Human Tetris Rob Clark on Distributing Hole in the Wall Worldwide

week 29 the RTL Group intranet Newsletter 17 July 2008 Human Tetris Rob Clark on distributing Hole in the Wall worldwide Luxembourg RTL Group welcomes decision in the Cisac case Jean-Claude Juncker live on RTL Radio Lëtzebuerg Germany The FIFA World Cup 2010 on RTL Television RTL II reveiling its autumn schedule Spain Antena 3 to be marketed on Youtube Human Tetris Rob Clark on distributing Hole in the Wall worldwide COVER: Hole in the Wall Luxembourg RTL Group welcomes decision in the Cisac case Jean-Claude Juncker live on RTL Radio Lëtzebuerg Germany The FIFA World Cup 2010 on RTL Television RTL II reveiling its autumn schedule Spain Antena 3 to be marketed on Youtube 2 week 29 the RTL Group intranet “It’s the fastest roll out we’ve ever had” Hole in the Wall, an action packed entertainment show which originated in Japan, turned out to be a great success for FremantleMedia. In Backstage, Rob Clark explains the global fascination. Rob Clark United Kingdom -10 July 2008 On paper it doesn’t sound like such a great pro- to become a firm favourite with all the family. gramme idea: ‘contestant jumps through a hole Last week, when Fox and FremantleMedia star- in the wall’. But Hole in the Wall has fast beco- ted producing Hole in the wall in the US, me an international hit. The format that ran first Talkback Thames announced that the show has on Fuji TV in Japan sees two teams of three also been commissioned by BBC One in the competing against each other to make their United Kingdom. The knockabout game show bodies fit into a series of different holes in a wall will be hosted by the ever-popular presenter as it speeds towards them. It might sound sim- Dale Winton. It is scheduled to air later this ple, but it’s much harder than it looks. The win- year. Claire Horton, Deputy Head of Entertain- ners end up with a cash prize, the losers are ment at Talkback Thames said of the show: pushed into a pool of water. In many adapta- “This is a feel good addictive show which is tions there are celebrities trying to force them- guaranteed to bring a smile to your face”. selves through the various holes in a wall. But for the celebrities taking part it’s not the fear of All in all Hole in the Wall has already turned out ruining their hair and make-up in the water that to be a great success all over the globe. In scares them most; it’s having to do it while Backstage Rob Clark, Senior Executive Vice wearing a very tight shiny lycra all-in-one num- President Entertainment and Production at ber. FremantleMedia, talks about the format’s impact on television. “The Japanese version is a segment of a variety show so it needed to be made to work as a self-contained show”, explains Vasha Wallace, Vice President Format Acquisitions at FremantleMedia. “Fuji wanted to work with us because of our global reach. They wanted us to Hole in the Wall is a Fuji TV format distrib- create a global brand – and I convinced them uted by FremantleMedia. In less than a that they should leave it to us! We’re one of the year, the format has sold to 22 countries. few companies that can make a programme In Asia (its home territory), it is in its sec- and roll it out in a 360 degree process, inclu- ond series for Indonesia and commis- ding licensing and so on, with all the various sioned in Australia, Hong Kong, India, aspects of a global brand. They trusted us to Malaysia and the Philippines. In Europe, do that.” the format has been sold to Bulgaria, Croatia, Denmark, Greece, Israel, Norway, Over 10 million hits on YouTube have ensured Russia, Sweden and the UK. In the that Hole In The Wall, or Human Tetris, as it is Americas, it has sold to Argentina, Chile, also known, has already established itself as a Colombia, Mexico, Paraguay, Uruguay global phenomenon. With the series being and the US. recently picked up by Fox in America, it is sure 3 week 29 the RTL Group intranet Where and when did you see Hole in the Wall for the first time? The format had been pitched to Vasha Wallace in our LA office as we’ve been keeping an eye on Japanese formats for a while. She then came back to the UK, shoved me in my seat, turned on Youtube and made me watch it. What were the first reactions when you showed the format to your colleagues? We had two reactions: the majority of people thought it was very funny, many said it wasn’t a format. Half were right! What makes this show so special? It’s different and funny and very, very visual. Most TV broadcasts you could listen to on the radio as well, but this could only be on television. Is it difficult