights on a massive scale.” I’ve negotiated in person with the executives of nearly all studios and independents.” Whether His next challenge? Since 18 April 2012, Paramount, Sony, Warner Brothers, MGM, New Guillaume de Posch has headed RTL Group Regency, or the major producers and fi lm studios with Anke Schäferkordt. Together, the two in Europe – de Posch knows the people to talk executives are responsible for RTL Group’s to, and has known some of them for decades. strategy – they’ve known each other for nearly ten years, and started working on the joint His conclusion after 20 years of experience in strategy even before offi cially taking offi ce. the European media landscape? Guillaume de Posch still sees differences between the Early on, Guillaume de Posch recognised the various countries: “The cultures in Europe may be potential of the diversifi cation businesses and similar, but they differ in their national specifi cs. pointed out the growing competition from new The same is true for television: the programme players in the TV market. In an interview with genres are similar, such as comedy, but are the German business daily Handelsblatt in interpreted differently in each country.” France August 2007, Guillaume de Posch – then CEO of has daily evening comedy programming with ProSiebenSat1 – said: “Of course the TV series like Scènes de Ménages on M6, while channels are still our biggest competitors. But comedy in Germany is mostly dominated by Google is elbowing in on us more and more. The stand-ups like Mario Barth and Cindy aus company is as powerful now as Microsoft was Marzahn. “The comedy genre is popular in 20 years ago. Google will increasingly cater to both countries, but in different incarnations. It’s the same advertising clients as we do.” important to take these differences into account. Local content is more important than ever.”

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The executive was born in 1958 in Arlon, in the So now he was in charge of the programming Luxembourg province of Belgium, and grew up of the various channels: “We had sport here as well. His fi rst career steps took him to the channels and various feature fi lm channels,” former British colony Hong Kong in 1985, and de Posch recalls. “But we also produced our from there to China. He later worked in Belgium, own sport news and launched a children’s Luxembourg, France, Germany and Greece. channel.” He also worked on the programming So it’s hardly surprising that de Posch speaks of third-party channels on the platform. In all, several languages: French, English, German de Posch was responsible for about 100 TV and Dutch and basic Chinese. channels at TPS. As part of his duties, Guillaume de Posch negotiated the broadcast After completing his Master’s degree in of Fox Kids via TPS. “We spent months in industrial engineering at the Solvay Business negotiations with Haim Saban, who co-owned School (Ecole de Commerce) in Brussels, de Fox Kids with News Corp, and his team,” Posch initially worked for the Belgian energy de Posch recalls. “You really get to know each group, Tractebel. He was sent to Hong Kong other.” as Manager Far East back in 1985, when Hong Kong was still a British colony. “Why Hong When Haim Saban and TF1 later formed a Kong? At the time, the repercussions of the oil consortium to take over ProSiebenSat1 after the crisis were still being felt, so I wanted to start Kirch group insolvency, Saban hired de Posch looking around for new horizons early on,” says as a consultant for the project. Later, he was de Posch. As regional manager of the division appointed CEO of the company. Guillaume de for turnkey projects, he was in charge of the sale Posch: “Why me? Because I knew the German of factories in China. “Although my offi ce was broadcasting market and because I happened to in Hong Kong, I travelled to China almost every speak German, which isn’t so common on the week – to the provinces or our other branch in other side of the Rhine.” Beijing.” “I restructured ProSiebenSat1. We doubled its In 1990, de Posch met a McKinsey partner from profi t margin and initiated lots of new projects, Japan. At the time, the company was looking including Maxdome and some new pay-TV for young MBAs with some job experience as channels.” In March 2007 Haim Saban sold well as a good degree. Guillaume de Posch the company to the fi nancial investors KKR moved to Brussels and worked for McKinsey’s and Permira. Shortly thereafter ProSiebenSat1 Benelux offi ce for three years. “I worked for took over the SBS group, and became a wide range of industries,” he says: banks, international for the fi rst time, with channels in airports, the mortgage sector and insurance Scandinavia, the Netherlands, Belgium, companies. “During this time we did a study for Hungary and Romania. At the end of 2008, the Dutch government. The question was: how Guillaume de Posch resigned as CEO of can the government facilitate the development ProSiebenSat1. of the broadcasting industry?” de Posch recalls. Guillaume de Posch has been a TV man ever Anyone who knows Guillaume de Posch knows since: “While working on this, I got to know the that he had no intention of turning his back on CEO of what was then CLT: Michel Delloye,” the TV business. By early 2009 he was already he says. Delloye was the one who brought de travelling to Greece, where he served as a Posch to Luxembourg and put him in charge of consultant to the Greek TV channel Antenna. strategy. “That was a personal challenge, an entirely new one for me. I tried to programme Antenna against In this capacity, he developed a new strategy Alpha. Antenna’s owners were very worried plan for the group and came up with various that RTL Group would revolutionise television projects for the company that would later in Greece – and they had every reason to be.” become RTL Group, including – together with De Posch brought a number of reality formats the RTL-TVI team – the launch of the channel to Greece, such as the Top Model franchise. He Club RTL in Belgium. One of their larger projects also supported the company in its acquisition of was TPS: Télévision par Satellite in France. what was then News Corp’s Fox TV channel in When this project was realised in 1997 and Serbia, which now broadcasts under the name eventually resulted in TPS, a company in which Prwa. CLT owned a 25 per cent stake, de Posch was appointed its Programming Director.

