The Decision How RTL Group’S Channels Cover the US Elections

30 October 2008

week 44

The decision How RTL Group’s channels cover the US elections

United Kingdom France Fiver secures rights for Groupe M6 and SPI conclude reality competition intertrade agreement Germany Hungary Mediengruppe RTL RTL Klub’s Jungle show proofs Deutschland to cover to be a hit handball World Cup COVER: Montage with John McCain and Barack Obama he decision 2 week 44 the RTL Group intranet

The US elections in full On 4 November, citizens of the United States of America will vote in a new president. TV channels, radio stations and websites from all over Europe report intensively about this major event in world poltics. The White house Germany - 23 October 2008

From Germany to France, Belgium and the International Herald Tribune, the American United Kingdom – across Europe, discussion of Embassy and featuring leading politicians, world politics is dominated by a single topic such as Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner. M6 right now: the US elections. Many channels broadcast an edition of its Magazine 66 have been covering the campaigns and are Minutes to the US Elections. Five dedicated a now anticipating the final showdown. special section of their News to the elections Accordingly, RTL Group companies are gearing and has set up a blog named How America up to provide the best possible coverage for works, in which their correspondent Jonathan their viewers. Samuels reports on a regular basis about different jobs he took up during his journey. In In Germany RTL Television has teamed up with Belgium, TV channel RTL-TVI, radio station Bel the N-TV news channel to provide a live broad- RTL and website rtlinfo.be teamed up. Their cast from New York with RTL Television’s edi- reports are “road movies”, crisscrossing the tor-in-chief Peter Kloeppel and N-TV’s United States and giving the Belgian public a Christoph Teuner. The broadcast is accompa- snapshot of American society and a chance to nied by exclusive documentaries on both RTL learn more about a fascinating country going Television and N-TV. In the Netherlands, through an important time in its his history. And RTL 4’s coverage began this week with the first in Luxembourg, RTL Télé Lëtzebuerg will follow episode of Rick’s Road Trip on Monday. The show features RTL Nieuws anchor Rick Nieman visiting and interviewing Dutch celebrities cur- rently living in California, such as movie director Paul Verhoeven and writer Leon de Winter. On Election Day itself, RTL 4 will broadcast a live show with segments from New York. Before the “night of agonising suspense”, RTL Radio in France aired three special programming, one being L'Autre Amérique, a report that challenge preconceived notions about the US. Six special correspondents are already on location, at the candidates’ headquarters but also in Kenya, in the village where some of Obama’s family lives. Without a doubt, the high point will be the election night with a nine hours thirty programme: RTL, La Nuit Américaine. A morning meeting has already been arranged at the Grand Hôtel Intercontinental in Paris in partnership with the Peter Kloeppel in Las Vegas 3 week 44 the RTL Group intranet

the election in two states: Illinois, Obama’s homestate, and the swing state Wisconsin, home to a significant number of immigrants from Luxembourg. RTL Newmedia has set up a special internet page containing a countdown up to D-Day where users can access portraits of the candidates, an overview of the US elec- toral system as well as related radio and TV content on the latest developments.

Backstage spoke to several correspondents and executives who are extensively involved in the coverage about the upcoming elections.

Jean-Pierre Martin, RTL-TVI’s special correspondent for the US elections and his cameraman Samuel Lerate (right) mind: a street in Atlanta where, out of a hun- dred houses, eighty had been boarded up after their owners defaulted on their loans and were kicked out. That image of a deserted street speaks for itself. I’m not just talking about the poor parts of town, but also opulent homes, beautiful houses with columns out front and middle-class owners. Another powerful moment was when I met a Wall Street trader who had just been laid off. He was walking down Broadway holding a sign that read: “MIT graduate looking for work”. He had tears in his eyes while we talked. I was incredibly moved by his despair. I was deeply touched by these images; they show us that this crisis marks a turning point in history. It is clearly one of the Guy Weber, Head of news at RTL Télé Lëtzebuerg and the key issues in this election. Luxembourg network’s special correspondent in the US What do you think is the most decisive topic What do you think is the major difference to for the voters? European election campaigns?

