Powerful Start Anke Schäferkordt on RTL Television’S Role in the German Society and a Good Start to the New Year

15 January 2009

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Powerful start Anke Schäferkordt on RTL Television’s role in the German society and a good start to the new year

Luxembourg France The year 2008 in W9 measuring audience retrospect figures

Germany United States Journalistic expertise American Idol returns pays off week

COVER: Anke Schäferkordt, CEO of RTL Television

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“RTL Television will still be the first port of call” The start into a new quarter century was successful. Recently RTL Television launched a new season of Ich bin ein Star – Holt mich hier raus!. Up to 5.87 million viewers tuned in late on 9 January to see ten celebrity participants move into their new accommodation in the Australian bush. Anke Schäferkordt Germany - 15 January 2009

That corresponds to a market share of 31.6 per I see Ich bin ein Star… more as a comedy for- cent in the target group of 14 to 49 year olds. mat. Those who take the show too seriously Next highlight in line is the Handball World Cup. don’t really ‘get’ it. From 17 January on, RTL Television is going to broadcast all games of the German National The Handball World Cup starts tomorrow, Team live. On 21 January a new season of and RTL is broadcasting from it for the first Deutschland sucht den Superstar is going to be time. What are your expectations? launched. From September to November 2008, The Handball World Cup of two years ago, 31,098 candidates auditioned in 15 German which Germany ended up winning, was after- cities. The first six episodes of Deutschland wards referred to by everyone here as the “win- sucht den Superstar, to be shown every ter wonderland.” The country was in an upbeat Wednesday and Saturday at 20:15 from 21 mood and it felt like the sport of handball was January, will feature the highlights from these being newly discovered. Handball is powerful, auditions. fast and emotional. That’s what we want to communicate, along with a few new ideas for All this happens during the celebration of RTL the implementation. I’m keeping my fingers Television’s 25th anniversary in Germany. On 2 crossed for our team to go far, and wish all our January 1984 at 17:27, the channel RTLplus – colleagues in Croatia as well as here in Cologne now known as RTL Television – was born. lots of fun and success in the process. Backstage took the opportunity to speak to Anke Schäferkordt, CEO of RTL Television, about past and future projects.

Ich bin ein Star – Holt mich hier raus! got off to a better start this season than last time around. Why is that? The format is outstandingly and lovingly produced and offers the best in entertainment. Its mode- rators Dirk Bach and Sonja Zietlow are an ideal match for the show, and the viewers seem to be delighted with the casting of the jungle camp residents, too.

Peter Bond (left) and Michael Meziani in Ich bin ein Star – Holt mich hier raus !

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It’s probably difficult to sum up in a few not to expect – at what times. To this day it is words, but we’d like to try: how has RTL this blend of reliability, surprise – and someti- Television changed Germany in 25 years? mes provocation – that makes RTL so special. Commercial television has dramatically enri- ched and influenced the German TV landscape. What is the first RTL programme you can And there’s bound to be some truth to some- remember? thing that’s been written about repeatedly in We weren’t able to receive RTL plus at my recent days: commercial television and RTL in home at first, so the early days of the program- particular have made the country somewhat ming passed me by. Of course from later I more relaxed. Programming became more remember programmes like Tutti frutti and Der colourful, more surprising, and entertainment heisse Stuhl, Gute Zeiten – Schlechte Zeiten, became acceptable. Even news anchors were and Wimbledon. allowed to smile every once in a while – an absolute novelty at the time. RTL put viewers at Do you have any favourite shows on RTL the heart of its efforts. Though at first they Television apart from the most popular weren’t taken seriously, the commercial broad- ones? casters quickly turned into serious competition My personal favourite shows are based on my for the then-top dogs, ARD and ZDF. Here as personal tastes. However, some of them are elsewhere, competition breathed new life into among RTL Television’s most successful pro- the business, and viewers were the main bene- grammes, such as Dr. House or Deutschland ficiaries. Today’s TV audiences have an incredi- sucht den Superstar. I also regularly watch RTL ble range of programming to choose from. RTL Aktuell, and love to tune in to Doctor’s Diary Television is the clear market leader among and Rach, der Restauranttester. young audiences, and our entertainment shows set standards – but we have long since drawn even with the public broadcasters when it comes to information as well. All modesty aside: it’s hard to imagine our media landscape without RTL Television.

Another commercial broadcaster launched simultaneous- ly with RTL Television in Germany. Why did RTL Television emerge as the number one? As long as I’ve known the company, RTL Television has always been distinguished by the special passion that its programming Doctor’s Diary professionals bring to their work. Add to that the high level of expertise throughout the team, and the experience to create hits paired with an ability to learn from flops. RTL Television has often been a trendsetter, across all genres. And RTL Television quickly became a reliable partner to viewers, with programming that allowed viewers to gather very soon, even without a TV guide, what to expect – and what