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De Posch went on to work as a consultant Since 18 April 2012, Guillaume de Posch for NBC Universal, where among other things has managed RTL Group as Co-CEO alongside he was involved in reviewing a possible Anke Schäferkordt. “I enjoy working with Anke. takeover of Britain’s Channel Five from When I was with ProSiebenSat1, we were RTL Group. “That put me back in touch with constantly in competition,” says de Posch. RTL Group,” says de Posch. The then-CEO “We’ve always had a very respectful and fair of RTL Group, Gerhard Zeiler, hired him as a relationship. She is a very skilled TV manager consultant for several ongoing projects. After – especially when you’re on the opposing side the fi nal project in autumn 2011, Guillaume de – that I can tell you,” says de Posch. “Personally Posch contacted RTL Group CEO Gerhard I’ve come full circle: in 1993 I started my career Zeiler: “I wanted to know whether we could in broadcasting at what was then CLT. Now I’ve intensify our collaboration – structurally, too, returned to Luxembourg as Co-CEO of because I really enjoyed working on the various RTL Group. It feels a bit like coming home, and acquisition projects with the different RTL teams.” I consider it a great honour.” The negotiations started in November 2011 and in mid-December RTL Group announced Guillaume de Posch is also back at the helm of that Guillaume de Posch would be joining the a big broadcasting company – RTL Group, the company as Chief Operating Offi cer (COO) from leading European entertainment network. “Ever 1 January 2012. since I fi rst came into contact with broadcasting, the medium has had a fi rm hold on me. I like television. It’s exciting, diverse and multicultural. And I love to zap around, which drives my wife crazy.”

Curriculum vitae

Birthday 16 February 1958 in Arlon Degree Industrial Engineering

Career stations:

1985 Manager Far East, Engineering Division, Tractebel SA 1990 Associate, Engagement Manager, McKinsey 1993 Assistant to the Managing Director, CLT 1995 Head of TV – French-speaking regions, CLT 1997 Deputy General Manager, in charge of programming, TPS 2003 Chief Operating Offi cer, ProSiebenSat1 2004 Chief Executive Offi cer, ProSiebenSat1 2009 – 2011 Media Consultant 2012 Chief Operating Offi cer, RTL Group 2012 Chief Executive Offi cer, RTL Group

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Anke Schäferkordt – TV manager with a passion Anke Schäferkordt Luxembourg / Cologne - 26 April 2012

Anke Schäferkordt combines excellent she transformed Vox from a loss-maker into an business leadership with an unerring fl air and enduringly profi table channel – and discovered great passion for the core of her business: TV her love for programme planning. At its launch programmes. The successes that arise from in 1993, the channel had an audience share this combination – in the company’s revenues of 1.4 per cent among viewers aged 14 to 49. By and results as well as its scheduling and the time Schäferkordt left Vox for its bigger sister audience shares – have earned her the highest RTL Television in 2005, the audience share was regard in international comparisons as well. But 6.4 per cent. even if observers occasionally feel compelled to use superlatives in describing her achievements, She would go on to deliver a similar Schäferkordt has both feet fi rmly on the ground. performance in her new position. In February She self-effacingly points out that Mediengruppe 2005, Anke Schäferkordt was appointed RTL Deutschland owes its strength fi rst and Chief Operating Offi cer and Deputy CEO of RTL, foremost to teamwork. Only rarely does and by September of that year had been named the assertive manager let a bit of pride shine CEO of RTL Television. So Anke Schäferkordt through when she looks back on what she simultaneously took on the overall responsibility has achieved: “All modesty aside,” she says, for RTL’s German family of channels with “it’s impossible to imagine the German media RTL Television, Vox, RTL II, Super RTL landscape without RTL Television.” and N-TV, which together do business as Mediengruppe RTL Deutschland since Anke Schäferkordt was born in the town of November 2007. Under her management, Lemgo in December 1962, and attended the company’s operating result has more than school in East Westphalia. She studied business doubled, from an EBITA of €240 million in 2005 administration in Paderborn before joining to €529 million in 2011. Bertelsmann in 1988 through its Young Executives Programme. Three years later, she Thanks to excellent crisis management, went to join RTL Plus in Cologne as an executive Mediengruppe RTL Deutschland emerged from assistant for sales controlling and strategic the economic and fi nancial crisis of 2009 with planning. The very next year Schäferkordt was new strength, not only from a business stand appointed Head of the Controlling department, point, but also in terms of its programming. and from 1993 to 1995 she headed the Schäferkordt had, however, initiated the Corporate Planning and Controlling department. necessary measures as far back as 2005 – when there were few signs of an impending crisis. In 1995, she left to join Vox as Chief Financial She revised the structure of the group, Offi cer. She served as the channel’s Programme combined departments and merged the Director as well as CFO from 1997 to 1999, and channels and service companies into an as its CEO from 1999 to 2005. During this time, integrated content provider and then combined

