25 March 2010

week 12

Big-screen family fun Scoring at the movies: UFA Cinema’s next steps

Germany Super RTL announces winners Dawn Airey speaks at the of ‘Bob Helps Kindergartens’ Australian Broadcasting Summit

France Belgium and Sidaction RTL Belgium launches fight Aids RTL Sport HD week 12 the RTL Group intranet

25 March 2010

week 12

Cover: Scene from UFA Cinema’s movie Teufelskicker.

Big-screen family fun Scoring at the movies: UFA Cinema’s next steps 2

Germany United Kingdom Super RTL announces winners Dawn Airey speaks at the of ‘Bob Helps Kindergartens’ Australian Broadcasting Summit

France Belgium Groupe M6 and Sidaction RTL Belgium launches fight Aids RTL Sport HD week 12 the RTL Group intranet

Prodigious Productions UFA Cinema was founded in January 2008, and recently its first movie opened in German cinemas: Teufelskicker. Backstage spoke with Thomas Peter Friedl about recent developments at the company. Thomas Peter Friedl Germany - 25 March 2010

UFA is one of the oldest and most famous Avatar. “We got off to an excellent start as the names in German media: it produced such week’s best new opening, comparable to the classic films asDer blaue Engel and Metropolis. opening figures of Die Wilden Kerle (The Wild When took over the company Soccer Bunch),” explains Thomas Peter Friedl. in 1964, UFA increasingly concentrated on In all, Die Wilden Kerle attracted 900,000 viewers the production of TV content, but at the end and became – with four sequels – one of the of 2007 the company announced that it was most successful German teen franchises of the ready to return to its roots. “This completes recent past. Friedl adds: “The second weekend UFA’s programme portfolio again,” Wolf Bauer, maintained the high level set by opening Chairman and CEO of UFA, said at the time. weekend. More than anything, we’re excited to see what happens in the Easter holidays, which A good two years have passed since then and begin soon.” the company has initial successes to present. “We are very happy with the company’s development,” declares Thomas Peter Friedl, one of UFA Cinema’s four Managing Directors. “We already finished shooting our first four films last year.” The movies are distributed in Germany, and by Universal Pictures International Germany in co-operation with UFA Cinema. “Universal Pictures is the best possible partner for us,” says Friedl. “Their international business approach, global production partnerships and ties to filmmakers around the world makes them unique among US studios.”

This month, Teufelskicker (Devil’s Kickers), the first UFA Cinema production, opened in German cinemas. “The film turned out exactly as we imagined,” beams Friedl. “Not a children’s film, but big-screen family fun, with lots of comedy, and girls like it just as much as boys do.” The box- office sales speak for themselves: on opening weekend, Teufelskicker attracted 130,000 viewers to German movie theatres, making it the number four most-watched film of the weekend, behind Alice in Wonderland, Shutter Island and Teufelskicker poster 3 week 12 the RTL Group intranet