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People in Germany are quick to criticise commercial television’s contribution to society. How do you respond to this criticism? We take our responsibility to society seriously, and we act on it. Activities like the RTL School of Journalism and our Spendenmarathon, which has raised over EUR 70 million for children in need in Germany and all over the world since it began, are a couple of exam- ples. We also show responsibility in our programming, by tackling socially relevant, critical societal issues. We realise that we trigger some discussion with this. We take seriously any criticism that is factual, discerning and searches for solutions. But there are some that criticise us without really knowing our programming. So-called ‘quality debates’, for instance, which for all their heatedness manage to avoid actually defining quality in television, tend to be less productive. It could be that people simply like to spar with RTL Television. For me, that shows just one thing: television in general – and RTL Television in particular – moves and provokes people, is an object of conversations and discus- Anke Schäferkordt and Wolfram Kons at the Spendenmarathon 2008 sions, is relevant. When people no longer get into discussions about us, news programmes, as well as our magazine that’s when we should start worrying. and tabloid formats speaks for itself. For instance, in 2008 RTL Aktuell was slightly ahead of How can RTL Television continue to attract ZDF’s Heute news, even in total audience. In the whole family to the TV screen in future? the US elections, our coverage pushed us By continuing to search for the best ideas day clearly ahead of ARD. So viewers have long by day, and by keeping a very attentive eye and since started turning to RTL Television for infor- ear on our viewers. By identifying social chan- mation as well, no longer limiting themselves to ges and dealing with them in appropriate for- the public broadcasters, who felt unassailable mats. By being faster than the others. And by in what they felt to be their domain. continuing to bring passion to our programming. Because beyond all technological pro- Compared with international peers, the gress, it is the ideas and the relevance of the regulation of the German TV landscape is topics we choose to cover in entertainment and progressing very slowly. Do you sometimes information that determine whether our viewers wish you worked under different conditions will remain loyal to us or not. in Germany’s ‘dual system’? In principle I endorse the dual system, but the How important is informational program- public broadcasters have long since lost all ming to RTL Television’s success? sense of proportionality. In times like these, Information in all its many facets is a very annual income of currently around EUR 8 bil- important element in our programming – and lion, guaranteed to increase, for one of the plays an accordingly large part in our success. most expensive public broadcasting systems in Viewers expect us, as the number one, to offer the world with more than 20 public channels both: top entertainment and well-researched, appear incredible, but are a reality that was relevant information. The popularity of our designed that way by politicians. Apart from 5 week 03 the RTL Group intranet

The jury of Deutschland sucht den Superstar: Volker Neumüller, Nina Eichinger and Dieter Bohlen striving for halfway-fair rules for old and new What are the advantages of being part of a players in our market, we have to watch out major European TV group? that future growth areas such as the online We practice a brisk exchange of skills and realm are not tipped into imbalance from the know-how in many areas. We benefit from start through fee-financed activities by ARD experiences gained through success. We share and ZDF. And of course I would like to see a learnings, thereby eliminating the need to extensive deregulation of commercial broad- repeat mistakes. Today more than ever, collea- casting. (Some of the) rules that still apply gues in the various markets are searching for today have not kept pace with developments in new lines of business and sustainable business our own medium nor with that of the market in models to complement our core business of general. Free TV. Digitisation has turned areas like online or mobile into growth sectors. The kind of In the year ahead, Mediengruppe RTL intense networking that we practice and culti- Deutschland is merging all of its operations vate, is of incalculable value in this context. in Cologne under a shared roof. What advantages do you expect this to bring for What will RTL Television look like 25 years the day-to-day business? from now? It will be a tour de force, alone the challenge of In 25 years RTL Television will still be the first moving four channels without interrupting their port of call for top entertainment and informa- broadcasting operations. But I am confident tion. RTL Television will be a brand that can be that being united under a single roof will serve accessed on all platforms and viewed on all to even further intensify cooperation within our screens. Viewers themselves will decide when media group, increase the flow of ideas and and where they watch us. The devices will have information, and make us cooperate even more changed, TV and Internet will have converged on new ideas. All of us will not only know, as we very closely. RTL Television will be available do today, that we are a group, we will be living everywhere at all times. But there will still be a it first-hand on a daily basis. TV set in front of the living-room sofa. It will most likely be capable of more than today’s TVs, but will still show programming that RTL Television’s programme makers have put together with dedication and passion.

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RTL Television Anniversary Specials

On screen, RTL Television is celebrating its anniversary with two big shows. One was already broadcast during prime time on 10 January. As many as 6.56 million viewers watched Part 1 of 25 Jahre – Die www. große RTL-Jubiläumsshow from 20:15. An average 5.50 million viewers over the age of 3 years, or 17.3 per cent of the market, watched 25jahre-rtl-television as Oliver Geissen presented highlights from RTL Television’s history to .de mark the channel’s anniversary. RTL Television will air Part 2 of the show on Saturday 17 January, at 20:15. Guests include Günther Jauch, Dieter Bohlen, Oliver Pocher, Inka Bause as well as the new married farm- ers Anja and Bruno, Hans Meiser, Peter Kloeppel, Ulrike von der Groeben, Christian Rach and Henry Maske – all together teaming up to prepare a special surprise for the audience in the studio.

RTL Television is also running a special trailer and logo to promote the anniversary.

In addition, the channel has set up an anniversary portal at www.25jahre-rtl-television.de, featuring an extensive chronicle, trail- ers, tributes from famous media per- sonalities and lots of other fun stuff tying in to the anniversary.

Peter Kloeppel at the anniversary show

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The year 2008 in retrospect Virtually all RTL Group’s television channels achieved good results in 2008. Luxembourg - 15 January 2009