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them all under a physical roof as well, at the new and are now operating profi tably. Mediengruppe state-of-the-art broadcasting centre in Cologne- RTL Deutschland’s latest addition is the digital Deutz. free-TV channel RTL Nitro, which is aimed primarily at a male audience and went on air “The important thing for an entrepreneur is not on 1 April 2012. Since November 2009, the to frantically put together austerity packages Mediengruppe RTL Deutschland channels during a crisis, but to use the good times to plan have also been available in HD on the HD Plus ahead for times that might not be so good,” says platform. Schäferkordt. “And that’s exactly what we did.” The measures weren’t popular at fi rst, but in Mediengruppe RTL Deutschland has pooled retrospect turned out to be spot-on. At moments its digital, interactive and transaction-based like these it is important that the management businesses beyond traditional, advertising- plans long term, has a clear vision and can fi nanced TV under the RTL Interactive umbrella. assert it – if need be against resistance. This includes the Online, Mobile, Teletext, IPTV, Says Schäferkordt: “I see it as our duty as Media Services (paid phone and SMS services) entrepreneurs to continually question and and Licensing businesses. By establishing and improve processes regardless of the macro expanding this variety of businesses beyond economic conditions. Our goal is to establish traditional free-to-air TV, the company has RTL Television long-term as the channel reduced its dependence on the TV advertising with the highest market shares as well as market. The dissemination of video on all the most effi cient processes.” platforms alongside TV as well as activities leading to further growth in the Online, Mobile She’s succeeded on the audience share front as und Online Games sectors are core elements of well: RTL Television keeps setting one ratings this strategy. record after the other, bucking the trend toward fragmentation. In 2011, the channel attracted Mediengruppe RTL Deutschland is relying on the 18.4 per cent of the young viewers and 14.1 per strength of its established programme and cent of the total audience. In both categories, format brands in the rapidly growing on-demand, this put it in fi rst place ahead of all commercial non-linear TV world. The ‘Now family’ – and public-service competitors; and in its target RTL Now, Vox Now, RTL II Now, Super RTL Now demographic it outperformed the runner-up by and RTL Nitro Now – lets users view complete fully 6.7 percentage points. Mediengruppe RTL programmes online after their TV broadcast and Deutschland as a whole also grew its audience: regularly reports record traffi c. in 2011, the family of channels scored a combined audience share of 35.0 per cent Schäferkordt is a doer with a strong among viewers aged 14 to 49, putting it far predisposition toward realism. She sets clear ahead of ProSiebenSat1 (28.9 per cent). “Even targets and is seen as direct and open-minded. during the crisis it became clear that calm and “Television is teamwork. As long as I’ve known steady wins the race,” says Anke Schäferkordt. the company, RTL Television has always “And by that I don’t mean simply naively trusting distinguished itself by the special passion of its that times will get better, but tackling the programme makers. There is also the high level challenges head-on.” of expertise of the whole team – the experience to create hits, but also the ability to learn from Schäferkordt has also resolutely expanded fl ops,” Schäferkordt emphasises. Mediengruppe RTL Deutschland’s business model to lead the company into the digital age. She sees the strength of the German TV market She is fully aware of the strength of the core primarily in the quality of the programmes business of advertising-fi nanced free-to-air TV on offer. She says: “There are few other channels – and has supplemented this, step television markets that offer this level of by step, with new offerings. In December 2006 quality and diversity.” And on RTL’s positioning: Mediengruppe RTL Deutschland launched three “The audience expects us as the market digital pay-TV channels: RTL Crime, RTL Living leading channel to deliver both: the best and – as a joint venture with the production entertainment as well as soundly researched, company UFA, which is also owned by relevant information. The audience shares RTL Group – Passion. With their clear scored by our news programmes as well as profi les, the channels quickly became our magazine and tabloid formats prove we established on the major distribution platforms are on the right track.” With an average