He says UFA Cinema is already working on a And the company has even bigger plans for the sequel to the film, in close coordination with months ahead. In September 2008, UFA Cinema the YourChance.de casting portal. Users can had announced eight upcoming productions register here, create a comp card and submit – in January 2009, another eight were added. videos to audition for certain roles. “Of course After four productions were completed last we’re working closely with YourChance.de,” year, the company is now tackling the rest of says Friedl. “We found some of our Teufelskicker the roster: “We are currently preparing another cast members through the site, and are currently six productions for this year, and a total of working with them to prepare the casting call for eight cinematic projects for 2011, including the the second part.” major international production Der Medicus (The Physician), based on the eponymous UFA Cinema has no intention of resting on international bestseller by Noah Gordon. We’re its Teufelskicker laurels. Other projects are in going to pull off this ambitious volume in the production or have already finished shooting. first three years of production,” Friedl says The next box-office opening is scheduled for confidently. early summer. “On June 17, Hanni & Nanni (The O´Sullivan Twins) will open in cinemas,” Numerous projects are currently underway, too. reports Thomas Peter Friedl. In her series for “This week we began shooting Dschungelkind young readers, the author Enid Blyton created (Jungle Child) in Malaysia, starring Thomas a world that continues to captivate millions. Kretschmann and Nadja Uhl. We’re also in the The adventures of the twin sisters are fresh and process of casting the male lead to star opposite ageless and it’s no coincidence that they are still Jessica Schwarz in the romantic comedy Jesus the number one most checked out children’s liebt mich (Jesus Loves Me),” Friedl reports. and teen library books in German libraries. UFA “I’m especially delighted to be able to work with Cinema’s screen adaptation marks the big- Denis Gansel again after Die Welle (The Wave). screen debut of Enid Blyton’s classic books. He will direct the thriller Im Jahr des Hundes “Die kommenden Tage (Days to come) starring (The Year of the Dog), which we will be shooting Bernadette Heerwagen, Daniel Brühl, Johanna in Germany and Russia come September. But I Wokalek and August Diehl will follow in October can’t tell you yet when exactly these productions of this year,” says Friedl. will be opening in theatres.”

Hanni & Nanni: The O’Sullivan Twins

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‘Together for our children’ The German musician Xavier Naidoo and his band, Söhne Mannheims, will perform at the SAP Arena in Mannheim in an event tying in to the RTL Spendenmarathon telethon. Germany - 25 March 2010

Wolfram Kons, Dietmar Hopp, Xavier Naidoo and Robert Lübenoff (from left to right)

Xavier Naidoo will perform with the band Söhne for 24.5 hours straight for the 15th year in a Mannheims as well as solo in two separate row, is grateful for their involvement. “People concerts on 17 November, and will also be like Dietmar Hopp, Xavier Naidoo and the band joined on stage by several surprise guests. Söhne Mannheims show social responsibility. The aim of the event is to be able to present They use their special status to benefit others. a large check to the RTL Spendenmarathon That is what the RTL Spendenmarathon stands telethon on 19 November 2010 in Cologne. for as well. We help – you have our word on This, along with donations from viewers, will go that!“ Kons, who has raised well over EUR to the projects “Aufwind” (Updraft) in Mannheim 70 million with the telethon to date, is “delighted and “Sonnenkinder” (Children of the Sun) in to be part of such a remarkable partnership in Bensheim. As Xavier Naidoo promises, “We will our anniversary year.” make sure our fans and all the people who are helping us realise this project are treated to a For the projects this joint initiative represents very special evening at the SAP Arena.” the economic basis they need to continue their effective efforts in the coming years. The For SAP founder Dietmar Hopp, this partnership “Aufwind-Mannheim e.V.” society is devoted to is “a pact in the struggle against social inequality,” combating child poverty and supporting families one that his Dietmar Hopp Foundation was in difficult life situations and emergencies. Their happy to join. “We’re familiar with the idea from aim is to effectively change children’s living sports: together, you’re stronger. And in this circumstances and promote their wellbeing case, a very strong team has been assembled in a comprehensive way. “Sonnenkinder” is a to champion children in need.” Wolfram Kons, parents’ initiative that takes care of children with who is in charge of the RTL Spendenmarathon disabilities in many different ways. and this year will be cheering people to donate

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The winners are in Hundreds of kindergartens from all over Germany participated in Super RTL’s charity campaign ‘Bob Helps Kindergartens’. The five winning kindergartens have now been picked. Germany - 23 March 2010

This is the fifth time that Bob the Builder, the The “Super RTL für Kinder e.V.” society had beloved children’s character featured in Super given EUR 25,000 for the renovations. This RTL’s Toggolino preschool programming, has was generously matched by a EUR 25,000 set out to make Germany’s kindergartens a bit gift from the RTL Spendenmarathon telethon. safer and more beautiful. This year he’s focusing The company Naturholz-Gestaltung Kästner on outdoor equipment: new swing sets, slides (Natural Wood Design) also donated playhouses and jungle gyms will help provide children with worth EUR 10,000. After a careful review of all a safe, child-friendly and worry-free playing applicants, the winners have now been selected. environment. His handymen will be the cause of Located in Berlin, Bremen, Duisburg, Frankfurt a lot of shining eyes and happiness when they and Leverkusen, the five winning kindergartens take up their work in the kindergartens over the can look forward to new playground equipment next few weeks. And of course Bob the Builder worth a total of EUR 60,000. himself will stop by to inspect and inaugurate the new equipment with the kids.