GERMANY - Mediengruppe RTL Deutschland’s channels year-on-year increase. AGOF’s internet Facts attracted an average 32.9 per cent of study reports that RTL.de is also the leading Germany’s young TV audiences in 2008, put- professionally edited content site on the ting them more than three percentage points German Web, with 6.6 million Unique Users per ahead of the ProSiebenSat.1 group, which sco- month. RTL’s mobile internet portal mobil.rtl.de red a 29.3 per cent market share. In 2008, a big also continued its strong growth and now gets year in sports, RTL Television continued to be 1.9 million page views per month. the number one among young viewers (14 to 49) by a large margin, attracting 15.7 per cent FRANCE of the market. The runners-up were ProSieben The year 2008 marked a turning point in the (11.8 per cent), Sat.1 (10.8 per cent), Vox (7.5 history of M6 which, in a competitive context per cent), ARD (7.5 per cent) and ZDF (7.0 per that is increasingly intense, has demonstrated cent). In total audience, RTL’s market share of its ability to gather all television audiences, rea- 11.7 per cent puts it behind ARD (13.4 per cent) ching the number one position among 2008’s and ZDF (13.1 per cent), which broadcast both biggest audiences, all networks combined. the European football championships and the Olympic Games. With more than 10 new successful programmes (Un dîner presque parfait, 100% Mag, Bien Vox closed the year 2008 with a 7.5 per cent dans ma vie, Accès privé, Bon et à savoir, Le market share in the 14 to 49 adult demogra- chef contre-attaque, Belle toute nue, Maman phic. Its ‘Starkino’ movies on Thursdays were cherche l'amour, 66 Minutes in prime time, Les especially popular again in 2008. RTL II avera- Bougon), M6 has shown daring in its program- ged 6.1 per cent of the 14- to 49-year-old vie- ming schedule. Innovation, the key to success, wer market in 2008, a slight year-on-year decli- has allowed M6 to post the best rating among ne of 0.2 percentage points. 2008 went down all the major networks in 2008. Indeed, with an as the most successful year to date in the his- audience share of 11 per cent in terms of ove- tory of N-TV: in a year with plenty of news, the rall audiences, the network has registered the broadcaster scored its highest TV annual mar- greatest resistance against the spread of ket shares since it first went on air. The news “other channels”. channel closed the year with a 0.9 per cent audience share in both its target demographics On 17 June 2008, M6 recorded the highest – adults over the age of 14, and viewers 14 to rating for the year among all networks combi- 49 – which translates to a year-on-year increa- ned thanks to the UEFA Euro 2008 match that se of 0.2 percentage points in each case. saw “les Bleus” play against Italy. With 13.2 million viewers, this match was also the biggest Video and social networks were the hot topics audience in the network’s history. on the internet in 2008. The RTL.de, Vox.de, Clipfish.de and RTLnow.de portals scored several hundred million video views. In particu- THE NETHERLANDS lar, the share of marketable video views of pro- RTL Nederland once again defended its lead in fessionally produced content more than dou- the Dutch TV market in 2008. Together, RTL bled on the Clipfish video clip portal in 2008, Group’s Dutch channels drew 30.5 per cent of and now accounts for nearly half of all views. the target demographic, shoppers aged 20 to The infotainment portal RTL.de continued gro- 49. This represented a year-on-year improve- wing as well, averaging 40 million visits a ment of 0.8 per cent for RTL Nederland. The month according to the IVW: a 27 per cent channel strengthened its lead considerably fol-

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lowing the start of the new TV season in HUNGARY September 2008. Public broadcasters and the 2008 was another successful year in the SBS group scored 28.5 per cent and 27.6 per history of RTL Klub, Hungary’s market-leading cent respectively of the Dutch audience in private broadcaster. 2008. For the first time in its history RTL Klub co- RTL 4 was particularly successful during prime organised and broadcasted the unified Miss time and access prime time in 2008, drawing World, Miss Universe and Miss Earth contest in an average market share of 14.9 per cent for May, which was celebrated with a spectacular the year. RTL 5 drew an average 9.1 per cent of live programme in prime time. The biggest its target market – viewers 20 to 34 – in 2008, audience hit was Celeb vagyok, ments ki innen an improvement of 0.2 percentage points vs. (I'm a Celebrity, Get Me out of Here) shot in the the previous year. RTL 7, a channel catering pri- rainforest in Argentina not far from the Iguazu marily to male viewers, scored a 6.9 per cent Falls. The two consecutive seasons of the rea- market share among its target demographic of lity show were one of the biggest challenges in men 20 to 34, a year-on-year improvement of the history of television in Hungary: a daily live 0.2 percentage points. Meanwhile, RTL 8, reality programme from a far-away continent which caters more to female viewers, scored an with spectacular ratings and amazing market average 3.4 per cent market share among shares. The final episode was watched by 49.8 women 20 to 49 last year. per cent of the target group.

BELGIUM The RTL Klub online network scored 5 million RTL-TVI is markedly ahead of its competitors, Page Impressions in 2008, surpassing last notably thanks to its televised news program- year’s record of one million PIs. mes, which regularly beat audience records. 13 heures was the leader every day in 2008, SPAIN with an audience share of 41.9 per cent and 19 Antena 3 decreased in viewing figures, ending heures was number one every evening except the year with the number three position in for four, with an audience share of 46.7 per Spain. Overall, an average of 16.1 per cent of cent. viewers watched the channel. The two DTT channels Antena Neox and Antena Nova achieved a market share of 0.57 per cent (Neox) and 0.47 per cent (Nova), making Neox the most watched DTT channel in Spain.

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Journalistic expertise pays off In 2008, RTL Aktuell surpassed, for the first time, ZDF’s Heute news in terms of total audience (3 years and older) from Monday to Sunday. Peter Kloeppel and GeorgesW. Bush Germany - 6 January 2009

This puts RTL Television’s main news at num- A comparison of market shares is especially ber two in the ranking of German news pro- important when rating the day’s main news grammes, behind Tagesschau. programmes because they begin at different times, with later programmes benefiting from With an average 3.74 million viewers, RTL higher TV use in general. Television’s news (RTL Aktuell and RTL Aktuell Weekend) at 18:45 were the most-watched RTL Television’s editor-in-chief Peter Kloeppel news programmes on German television says: “Viewers continued to turn to RTL Aktuell (Monday to Sunday) after the ARD Tagesschau as one of their most important sources of news (5.20 million), which begins at 20.00. For the and information in 2008. Beyond the daily TV first time ever, the heute news at 19:00 had to news, people’s confidence in our journalistic settle for No.3 in the news ranking, with an ave- expertise and their deliberate choice of RTL’s rage 3.73 million viewers. news was reflected in the high ratings scored by our live coverage of the US presidential The RTL Aktuell news from Monday to Friday, elections, clearly the high point of the year in moderated by Peter Kloeppel, averaged 3.87 news. We will build on this in Germany’s big million viewers in 2008, putting them behind election year 2009.” Tagesschau (4.83 million) and ahead of Heute (3.85 million). With an average total audience share of 18.8 per cent, RTL Aktuell outperfor- med the public broadcasters again in 2008, as it had in 2007. Tagesschau scored 17.6 per cent, Heute 17.4 per cent.