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audience share of 19.8 per cent in 2011, The company also believes in long-term RTL Television’s RTL Aktuell is the most popular commitment when it comes to training young main news programme among young viewers journalists. Since 2001, Mediengruppe in the 14 to 49 age group. In terms of total RTL Deutschland has run the RTL audience, RTL Aktuell came in ahead of the daily Journalistenschule in cooperation with news programme Heute on ZDF for the fourth the State Media Authority of North Rhine- consecutive year, with an average 3.91 million Westphalia. “The RTL Journalistenschule is viewers compared to ZDF’s 3.52 million. a good example of how the self-interest of the private sector can be linked with socio-political The importance of news for Mediengruppe engagement,” says Schäferkordt. RTL Deutschland is also demonstrated by the undisputed position of the news channel N-TV. Since April, Schäferkordt has served as Co-CEO Even in the crisis, Schäferkordt stuck by the of RTL Group in Luxembourg with Guillaume channel. She says: “Information programmes in de Posch. In addition to her new role at all their facets are essential for a diverse media RTL Group, on 19 April 2012 she took a seat landscape. It makes us particularly proud that on the Bertelsmann Executive Board. Despite Mediengruppe RTL Deutschland’s news and the additional responsibility she continues to information programmes came through the run RTL Television and Mediengruppe RTL recent economically diffi cult years without Deutschland. How does she manage to juggle all making any compromises on quantity or quality.” of these tasks? Quite simply: “I just go to work a This courage to carry on as before even in little earlier in the morning and leave a little later, diffi cult times has paid off: in 2011 N-TV turned a and I have an excellent team to support me,” she profi t for the fi rst time in years. says – another glimpse of Anke Schäferkordt’s characteristic understatement. And because she has remained very down-to-earth despite all her success, she is held in very high regard by an otherwise rather self-obsessed broadcast industry.

Curriculum vitae

Birthday 12 December 1962 in Lemgo Degree Business Administration

Career stations:

1988 Young Executives Programme, Bertelsmann AG 1991 Executive Assistant for Sales Controlling and Strategic Planning, RTL Plus 1993 Head of Corporate Planning and Controlling, RTL Plus 1995 Chief Financial Offi cer, Vox 1997 Chief Financial Offi cer and Programme Director, Vox 1999 CEO, Vox 2005 Chief Operating Offi cer and Deputy CEO, RTL Television 2005 CEO, RTL Television and Mediengruppe RTL Deutschland 2012 Chief Executive Offi cer, RTL Group 2012 Member of the Executive Board, Bertelsmann AG

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“Rendered great services” On the evening of 18 April 2012, RTL Group hosted a farewell for its former CEO Gerhard Zeiler. Luxembourg’s Prime Minister Jean-Claude Juncker thanked Zeiler and made him a Commander of the country’s Order of Merit. Gerhard Zeiler and Luxembourg’s Prime Minister Jean-Claude Juncker Luxembourg - 19 April 2012

“Gerhard Zeiler has rendered great services to the country and the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg,” said Juncker. “For this I would like to thank him personally, as well as on behalf of the government and the Grand Duchy.“ Juncker called Zeiler a “friend” and presented him with the medal proclaiming Zeiler a Commander of the Order of Merit of the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg.