Bob the Builder providing a kindergarten with new playground equipment

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Serving an important cause Groupe M6 will lend its full support to the campaign led by Sidaction to fight against Aids. Sidaction: fighting Aids together France - 22 March 2010

Created in 1994, Sidaction is a French and testimonies on research, prevention, association set up for gathering funds and access to care and treatment as well as living raising public awareness of Aids. The 4,500 with HIV during their , current events and Sidaction volunteers who are the life force of talk shows. the association will once again fan out across France to collect donations pledged by the Groupe M6 will go one step further by setting public and provide information about the illness. up a major operation on the Web to collect donations and provide information linked to Sidaction will also count on the support of all the campaign. The channels’ websites the TV channels in Groupe M6 (M6, W9, Paris and thematic portals as well as their Première, Téva, Hits, M6 Music community and youth-oriented sites Club, , TF6, Série Club) and will be supplemented with editorial their presenters from 26 to 28 March. To help content, newsletters and videos on check out make the fundraising campaign a success, the the subject. www.M6.fr/ channels will broadcast reports, documentaries emission- sidaction

Sidaction on M6.fr 7 week 12 the RTL Group intranet

Judging panel announced , and John Partridge are to form the expert panel of Over the Rainbow. Graham Norton and (right) United Kingdom - 24 March 2010

Over the Rainbow will reunite host Graham which was of course written by Andrew, so it Norton and Andrew Lloyd Webber, who, along feels like I’ve come full circle!” said Charlotte with the panel of experts and BBC One viewers, Church. John Partridge confirmed: “Musical will choose the main character Dorothy to theatre has always been my first love – it’s perform in the Musical production Wizard of where I began my career – so I’m hugely excited Oz in London’s West End next year. The show to be joining the panel. I can’t wait to work with transmits with a weekend special on Friday 26 Andrew again and to see what talent the country and Saturday 27 March, then the live studio has to offer. Dorothy is such an iconic role, for so shows start on Saturday 3 April. Andrew many reasons!” Lloyd Webber commented: “Each member of the panel brings something new and exciting Currently appearing in the musical Sister Act which will take Over the Rainbow even further in the West End, Sheila Hancock, commented: than the previous shows. We have a fantastic “I’ve had an interesting and varied career, so wealth of talent within our judges, and I know now I am looking forward to working with the check out they’re going to be bringing some incredibly panel and Andrew to seek out some fantastic www.M6.fr/ valuable expertise and opinions in our search new talent. I’m enthusiastic about a TV series emission- for Dorothy.” which shows the ins and outs of live theatre, and sidaction Over the Rainbow will do just that. The Wizard “I’m so looking forward to working with Andrew of Oz has to be one of the most well-known and – he’s an icon of the music industry, and a real best loved musicals, so it’s lovely to be involved hero of mine. My career started with Pie Jesu, in the process of updating it for new audiences.”