RTL Aktuell was the number-one news choice among young audiences (14 to 49) for the 16th consecutive year. RTL Television’s news drew an average 19.4 per cent of this target demographic, once again putting it well ahead of Tagesschau (10.3 per cent) and Heute (5.6 per cent).

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Vox viewers give EUR 259,777 The money raised during the “Machen Sie Schule” fund drive will support the building of schools in Ethiopia. Judith Adlhoch with children in Ethiopia Germany - 9 January 2009

Vox viewers made it happen again in 2008, Judith Adlhoch, presenter of Voxtours, says: donating EUR 259,777 during the “Machen Sie “On my trip through Ethiopia I saw the chil- Schule” fund drive. The money raised makes it dren’s amazing will to learn. Thanks to Vox’s possible to build two school centres complete viewers, many children are now being given the with desks, chairs, teaching and lesson mate- chance to do so – and it will open up a whole rials and sanitary facilities in Ethiopia, and to new world for them. Going to school is the first equip the children with school materials and step into a better future, as education means a uniforms. chance at change and development.”

In 2008, Vox and the World Vision relief organi- sation hosted the “Machen Sie Schule” fundrai- ser for the third time, with the aim of enabling children in developing countries to get a formal education. Thanks to the generosity of Vox viewers, some thirty schools have already been built in Swaziland and Mali, and hundreds of children have been equipped with classroom materials. The money from the 2008 fund drive will go to school projects in Ethiopia. With annual per capita income at around USD 160, Ethiopia is one of the world’s poorest countries. It costs just under EUR 10 a year to supply a child with books, notebooks and pens and pencils for school – money many families simply don’t have. As a result, their children never get a chance to go to school. Children in Ethopia benefit from Vox’s approach

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Commercial broadcasters make for better programming January 1984 marked the dawn of a new era of programming diversity and freedom of choice for Germany’s TV viewers – and for public broadcasters, it marked the beginning of a tough battle for the audience’s favour. Germany - 9 January 2009

When the first commercial broadcasters, RTL According to analyses by IP Deutschland, Television (at the time broadcasting as RTLplus) based on the AGF/GfK TV Panel, overall avera- and Sat.1 (then known as PKS), went on air, ge daily TV consumption remained constant at ARD and ZDF still had a monopoly on viewers, a high level in 2008. In the advertisers’ prefer- day after day and night after night. A few years red demographic of 14 to 49 year olds, usage later, the wild young things had caught up with remained identical to the previous year’s figure the old bulls. at 178 minutes. Among all viewers aged 3 and over, usage per person and day decreased A representative survey of the younger half of negligibly by one minute from 208 (in 2007) to the population (1,006 adults aged 14 to 49), 207 (in 2008). Meanwhile, contrary to some commissioned by the airtime marketer IP negative forecasts, usage among the young Deutschland in December 2008 on the anniver- viewers between the ages of 14 and 29 increa- sary of RTL & Co., and carried out by the mar- sed by 3 minutes year-on-year (136 vs. 133 ket researchers at Forsa, indicates that com- min). mercial television is seen as having created a much broader offering for viewers (90 per cent For Cologne-based Super RTL, 2008 was ano- agreed) and breathed fresh air into the TV land- ther good year, clinching ten years of market scape in general (79 per cent). Viewers are leadership in children’s television. Not only is more critical of ARD and ZDF: 63 per cent feel Super RTL the best-known TV broadcaster that the public broadcasters no longer fulfil among children, it is also far and away their their mandate to educate the public. And over favourite channel according to the ‘iconkids half of all respondents (53 per cent) feel that the Trend-Tracking Kids 2008’. However, viewing news broadcast by commercial channels like minutes among children aged 3 to 13 declined RTL Television are now as reliable and reputa- by one minute year-on-year, from 87 minutes a ble as those on public channels. day in 2007 to 86 minutes in 2008.

The people surveyed also felt that today’s best TV programming comes from the leading commercial channels with RTL Television, ProSieben, Vox, Sat.1, RTL II and Kabel Eins together garnering 54 per cent of all mentions. ARD and ZDF, including all their regional channels and Arte scored just 19 per cent of the mentions (difference to 100: smaller favourite channels or no answer). Furthermore, the majo- rity of TV viewers dramatically underestimates the amount generated from TV/Radio license fees each year – nearly EUR 8 billion in 2009. Only 28 per cent think that ARD/ZDF get several billion per year in fees.