Thomas Rabe, the new Chairman of the RTL Group Board of Directors and Chairman Gerhard Zeiler, Guillaume de Posch and Anke Schäferkordt & CEO of Bertelsmann AG had also come to Luxembourg to thank Gerhard Zeiler in person. Guillaume de Posch. “And apparently one of “It is my honour to thank you – on behalf of the new CEOs has already been sighted in Bertelsmann – for the fabulous work you’ve the company restaurant. That’s new.” And done,” said Rabe. “You didn’t just react to the Schäferkordt quipped: “Meetings might actually trends of increasing fragmentation and the begin on time in future.” On a more serious transformation to the Digital Age. No, you and note, she added: “We both feel very honoured your team actively helped shape these trends.” and privileged to be taking over this position Rabe also reiterated the strong ties between from one of the world’s best TV executives.” RTL Group and its home, Luxembourg: “We The two Co-CEOs then presented the departing know what the ‘L’ in RTL stands for – manager with the coveted Golden Lion. and although RTL has become a global entertainment group, we know where its roots Finally Zeiler himself took the fl oor and began are – right here in Luxembourg. I would like by thanking Siegfried Luther, former Chairman to confi rm our commitment to Luxembourg of the Board of Directors. “On 5 March 2003, it and to our partnership with the Luxembourg was Siegfried Luther who called me to let me government – Bertelsmann’s commitment, RTL’s know that the Board of Directors had appointed commitment and my personal commitment.” me CEO,” Zeiler recalls. He also thanked the Group’s shareholder Bertelsmann and The two new Co-CEOS Guillaume de Posch Thomas Rabe in particular: “I’m glad that you are and Anke Schäferkordt took the opportunity now at the helm of Bertelsmann, because you to let the staff in Luxembourg know – know RTL Group and Luxembourg. That is very humorously – that some things are about important.” Zeiler said that Rolf Schmidt-Holtz, to change: “You won’t be hearing people on who was appointed to the RTL Group Board of the third fl oor complaining about the weather Directors on 18 April, was his mentor. At the end in Luxembourg so often anymore,” said of his speech, Zeiler once again pointed out that

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“RTL Group’s good results in recent years are above all the achievement of the staff. I merely stood at the helm and reap the kudos, but they are the ones who make RTL what it is, the ones who generate our profi ts.”

Afterwards, the executives and staff had an opportunity to say good-bye to Gerhard Zeiler in person at a relaxed get-together that was attended by a lot of employees.

Siegfried Luther, who has retired from the Board of Directors, had been given his farewell at the Annual General Meeting on the afternoon of 18 April. Speaking on behalf of the Board of Directors, its longest-serving member Martin Taylor said: “In the past, there was some tension between the shareholders and the Board of Directors – today this is no longer the case. We owe this above all to the modest, conscientious and fair leadership of an excellent Chairman.” Taylor drew attention to the voting results of the meeting, which in three cases refl ected an incredible 100 per cent approval. “Siegfried Luther is very deeply respected by both the management and the shareholders.”

Joseph Jean Aghina, a longstanding minority shareholder, promptly confi rmed this assessment. Shortly before the end of the Annual General Meeting he took the fl oor and described himself as one of the company’s ‘Asterix shareholders’, who had attended Annual General Meetings back when they were still held at the Villa Louvigny. Aghina said the shareholders are “much happier today than they were in the past” and that “Siegfried Luther has always enjoyed the backing of all shareholders.“ He concluded by saying that both Zeiler and Luther had done a “terrifi c job to unite the company,” and had always “served in all fairness.”

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Cécile Frot-Coutaz appointed CEO of FremantleMedia RTL Group announced the appointment of Cécile Frot-Coutaz as the new Chief Executive Offi cer (CEO) of FremantleMedia, to be based in London, effective 1 July 2012. Cécile Frot-Coutaz, currently CEO of FremantleMedia North America (FMNA), will succeed Tony Cohen who will step down to focus on his non-executive work. Cécile Frot-Coutaz Luxembourg / United Kingdom / North America - 20 April 2012

Guillaume de Posch, Co-CEO of RTL Group As the CEO of FremantleMedia North America, together with Anke Schäferkordt, says: “After Cécile Frot-Coutaz currently oversees the being with the group for 17 years, Cécile has the development, production and business vision and leadership that are needed to further operations of over 600 hours of network, cable grow FremantleMedia. She brings expertise and and syndicated programming. Under her drive from the largest TV market in the world and guidance, FMNA currently produces some combines her creative skills as a producer with of the most innovative and successful event a sharp business perspective. I am very happy entertainment on television, including the to welcome her at the helm of RTL Group’s multiple Emmy-nominated musical/reality show production arm.” American Idol on the Fox network. Other titles produced by FMNA are The X Factor (Fox), De Posch continues: “I want to thank America’s Got Talent (NBC), Family Feud Tony Cohen for his outstanding achievements. (syndicated), The Price Is Right (CBS), and the He transformed FremantleMedia from a scripted series The Wedding Band (TBS). collection of individual entities into a global content power house. Under his leadership, Born and raised in France, Frot-Coutaz earned the company has become the pre-eminent her MBA from the prestigious Insead business producer of the hit prime time global school in 1994. When Pearson purchased entertainment formats in dozens of countries, the assets of Grundy Television, Frot-Coutaz a top distributor and brand licensor, and a was named Corporate Strategy Executive rapidly growing force in online and mobile for the newly created Pearson TV. She then gaming, branded entertainment and kids. I wish spearheaded the subsequent acquisition and him all the best for the future.” integration of All-American Fremantle into the Pearson Television Group. After a short stint in Tony Cohen says: “FremantleMedia’s San Francisco creating online and interactive extraordinary creative and commercial strategies for Pearson Television, Frot-Coutaz achievements this last decade have been due joined the North American headquarters to the talent and skill of its leadership team and of the newly rebranded FremantleMedia in staff, to our great partnerships with major talent Los Angeles, where she served as Executive and to our shareholder’s unwavering support. Vice President, Commercial and Operations I am grateful to them all and to have been part of until her promotion to COO of Production in the company’s amazing journey.” 2002, and CEO in 2005. Her successor will be named in due course.