The expert panel: Sheila Hancock, Charlotte Church and John Partridge 8 week 12 the RTL Group intranet

“Viable and vibrant broadcasting” Dawn Airey held the International Keynote Address at the 8th Annual Australian Broadcasting Summit in Sydney, Australia, speaking about structural and cyclical challenges of the broadcasting industry. United Kingdom - 24 March 2010

Dawn Airey

Painting a grim picture of the future, Dawn Airey, of Glee in the US as well as Five’s Milkshake and Chair and CEO of Five, introduced the audience The Gadget Show. “So all of a sudden we’re to the challenges that the TV industry has to not just a broadcaster any more we’re in the deal with these days, before she presented merchandising and licensing business.” solutions and tasks to fulfil. “Clearly we are facing substantial pressures. There is audience Last but not least, Airey cited the example of fragmentation. Ad budgets are shifting,” she partnerships such as Groupe M6 in France said. “But might it not equally be the case that partnering with Orange to form M6 Mobile by some of the factors that we’re told are going to Orange. “Partnerships represent a way forward – lead to our inevitable demise, may in the long with companies like Orange that bring additional run actually make us stronger?” expertise to the party. But also partnerships between broadcasters.” When broadcasters In order to meet the challenges the industry combine their forces to build up new markets, faces, Dawn Airey stated that broadcasters all of them can profit from the collaboration – so should rethink their businesses: “We’re not long as the regulators agree. simply ‘broadcasters’ any more,” Airey said. “We are in the content business and the business of In conclusion, Dawn Airey brought up three building brands – the business of creating them, tasks for the industry: first, continuing to invest funding them, marketing them, distributing in high-quality domestic productions; second, them, but most importantly of all – monetising embracing new technology and non-linear them in a sustainable fashion. That can be on platforms because the viewer already does so broadcast TV, pay TV, IPTV, the web, mobile and third, recognising that broadcasters can’t devices, Apple tablets, you name it.” do all of it on their own any more. “We need to work with one another and look for interesting But not only the way of presenting content partnerships further afield because that will also on different platforms instead of just one enable us to continue to invest in new content changed with new technologies. With declining and new technology. What we mustn’t do is rail advertising revenues, broadcasters need to find against advances in technology,” she said and additional sources of revenue. “We should start concluded: “Embrace technology. Work with it. by working on our existing programme assets a And you may just discover a whole new world of lot harder and transforming them into high value intriguing possibilities. But for god’s sake don’t franchises that allow us to share in their lifetime whinge.” value,” Dawn Airey said, quoting the examples 9 week 12 the RTL Group intranet

Delivering viewers with the best HD service Five and Sky have announced the launch of Five HD, a high definition version of Five which will show programming that has been made in high definition. FlashForward will be broadcast in HD United Kingdom - 19 March 2010

Five’s line-up lends itself to transmission in other major free-to-air commercial broadcaster HD with top-rating US dramas such as CSI given the wide range of high quality series we and FlashForward, popular soaps including broadcast, such as our top-rated line-up of Neighbours and Home & Away, international US dramas. We’re delighted to begin our HD cricket and live Europa League football, as well journey with Sky.” as blockbuster movies. Five HD will start broadcasting to more than Five becomes the 42nd channel to commit to two million Sky+ HD homes in July. Five HD will joining Sky’s HD line-up. Charles Constable, be available without additional subscription to Five’s Director of Strategy, said: “This is an viewers with Sky+ HD boxes, a Sky viewing card exciting opportunity for Five. Our programme and an HD-ready set. schedule is more suited to HD than that any

HDTV is on RTL Sport HD RTL Belgium launches high-definition television, offering major sporting events on a specific HD channel: RTL Sport HD. Belgium - 24 March 2010

With RTL Sport HD, viewers will find the 18 viewers to enjoy these major sporting events stages of the MotoGP in HD, with the first event with the best quality that technology has to offer. in Qatar airing live on RTL Sport HD on Sunday This stage is the first in a series that will gradually 11 April. The four home and away semi-finals see all RTL Belgium channels offer their and the final Champion’s League match as well programmes in HD. The RTL Sport HD channel as the mythic Wimbledon tournament will also will initially be available on VOO, Belgacom TV be broadcast live on RTL Sport HD, allowing and .