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New Vox portals off to a strong start Launched around the middle of 2008, the Vox portals Frauenzimmer.de and Kochbar.de have apparently struck a nerve with audiences, as evidenced by the IVW’s latest online figures. Germany - 12 January 2009

Frauenzimmer.de Kochbar.de

864,000 visits were counted for the Kochbar.de takes a practical approach in the Frauenzimmer women’s portal and 1.29 million New Year with ‘recipes to go’. The mobile and visits for the Kochbar cooking portal in online team at RTL Interactive worked closely December. Both websites have steadily increa- with Vox to develop a mobile portal that will eli- sed their traffic since launch and have each minate the need for writing long lists before gone straight to the top echelons of the ran- heading for the supermarket. Users can conve- kings in their respective target audiences. The niently view their personal cookbook and their two specialty-interest portals, produced by RTL favourite recipes from their mobile phone. Interactive in close coordination with Vox, already have over 100,000 registered users in Community members can log in to Mobil.koch- their community. To meet the Kochbar commu- bar.de via their mobile to access their user nity’s high demand for ‘mobile’ recipes, a information, including all stored recipes. And ‘mobiles cookbook’ has now gone online at even non-registered users can have the conve- Mobil.kochbar.de. nience of accessing the extensive recipe data- base on Mobil.kochbar.de and searching it for Not even half a year its relaunch in the middle key words and ingredients. The Kochbar.de of last July, the Frauenzimmer.de portal – a site mobile cookbook is a helpful companion both catering to women between 25 and 45 years at the supermarket and in the kitchen. old – is already nearing the million-visit mark, with 864,000 visits (and some 19.2 million Page Impressions) in December. The site has thus quickly risen to an outstanding starting position in women’s sites.

The Kochbar.de community, which launched in mid-May 2008, generated 1.29 million Visits (and some 12.1 million Page Impressions) in December under the motto “Cooking with Friends”. Its cooking community has been very active from the beginning.

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Playing with the big boys The first DTT channel to measure audience ratings through Médiamat, Médiamétrie’s audience measuring device, W9 has shown its first success on its first score. On 5 January, 900,000 viewers stayed tuned to the channel during its prime time programming. France - 7 January 2009

With the broadcast of the American film Les Evadés (The Shawshank Redemption) with Tim Robbins and Morgan Freeman W9 attained a 3.6 per cent total audience share. It was an even bigger hit among viewers in the under-50 target group with an audience rating of an even 5 per cent. For the entire day W9 proudly pos- ted a 2.5 per cent total audience share. Les Evadés with Tim Robbins and Morgan Freeman By subscribing to Médiamat national, W9 is sending a strong signal to advertisers. “The advertisers will have the exact audience numbers for their advertising broadcast the previous day,” explains Ronan de Fressenel, director of marketing and studies for Groupe M6. After that, W9 will align itself with the example of the so-called historical channels that report their previous days’ audience numbers every morning, calculated by Médiamétrie.

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American Idol is back Season 8 of American Idol premiered on 13 January with a few changes to the format including new judge, Kara DioGuardi, and the return of the Wildcard. American idol North America - 15 January 2009

The launch was a success as the television jug- gernaut returned to US TV screens with a two- hour episode that garnered 30.1 million total viewers – approximately 12 million ahead of its closest competitor. The search for a new superstar will continue over the next five months.

Songwriter and producer Kara DioGuardi now joins Paula Abdul, Simon Cowell and Randy Randy Jackson, the new judge Kara DioGuardi, Simon Cowell, Jackson as a fourth member on the judging Paula Abdul and presenter Ryan Seacrest (from left to right) panel. The recall in Hollywood has been expan- ded, giving viewers more time to see the contestants. The Wildcard has also returned, allowing the judges to keep individual contestants on the show even if the audience has voted them off.

In Season 7, American Idol was watched by an average of 28 million viewers per episode. Since the show first debuted in 2002, the formi- dable talent show has spawned such mega recording stars like Kelly Clarkson and Carrie Underwood. The format is successful worldwi- de and local adaptations or recordings are broadcast in more than 100 countries. Next month, “The American Idol Experience” will launch at Walt Disney World in Florida.

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Hole in the Wall conquers China Broadcast daily on the Shanghai Media Group Entertainment Channel, the show provides a whole new type of entertainment to millions of Chinese audiences. Dong Dong Qiang China - 6 January 2009

Since its premiere on 15 December 2008, Dong FremantleMedia Asia commented: “Fremantle Dong Qiang, as it is called in the local langua- looks forward to strengthening its relationship ge, has aired Mondays to Fridays at 18.00. The with SMG on the back of this successful co- Chinese edition of Hole in the Wall follows the production.” same model as the other 30 versions of this format aired around the world. Two teams of The special shape of Chinese characters will contestants compete by twisting their bodies also be fully integrated throughout the show. into crazy shapes as they try to fit through The joint production team has already reviewed holes crafted into a fast-approaching hundreds of wall shapes, and with some local Styrofoam wall. If they are unsuccessful, a pool ingenuity, audiences will be treated to their of water and a big splash awaits. Dressed in favorite celebrities running into Chinese tight-fitting spandex suits, celebrities as well as “words” familiar from everyday life. These spe- normal people will compete for bragging rights cial Chinese walls will present even more of a and cash prizes, but more importantly, for lots challenge for contestants and of course more of fun and great television entertainment. fun for viewers as well.

The name Dong Dong Qiang is a clever adap- tation derived from sounds of joy and celebration in Chinese. It contains the essence of the original title, and vividly demonstrates the intensity and excitement of the show. FremantleMedia’s China team and its international consultants worked closely with the SMG New Entertainment Group to bring this show to China.