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A new record for Télévie 2012 The Télévie 2012 campaign ended on 21 April, at RTL Group’s Belgian and Luxembourgish subsidiaries. By the end of the gala’s closing event, the counter showed the record sum of €8,402,651, which is €190,114 more than the previous edition. Belgium / Luxembourg - 24 April 2012

The 2012 edition of Télévie raised EUR 8,402,651 in Belgium and Luxembourg

Committed to several weeks of solidarity As is now the tradition, the emblematic faces and a multitude of local events organised to of RTL Belgium, which include Luc Gilson, raise money for research into leukaemia and Stéphane Pauwels, Fanny Jandrain and the cancer in children and adults, RTL Belgium and latest recruit Stéphane Rotenberg – fl agship RTL Lëtzebuerg once again joined together to presenter of Top Chef and Pékin Express make the Télévie gala an event that will give on M6 – as well as plethora of artists hope to those who are ill and to all the families including Laurent Voulzy, Salvatore Adamo, who support them. Christophe Willem, Daddy K and M. Pokora, rallied non-stop throughout the evening to In Belgium, the Télévie gala evening presented encourage as many viewers as possible by Sandrine Corman kicked off live at 19:40 on to pledge donations. The artists performed RTL-TVI and was also aired on Bel RTL and their own songs as well as exclusive duets, RTL.be. Along with the emotions evoked by the accompanied by the Télévie grand orchestra. testimonies of people who are ill and of their loved ones, the evening was punctuated by Of particular note during the programme was the reports summarising the latest advancements presence of Belgian Prime Minister Elio di Rupo. in scientifi c research as well as a succession of Having earned a doctorate in chemistry, he had associations that stepped forward to deliver their a particular interest in this fundraising event and cheques in person. made a special gesture to Télévie by offering

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Caroline Mart and Olivier Catani, presenters of the Télévie closing ceremony in Luxembourg one of his famous bowties to be sold at auction. Created in 1989 in Belgium and in 2001 in “The best face we can present from Belgium Luxembourg, Télévie has raised more than is one of solidarity,” he said. RTL Belgium’s €125 million, the entire sum of which has CEO Philippe Delusinne was, of course, also gone to the Fonds de la Recherche Scientifi que present on the set. He reminded viewers how (FNRS) to fi nance the work of thousands of important Télévie is to the entire channel and said researchers. Last year the association raised a the following about RTL Belgium: “We all hold total of €8,212,537. Télévie’s noble values dear.” By raising more than €7,477,267 (as compared to €7,175,235 in 2011), the 24th Télévie gala in Belgium once more demonstrated the power of solidarity.

In Luxembourg, the closing ceremony of the 11th edition of Télévie presented by Olivier Catani and Caroline Mart, where the order of the day was, ‘Give hope a chance’, aired simultaneously on RTL Télé and Radio Lëtzebuerg as well as on the RTL.lu website. Several hours of airtime and the mobilisation of all the teams thus made it possible to add €925,384 to the Belgian counter (as compared to €1,037,302 in 2011). In addition, the 8th edition of RTL Group’s Télévie Challenge, held the day before in the fi tness centre of the company’s headquarters, raised €55,000.