to adapt the show for different countries? No, it’s very universal so it’s easy to adapt. People falling in water, people dressed in span- dex, people playing silly games – is funny anywhere. There’s been an amazing reaction: Hole in the Wall: contestants ending up in the pool we knew it was good – just not quite THIS good! Ratings successes around the world include: Hole in the Wall has been sold to 24 countries already. What are the regional differen- Japan on Fuji TV: Since its launch in July 2006 it consistent- ces? ly ranked number one in its time slot. The variety show fea- There are very few differences, and certainly turing Hole in the Wall performed particularly well for young not geographically based on regions. Some ter- adults gaining an average viewing share 40.1 per cent – this ritories strip it daily, others weekly. In some it’s is 176 per cent higher than its nearest competitor. on an hour, some 30 minutes. It’s mainly cele- Indonesia on RCTI: Number one game show in Indonesia brity, although in the US it has ordinary contes- for 2008, outperforming Deal or No Deal and Gong Show. tants. Consistently ranks number one in its time slot surpassing its nearest competitor by 39 per cent. Is the format abroad as popular as in Japan? Yes, it’s more popular. In Japan it’s an occasio- Russia on 1TV: Launched in October 2007 ranking number nal segment in a big variety show. The one in its time slot for young men (16 to 34), 42 per cent FremantleMedia re-working means it’s a neatly ahead of its nearest competitors. A hit with young adults formatted comedy game show. It’s the fastest exceeding the 1TV prime time average by 10 per cent for roll out we’ve ever had and has been re-com- adults aged 16 to 34 and 64 per cent for 4 to 15-year-olds. missioned so far in most of the territories where Argentina on 1TV: Achieved a peak of 32.8 per cent, which it has been broadcast. is 59 per cent above 1TV’s average for the time slot for adults aged 18 to 49. Denmark on TV3+: Achieved a peak of 15.9 per cent, 189 per cent higher than the average time slot for TV3+. France on TMC: Consistently exceeds TMC’s time slot average across all key demographics, increasing its share by 22 per cent in its first 4 months on air. Attains monthly share up to 57 per cent higher than the usual time slot for all viewers and 65 per cent higher for adults aged 15 to 49. 4 week 29 the RTL Group intranet RTL Group welcomes European Commission’s decision in the Cisac case RTL Group, the leading European entertainment network, is pleased that the European Commission decided that the current system of territorial restrictions in music licensing infringes existing EU competition law. Christian Hauptmann Luxembourg - 16 July 2008 The decision follows RTL Group’s initial com- Christian Hauptmann, Deputy General Counsel plaint with the European Commission, filed of RTL Group: “Today’s decision of the back in November 2000. In its complaint, RTL European Commission provides an opportunity Group argued that the territorial restrictions in to develop a future-proof music licensing sys- the reciprocal agreements between the national tem. It has always been our goal to ensure that collecting societies conflict with the key princi- broadcasters and other mass users of music ple of a European single market: forcing gain access to a multi-territory one-stop shop European broadcasters to only deal with their for the worldwide music repertoire – just as national collecting society prevents any com- record companies have already known for petition – relating to the costs of the adminis- years. A sound competitive environment will trative services – between the different national lead to more efficient administration services collecting societies. and lower transaction costs – and this is also to the benefit of composers, authors and users.” Background information: In 1999, RTL Group solicited the German collecting society Gema for a multi-territory rights clearance process for the worldwide repertoire – to no avail. In November 2000, RTL Group filed a complaint with the European Commission, arguing that the current practice infringed existing EU competition law. In January 2006, the European Commission issued a “Statement of Objections” against Cisac (the “International Confederation of Societies of Authors and Composers”) and its members within the European Economic Area (EEA), finding that the contractual restrictions among European collecting societies infringe EU Competition rules as they prevent competition in rights administration services.

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