Wenning Xing, Chief Representative, FremantleMedia China said: “I am extremely proud to bring this format to China, and it is even more gratifying to see how well FremantleMedia has worked with Shanghai Media Group (SMG) on this show. From start to finish, we co-managed the production; this show is a co-production in the truest sense.” Patrick Schult, Managing Director,

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The most popular German TV movie of 2008 On 27 January 2009, the 19th ‘Diva’ awards will be presented in Munich. In addition to a Diva judges’ award, the year’s most successful movie/video, music and television productions will be honoured with the Diva audience award. Germany - 7 January 2009

Die Gustloff

The audience award goes to the year’s biggest a young shipping merchant ordered to bring box-office and ratings successes. some 1,500 members of the armed forces and as many refugees as possible to Kiel on board In ‘TV Movies’, UFA Filmproduktion’s event the ‘Wilhelm Gustloff’. The film is based on the production Die Gustloff was the undisputed historical facts and events surrounding the sin- ratings champion of the year. 8.45 million vie- king of the ‘Wilhelm Gustloff’ on 30 January wers and a 23.5 per cent total audience share 1945, when the ship left Gdynia (Gotenhafen) on ZDF put it in first place, ahead of The with more than 10,000 people on board and Miracle of Berlin (2nd place, 8 million viewers) without an appropriate security escort. After and Mogadishu (7.34 million viewers), both of being torpedoed by a Soviet submarine, the which were produced by Teamworx. ship sank in just over an hour. More than 9,000 people lost their lives in the icy waters of the An anti-war drama directed by Joseph Baltic, with only approximately 1,000 surviving Vilsmaier and starring Kai Wiesinger, Valerie the incident. It was the deadliest shipping Niehaus, Heiner Lauterbach and Dana Vávrová, disaster in the history of shipping. Die Gustloff tells the story of Hellmut Kehding,

17 week 03 the RTL Group intranet

Making winners A number of winners were crowned in various FremantleMedia talent shows around the world. Idolos Brasil United Kingdom - 22 December 2008

On 13 and 14 December two Idols series came to an end in Sweden and Finland. The winner of Idol 2008 in Sweden was Kevin Borg, a Maltese singer who moved to Sweden a year ago. Idol 2008 was the highest-rated show on TV4 for young adults, with 1.4 million viewers watching the finale.

Over one-fourth of all viewers in Finland tuned in to watch as Koop Arponen was crowned the Idol for 2008. Koop beat rival Anna with over 70 per cent of the votes. Like the Swedish winner, Koop only recently moved to Finland.

Idolos Brasil concluded its third season last week crowning Rafael Barreto as the winner. Idolos Brasil, on Rede Redords for the first time this season, achieved a 27 per cent share. As well as ranking number one in its timeslot, Idolos Brasil had a lead of 77 per cent ahead of its nearest competitor SBT.

The first series of Got Talent in Argentina (Talento Argentino) ended on 14 December, with comedian Martin Bustos emerging as the winner.

The final show in the second series of Belgium’s The X Factor took place a week before Christmas; Dirk De Smet was crowned the winner.

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From shows to events Grundy Light Entertainment, producer of popular TV and online formats, now enters the event industry. Germany - 15 January 2009

As an expert in the development and produc- Ute Biernat, CEO of Grundy Light tion of entertainment formats, Grundy Light Entertainment: “Creative content is in demand Entertainment wants to use its entertainment in the event industry. We are the right partner expertise to design and stage corporate and for companies wanting to produce an entertai- charity events, incentives, conferences and ning and exciting event. In addition to our core galas. Possible content includes formats such business of producing TV formats, we would as Familienduell (Family Duel) or Geh aufs like to use our know-how to position ourselves Ganze (Go the Whole Hog), precisely tailored to more broadly in future, although our core com- the customer’s event, as well as concepts indi- petence remains the development and produc- vidually developed for the customer. The pro- tion of good entertainment.” ducer has access not just to a large repertoire of shows, but also to an excellent network of The company will present itself for the first time presenters, actors, comedians, singers and with a stand at the “World of Events” trade- dancers. show on 21 and 22 January in Wiesbaden (Hall 4, Stand 425).

Barely broadcast-able Fiver has commissioned Celador Productions to produce a six-part series, The Sexy Ad Show, which showcases some of the raciest, most politically incorrect and barely broadcast-able adverts to have emerged from ad-land. United Kingdom - 14 January 2009

Presented by one of Britain’s biggest rising Hannah Barnes, Director of Programmes for female comedy stars, Olivia Lee (Balls of Steel, Fiver and Five US, said: “I am thrilled to have The Law of the Playground), the show takes TV The Sexy Ad Show for Fiver. The series is very commercials to a new level of rudeness never risqué and funny, and perfectly illustrates the before seen on British TV. The series will be unconventional views of the Advertising world. transmitted first on Fiver and later on Five. I am delighted to have Olivia Lee as the presenter; her irreverent style will ensure that the The Sexy Ad Show will uncover an array of series has a strong appeal for the discerning controversial commercial messages including Fiver viewer.” an ejaculating Action Man, an Optician who uses sadomasochistic sex to sell spectacles, a Granny using a dildo to advertise a bank, a family blowing each other up to sell beer, and a canine gang bang encouraging you to take a holiday.