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Nicolas de Tavernost on Club Liza On 23 April, Nicolas de Tavernost – Chairman of the Management Board of Groupe M6 and Director of FC Girondins de Bordeaux (FCGB) – was a guest on RTL Radio’s Club Liza. Nicolas de Tavernost France - 25 April 2012

For nearly an hour, live from the 22 rue Bayard Broadcast every Monday from 20:00 to 21:00, studios, de Tavernost answered questions Le Club Liza reviews highlights from the latest from the former world champion and news in football. Every week Bixente Lizarazu former Girondins de Bordeaux footballer and his colleagues invite one or more Bixente Lizarazu and sports journalist and prestigious fi gures from the world of football commentator Sylvain Charley. They focused who answer questions in a relaxed atmosphere, in particular on the Bordeaux club’s season without the usual waffl ing and cli- to date – FCGB are currently 8th in the fi rst chés. Past guests have included the division. “This is a very irritating season because likes of Zinedine Zidane, we started badly,” said de Tavernost. “We will Didier Drogba and probably not qualify for Europe and this is not Arsene Wenger. good news.”

Asked about the future of the club, de Tavernost said that “the team will be partially rebuilt for next season” and that “Girondins should at least be in the Europa League.” Despite some diffi cult seasons and the recent announcement that the club lost €15 million in 2012 (source: Sud-Ouest newspaper), FCGB’s ‘big boss’ remains confi dent and says in passing that selling the club is not on the agenda: “We are a bit stingy but M6 will always remain faithful to the Girondins. They say we’re going to drop them every year, but we’re still here. We will continue to support this club.”

De Tavernost also returned to the transfer of Listen to the interview Yoann Gourcuff who was sold to Lyon in the on RTL.fr summer of 2010 – and to the departure of the former Bordeaux coach who now manages the French national team, Laurent Blanc. He gave his predictions for this week’s Champions League semi-fi nals (Barcelona against Chelsea and Real Madrid against Bayern) and discussed the state of the national team’s defense two months before the Euro 2012. 15 week 17 the RTL Group intranet

M6 Pass also on Livebox M6 Web and Orange expand their collaboration. The M6 Pass, which is already available on SFR Neufbox, Freebox and Xbox 360, is now available on Orange Livebox. France - 24 April 2012

PassM6.fr

Launched in September 2010, the M6 Pass By making unlimited viewing of series quickly allows subscribers to discover the best of the available to anxiously awaiting viewers on TV series that are shown on M6, unlimited and screens through the IPTV services of SFR, Free without an agreement, starting at €7,99 per and Orange, Groupe M6 hopes to offer a real month. It also allows subscribers in France alternative to Internet pirating. The M6 pass will to watch new series, in their original version, soon be accessible on PC/Mac, connected TVs, with subtitles and in HD, the day after their tablets and smartphones. North American broadcast. The M6 Pass thus becomes the fi rst subscription VoD service that is accessible through the three principal ADSL operators in France.

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Grupo Antena 3 publishes first quarter results On 26 April 2012, Grupo Antena 3 published its fi nancials for the fi rst quarter of 2012. As the Spanish TV advertising continued to decline signifi cantly, the company’s revenue, operating profi t and net result were down year-on-year. Spain - 26 April 2012

In the fi rst quarter of 2012, Grupo Antena 3 had to operate in a very diffi cult economic environment as the Spanish TV advertis- ing market – the company’s main source of revenue – was estimated to be down 17.7 per cent year-on-year. As a result, Grupo Antena 3’s net revenue decreased by 8.7 per cent to €186.2 million (Q1/2011: €203.8 million). First-quarter operating profi t (EBITDA) declined by 51.7 per cent to €14.0 million (Q1/2011: €29.1) million). The net profi t of Grupo Antena 3 for the reporting period was €7.1 million, down from €19.6 million in the previous year.

However, the Antena 3 family of TV channels continued to outperform the market and increased its advertising market share by 4.1 percentage points to 34.3 per cent. “This signifi cant improvement is due both to the audience share increase and the Group’s commercial effi ciency,” the company says in its press release. The Antena 3 family of channels increased its total audience share by 1.1 percentage point to 17.9 per cent.

17 €55,000 for the good cause On 20 April 2012, RTL Group’s 8th Télévie Challenge kicked off in Luxembourg. Eight hours of solidarity later, pedalling non-stop for the benefit of cancer and leukaemia research, the 400 participants had pedalled 8,520 kilometres. RTL Group then rounded up the total sum to €55,000. On the picture presenting the cheque: Dr. Marc Diederich, Carol Bragança-Kayser (Télévie Coordinator in Luxembourg), Elmar Heggen (CFO and Head of RTL Group Corporate Centre in Luxembourg) and Romain Mannelli (Executive Vice President Corporate HR). week 17 the RTL Group intranet

High Definition TV for cable customers Unitymedia, the cable carrier in the German states of North Rhine-Westphalia and Hesse, has signed an agreement with Mediengruppe RTL Deutschland to feed fi ve HD channels into its network. Germany - 25 April 2012