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Number one in 4 hours RTL.lu launched its iPhone application, which became Luxembourg’s most downloaded application in the space of a morning. Geolocalisation of events from the cultural agenda Luxembourg - 24 March 2010

Developed in-house by the RTL New Media “Supported by high-quality content, the result team, the application’s success is no accident. of a skilful blend of information and services, “We didn’t want to work urgently just to release RTL.lu is the number one website in Luxembourg. the umpteenth iPhone application, since there It’s only logical that RTL Lëtzebuerg decided to is already an endless supply of them on the take this success story and put it on the up-and- market,” RTL New Media Station Manager Tom coming new platform that is mobile Internet. In Weber tells. “We did the opposite, taking our view of the iPhone’s high penetration rate in the time to think about an application that would be Grand Duchy, RTL Lëtzebuerg developed its simple to use, offer a wide range of high value- own application, focussing on the strong points added services and be accessible with a simple that have brought the RTL family success for .” more than 50 years: news, as always, sports and entertainment. We’re very happy to see Indeed, the technology underlying the our application become the most downloaded RTL.lu iPhone application works invisibly to application in Luxembourg in the space of a bring content to the screen simply and brilliantly. few hours. We thank the mobile users,” says The mobile user can browse intuitively and Alain Berwick, Director of RTL Lëtzebuerg. “Our choose between consulting the latest in news efforts have been paid off with their satisfaction.” or sports, checking road traffic conditions or weather forecasts, viewing cinema listings, a Thanks to its new iPhone application, the cultural events calendar and horoscopes. The content of the RTL Group’s Luxembourg family user can also watch television and listen to the is now available and being fully exploited in a radio live, and even has access to catch-up TV new medium in response to the public’s new service. The “Mobile Reporter” service offers modes of consumption. users who are at the right place at the right time to send their photos and videos to the RTL Lëtzebuerg editorial department, guaranteeing an interactive experience.

Internet users, often known to be harsh in their comments, unanimously hailed the arrival of the RTL.lu iPhone application, which has proudly earned a 4.5 out of 5-star rating. As one internet user sums it up: “Congratulations! The application is truly perfect. It’s all there. Nothing has been left out.” Tom Weber is not content to stop here, despite the application’s successful debut. He tells Backstage that he is already working on new functionalities that will put the finishing touches on the iPhone services being offered by RTL.lu.

Primary screen of the app 11 Knock-out ratings Up to 13.74 million viewers watched Wladimir Klitschko knock out the American boxer Eddie Chambers. An average 12.59 million viewers tuned in to see the boxing match, making the broadcast of the World Cup fight RTL Television’s most-watched TV show of the year to date. Total audience share was 52.8 per cent, while the market share in the 14 to 49 target group came to 50.8 per cent. From left to right: Wladimir Klitschko, Eddie Chambers. © Marianne Müller Marianne © week 12 the RTL Group intranet

Fighting against Aids at any occasion Radio 538 will supply condoms to camping facilities for Dutch football supporters during the 2010 World Cup. The - 18 March 2010

Five gets Britain singing and dancing Five has commissioned Don’t Stop Believing, a major, new, live entertainment event which will discover Britain’s greatest musical performance groups. United Kingdom - 22 March 2010

The new video range at N-TV.de N-TV.de launched its new video offering with significantly more videos and even better integrated content thanks to intelligent linking of videos, pictures and articles. Germany - 22 March 2010

Quality American drama on British TV Five USA has acquired the exclusive UK rights to the new smash hit US action drama series, Justified. United Kingdom - 23 March 2010

Audiences soaring With an increase of 45 per cent of the total audience subscribing to cable or satellite in the period of September 2009 to February 2010, M6 Music Hits saw its ratings soar. Also, the M6 Music Club channel has tripled its total audience (+220 per cent) of cable and satellite subscribers since its launch on 20 January 2009. France - 25 March 2010

Rob Brydon to star in his own comedy show Arbie, of which holds 50 per cent of the shares, produces The Rob Brydon Show for BBC Two, which sees the British Comedian Rob Brydon take the audience into his world sharing his experiences as a dad, husband and a famous face. United Kingdom - 25 March 2010

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