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India under waste: L’Expédition RTL enquires After Alaska, where it looked at the effects of global warming, then Mali, where it observed those of desertification, L’Expédition RTL went to India last month. Maya sorts the copper wire in scrap motors France - 8 January 2009

On location, reporter Anne-Claire Danel studied At 8.35, RTL opened the debate with its liste- the waste management of this country with the ners who could speak with international journa- second highest population in the world. With list and writer Dominique Lapierre, the patron of 1.1 billion inhabitants and a growth of 7.5 per L’Expédition RTL in India. A “great witness” of cent in 2008, India produces some 200 million his times, Dominique Lapierre is notably the tons of waste each year. And then there is also author of the bestseller The City of Joy, which the waste that Europe and France send to India sold millions of copies and was made into a film to be treated; for example, the notorious ship of the same name. Last year, the Indian govern- Le France, said to be full of asbestos, is strip- ment awarded Lapierre the prestigious Padma ped in Alang, where the largest scrap yard in Bhushan medal for his efforts to help the most the world for the dismantling of boats is loca- destitute people – for many years Lapierre has ted. been donating half of his royalties to charitable works. The objective of Anne-Claire’s reports is to raise listeners’ awareness of the extent of the On the air, Dominique Lapierre described the situation, while considering alternatives and lives of the little rag pickers of the shantytowns. solutions. India, dust bin of wealthy countries Each of them has their speciality – glass, steel, for electronic waste: for this day of reports, wood, plastic – and for them the recycling of Anne-Claire Danel went to the Mayapuri neigh- rubbish is a vital source of revenue. The few bourhood in Delhi, where thousands of tons of rupees collected every day under harsh condi- computers, television sets and telephones are tions make a difference. They’re the rupees of stripped. There are waste heaps containing survival that make it possible to feed a family. heavy metals, chemical substances and plastic But where Dominique Lapierre rises up and components that are harmful to the environ- militates against the Indian authorities is on the ment and to workers. subject of toxic waste. He calls for the protec- tion of the small rag pickers so that they no lon- For five days, Anne-Claire Danel filed one ger sort this waste with their bare hands. report after another, stories that were both eye- witness accounts and appeals for action. She An example among many other subjects that kept an audio logbook where she could talk RTL Radio listeners could discover throughout about her travel conditions, the people she met this special broadcast day. When people are and what she discovered. Last 15 December, informed, they can act. RTL Radio devoted an entire broadcasting day to this burning environmental issue featuring live interviews with Anne-Claire Danel starting at 4.30.

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Putting a smile on a troubled face On 7 January, Bernadette Chirac launched the 20th edition of Pièces Jaunes. Mrs Chirac at RTL Radio France - 12 January 2009

Pièces Jaunes is a widescale Seven million moneyboxes gesture of solidarity to help have been put into circulation, improve the quality of life for and the challenge is to fill them sick children, adolescents and and bring them to the post offi- the elderly in hospitals ce before 7 February. The money collected will help finan- For 19 years, France’s number ce the creation of housing for one radio station has been a parents as well as mother-and- faithful partner in the operation, child rooms. It will also be used informing and sensitising its for game room equipment, seven million daily listeners libraries, classrooms and the through its news and entertain- redecoration of rooms to help ment programming. In addition, RTL Radio is raise morale and to create spaces especially airing the operation’s major advertising cam- reserved for sick adolescents. paign, free of charge, which runs from December through February 2009. Each year, the generosity and actions of everyone involved help to heighten the achieve- The operation, whose patrons include two-time ment: EUR 4 million were collected in 2008, Olympic medal winner in judo David Douillet which financed 435 projects (6,000 projects and the singer Lorie, makes miracles every year since the campaign’s inception in 1990) in 236 by mobilising French children who try to outdo hospitals and seven facilities for sick adoles- one another collecting coins to give to the cents. RTL Radio is proud to be associated Fondation Hôpitaux de Paris – Hôpitaux de with this gesture of solidarity that each year France, which is recognised for its public servi- helps makes it possible to put a smile on the ce and is chaired by Mrs Chirac. As the saying faces of sick children in paediatric facilities in goes, little streams make big rivers. French hospitals.

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Media woman of the year Each year the German media magazine Horizont presents its Horizont Award to outstanding leaders in the media industry. This time, Anke Schäferkordt was named media woman of the year. Germany - 19 December 2008

Anniversary: Unter uns, for the 3500th time On 28 November 1994, the popular German daily soap Unter uns made its on-air debut. On 30 December, Grundy UFA and RTL Television celebrate its 3500th episode. Germany - 23 December 2008

Mogadishu nominated for Golden Camera 2009 The Teamworx production Mogadischu (Mogadishu), which aired on ARD to excellent ratings on 30 November, has been nominated for Best TV Movie by the nine judges on this year’s Golden Camera jury. Germany - 23 December 2008

Special charity version of Got Talent As part of a joint Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) programme, FremantleMedia and Talkback Thames held a very special version of Got Talent for the childrens’ charity Community Links. United Kingdom - 23 December 2008

Steady expansion of online activities Users of the German iTunes store can now pay to download select RTL series under the ‘RTL Now’ brand. Germany - 5 January 2009 22 week 03 the RTL Group intranet

A news programme causing a sensation RTL-TVI’s news programme at 19.00 is beating records and demonstrating once again that Belgians trust RTL-TVI for its rigorous treatment of the news. Achieving an average audience share of 46.7 per cent in 2008, RTL-TVI’s news continue to be successful in 2009. On 12 January, 56.5 per cent of the viewers tuned in to the news, making it the best ratings since January 1997. Belgium - 6 January 2009

Zone Interdite receives award One of M6’s flagship information programmes, Zone Interdite was awarded a prize last month at the Festival international du scoop et du journalisme d’Angers. France - 7 January 2009

Cooperation on online sales RTL Nederland and Radio538 have entered into an exclusive cooperation agreement regar- ding online sales. This will strenghten RTL Nederland’s position as online house. Netherlands - 8 January 2009

Impressive launch In the second week of 2008, the second series of X Factor kicked off on DR1 in Denmark, attracting one third of the Danish population. Denmark - 9 January 2009

Welsh TV Awards Over the New Year X Factor walked away with two awards when Welsh magazine show Uned 5 announced the winners of its Gwobrwyo'r Goreuon Awards. United Kingdom - 12 January 2009