RTL Radio widens the gap Each day, more than six million listeners tune in to the programmes from the rue Bayard studios. According to the audience results published by Médiamétrie on 18 April for the period January to March 2012, RTL Radio remains the number one radio station in France despite a slight drop. France - 23 April 2012

Impersonators wanted Since 23 April, RTL II is once again seeking Germany’s most talented impersonators in the second season of My Name Is which is produced by Grundy Light Entertainment. Germany - 23 April 2012

On a voyage of discovery with Britt and Ymke Because it’s hard to imagine the Dutch TV world without Britt and Ymke these days, RTL 5 recently offered them a new contract. The fi rst show featuring the two friends started on 24 April at 20:30: Britt en Ymke en het mysterie van... The Netherlands - 24 April 2012

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Big big love, continued In the wake of the show’s great popularity at the beginning of the year, RTL Television is planning another season of The Bachelor. The Netherlands - 24 April 2012

HD reach expanded Mediengruppe RTL Deutschland is using an Astra transponder freed up after analogue satellite television will be switched off in Germany to expand its HD offer. Germany - 23 April 2012

Verbotene Liebe on MyVideo The fi rst 60 episodes of the Grundy UFA-produced series Verbotene Liebe (Forbidden Love) are now available for free viewing at any time on the MyVideo.de platform. Over the next few weeks, the offering will be expanded to 1,500 episodes in all. Germany - 26 April 2012

The French Presidential election boosts voting on M6 On 24 April, the “question of the day” dedicated to the Presidential election on M6’s news show Le 12.45 set a new record. France - 26 April 2012

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People Ryan Seacrest returns as Host of American Idol North America - 25 April 2012

Ryan Seacrest, who has served as host of American Idol since its debut on 11 June 2002, will continue as host of the talent show.

“For the last 11 seasons, I’ve had the privilege to be a part of one of television’s most iconic shows. It’s been a wild ride, and I’m excited for my journey with American Idol to continue,” Seacrest said. “The legions of fans, amazingly talented contestants, judges, and producers, along with the hard working American Idol crew, impress me every time we go on air and make hosting the show a dream job. I especially appreciate the support and confi dence of Peter Rice, Mike Darnell and the entire Fox team – as well as the support of everyone at FremantleMedia North America – and I look forward to continuing our partnership.”

“I am thrilled that Ryan will continue to be the face of American Idol”, says Cécile Frot-Coutaz, CEO FremantleMedia North America and Executive Producer of American Idol. “He runs the show Ryan Seacrest with such expertise, warmth and charm that he makes one of the hardest jobs in television look easy. He is one of the best in the business and we are lucky to have him.”

“Ryan is one of a kind,” added Mike Darnell, President of Alternative Entertainment, Fox Broadcasting Company. “His ability to engage the viewers, keep the contestants at ease during intense moments and adapt to any situation, especially during the live shows, solidifi es him as the absolute best in the business. He is an integral part of why American Idol is a true phenomenon, and we can’t imagine doing this show without him.”

“Ryan has been with American Idol from the very fi rst day. I can’t imagine the show without him,” stated creator and executive producer Simon Fuller. “He is the consummate host and an exemplary professional. Having Ryan continue to be a part of the American Idol family is great news for everyone.”

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People Daniel Aßmann Germany - 26 April 2012

On Saturday 5 May at 20:15, RTL Television will begin airing DSDS Kids, the show that gives talented youngsters with great voices a chance at having their dream of taking to a big stage and singing for an audience of millions come true. Daniel Aßmann (28) will present the four-part show series.

Tom Sänger, Head of Entertainment of RTL Television says: “We are delighted to be giving a talented young presenter an opportunity with this huge prime time show on RTL Television. In Daniel Aßmann, we’ve found a fresh young presenter with a lot of talent and enthusiasm. He also brings a lot of experience working with children to his role on DSDS Kids.”

Daniel Aßmann Daniel Aßmann, trained as a media manager at Super RTL, took courses to become a video journalist at the RTL School of Journalism, and has a Bachelor’s degree in Journalism and PR. Since 2004 he has presented a variety of TV and Web-TV formats, including on NBC Giga, where he had his own personality show. He also was an emcee on Super RTL’s ‘Toggo Tour’.

Daniel Aßmann: “It’s always been my dream to present an entertainment show. Besides, it’s an exciting challenge to work with kids, as they’re usually candid and still say what they think. My aspiration with DSDS Kids is to create a family show where everyone is watching TV together and having fun.”

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