Les Simpson: always a winner Airing weekly on W9, the famous satirical American series Les Simpson has just scored a new audience record, attracting more than 1.1 million viewers. France - 13 January 2009 23 week 03 the RTL Group intranet

Casting around on the Internet UFA’s new online casting portal Your Chance goes live in February 2009. Germany - 14 January 2009

Diva Earth Award goes to Unsere Erde The first Diva Earth Award will be awarded by the Diva judges at the 19th Diva German Entertainment Awards on 27 January 2009. Germany - 14 January 2009

Britain’s Got Talent signs Kelly Brook to join Talkback Thames hit entertainment show of 2007 and 2008, Britain's Got Talent, returns for a third series this Spring, and this year Simon Cowell, Piers Morgan and Amanda Holden will be joined on the panel by model, actress and TV presenter Kelly Brook. United Kingdom - 15 January 2009

Number one in its category on the Internet Just two months after its launch, Deco.fr has become the standard portal for interior design. The site’s audience has tripled in a month, increasing from 410,000 to 1,415,000 unique visitors, guaranteeing it the number one position in its category. France- 15 January 2009

Barack Obama’s inauguration live On Tuesday 20 January 2009 the new president of the United States will be officially sworn into office. This exceptional historic moment will be covered live by the editorial staff of RTL-TVI in a special news programme from 17.30 to 18.20. Belgium - 15 January 2009

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People Arno Otto appointed Head of New Media at RTL Nederland Arno Otto

Netherlands - 19 December 2008

Arno Otto, 35, will join the management of RTL Commenting on his appointment as head of new Nederland as Head of New Media effective media at RTL Nederland, Arno Otto said that “RTL 1 March 2009. Nederland is a radio and television leader. Contemporary media consumption trends show Otto joins from AdLink Group, where, as commer- that, in terms of reach, the early morning is control- cial manager for Europe, his responsibilities inclu- led by radio and the evening by television. As for ded sales, product management and product daytime, the internet has been outpacing the other development. In addition to providing expertise on media for some time now. That is where my exper- international markets, he was responsible for the tise lies and I am extremely keen to and confident launch of DoubleClick in the Netherlands. He is that I can build this bridge at RTL Nederland with also the former chairman of the IAB (Internet the help of RTL Nederland’s power brands and Advertising Bureau) in the Netherlands. media professionals.”

According to RTL Nederland CEO Bert Habets, “Arno Otto will fill an important spot in the management team and I am pleased RTL Nederland was able to secure and deploy this professional on the Dutch market. With his relevant and extensive experience in new media and his strong personali- ty, he can drive the new media branch within RTL Nederland to a higher level and help us to implement our new strategy. This is an important step in RTL Nederland’s growth as a powerful all-round multimedia company.”

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People Antoine Dubois joins RTL Radio France France - 19 December 2008

Antoine Dubois has been With a degree from ESC Toulouse and an MBA named Advertising and from ESEC Barcelona, Antoine Dubois, 32, began Corporate Identity Manager his career in January 2000 as a team leader at the for RTL Radio France. He Leo Burnett Paris advertising agency. In April 2003 will be working with Sophie he joined Disneyland Resort Paris as Déroulède, Director of Communications Manager for France. In 2005 he Communications for RTL was promoted to Integrated Communications Radio France. Manager for Europe. Antoine Dubois

People Axel Kühn leaves RTL II Axel Kühn Germany - 5 January 2009

Axel Kühn, 40, Director of Programming at RTL II, Jürgen Ohls, a political scientist by training, was left the Munich-based broadcaster as of 31 appointed News Chief at RTL II in 1999 and has December 2008, after heading the channel’s pro- served as the channel’s Chief Editor since 1 gramming department since 1 November 2006. December 2006. Under his management, the RTL RTL II’s Chief Editor Jürgen Ohls will take on his II News became the most popular prime-time news duties in the interim, and will report directly to programme among young viewers aged 14 to 29 in Managing Director Jochen Starke. 2008. Ohls and his team also implement successful popular-science formats and reportages. “Axel Kühn developed RTL II’s programming by adding new international series and docu-soap formats and thus was a formative contributor to its performance in recent years,” says Jochen Starke. The broadcaster and Kühn have parted ways ami- cably. 26 week 03 the RTL Group intranet

People Starring role for Media Lawyer Paul Chinnery United Kingdom - 13 January 2009

Five has promoted Chief Legal Officer Paul Dawn Airey said: “I am very pleased that Five Chinnery to the position of Director of Legal has developed outstanding people in our busi- Affairs and awarded the lawyer a place on the ness to take up such senior positions. The Executive Board of the British broadcaster. commercial, regulatory and legislative environ- ment in which media companies operate is The promotion, announced on 13 January, for- ever-changing and it is important that we are malises the fact that Chinnery has been unoffi- able to retain the services of executives of the cially managing the legal department since the calibre of Paul Chinnery to deal with these chal- departure of his predecessor, Colin Campbell, lenges.” who retired from the company at the end of 2007. Chinnery will report directly to Dawn Paul Chinnery said: “I am very proud to conti- Airey, Chairman and CEO of Five. He retains nue to be playing a role at Five as it moves to the post of Company Secretary. the next phase of its development in a rapidly changing media industry. I am also looking for- Chinnery joined the company shortly after ward to the significant new challenges of being launch in 1997, becoming Head of Legal & an executive director.” Compliance in 2000. He was formerly a solici- tor at Stephens Innocent (now Finers Stephens Innocent) where he specialised in commercial litigation and media law, in particular freedom of expression issues. He began his legal career as a clerk at a legal aid firm in the East End, assisting in housing, criminal and family cases before joining McKenna & Co (now CMS Cameron McKenna) as an articled clerk in 1990.

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