Guy Weber from RTL Télé Lëtzebuerg: In Jacques Esnous, News Director from RTL view of the housing crisis and its effects on the Radio France, says: I was a young journalist in financial world (and on the economy in gene- 1980 and I still remember my surprise when I ral), the results of the 2008 election will proba- saw a map of the US with all the red-coloured bly not be decided by moral issues (abortion, states representing those won by the homosexual marriage, family values) nor inter- Republicans and Ronald Reagan crowned pre- national affairs (the war in Iraq or Afghanistan), sident of the United States. To my very rational, but rather by economic issues. very French mind, it seemed inconceivable that an actor could become president of the world's Jean-Pierre Martin from RTL Belgium sees leading superpower. the financial crisis as a key topic as well and tells about a rather moving experience he had Jonathan Samuels, Five’s chief correspon- while travelling the US: It was only when I arri- dent: Without a doubt the biggest difference is ved that the sheer scope of the crisis hit me. the amount of time dedicated to the US elec- One very powerful image is burned into my tion. In Britain our politicians have just one

4 week 44 the RTL Group intranet

month of campaigning but in the US campaigning starts two years before the actual election. From the caucuses to the primaries to the campaign trail the election goes on for months. In the UK the whole exercise costs about forty million pounds, in the US it costs more than 1 billion dollars.

Jean-Pierre Martin: Well, another major theme in the election – and Luc Marteling, Editor-in-chief of RTL Jonathan Samuels, one which is underestimated in NewMedia, the Internet and mobile Five's chief correspondent Europe – is the race issue. Within activities of RTL Luxembourg voters. People are more inclined the hidden confines of a polling booth, will a to rely on the democrats and Obama to solve white man really vote for a black candidate? the economic crisis. Seen in this way, it played That is a very taboo question and the law is right into his hands. stringent when it comes to expressions of racism, so nobody is going to say they’re not Jonathan Samuels mentioned another voting for Obama because of the colour of his impressive topic: I think the most striking skin. And what about us: Would the people of thing for me, having been in America for the last Belgium or France be prepared to vote in a two weeks, is just how unpopular the current black president? Bush administration is. So many people I have spoken to, both Republican and Democrat, Jacques Esnous also talks about ‘race’ being have said they are desperate for change. That a topic in the election. Asked about the most is in Obama’s favour because he has based his striking moment of this election he says: As a whole campaign around the theme of time for journalist, but also as a human being, the most change. For John McCain things are harder – important event was when the Democratic he has to distance himself from Bush without National Convention voted for Obama. For the doing so explicitly. first time ever, a black man is in a position to be elected president of the United States. Finally Backstage asked the experts about the role the media played during the cam- Luc Marteling, editor-in-chief of RTL paign – and which media was the leading NewMedia in Luxembourg, agrees: The victory one in their opinion. of Barack Obama over Hillary Clinton was for me the “event” of this election campaign, but Jonathan Samuels: Americans I met on my also the choice of Sarah Palin as McCain’s run- two weeks travelling took a lot of interest in the ning mate, although this has turned out to be a televised presidential debates, three this year. disadvantage for him rather than an asset – an They love to watch a candidate slip up, make a extravagance for which he is probably going to fool of himself or throw a damaging dagger with pay dearly. a clever verbal putdown. Likewise the big sit- down interviews can trigger interesting covera- Peter Kloeppel, editor-in-chief of RTL ge and debate. When Sarah Palin was grilled Television and RTL Aktuell anchor, also cites by Katie Couric on CBS she was evidently Palin’s nomination: one of the biggest surprises somewhat out of her depth, especially on was the nomination of Sarah Palin as the foreign affairs, and that was pounced on by the Republican vice presidential candidate. At first media. glance, it looked like a winning move. Today, most Republicans would probably agree that Guy Weber agrees: Of course, television plays the party allowed itself to be swayed in the a big role in the United States. I need only to wrong direction by strategists. Of course it was mention the impact the televised debates bet- especially important for Barack Obama that the ween the two candidates had on the media economic crisis hit at a time when he really landscape. If television can even consider needed a jumpstart to boost his image among changing its programming prior to a major 5 week 44 the RTL Group intranet

sporting event for a long televised spot by a that the election campaign headquarters of all candidate (Barack Obama, to be specific), it German parties are paying very close attention means television still wields a certain power in to what’s been happening in America. the United States (and has done so since the Kennedy era). The Internet is certainly gaining Jacques Esnous prefers not to focus on just ground, but perhaps not enough to decide the one medium: All of the mass media are impor- election this time around. At least that’s what I tant, including direct marketing. Americans still think. do a lot of phone follow-up, but television takes priority. It has a showy side that the other Peter Kloeppel, feels that the Internet has gai- media simply cannot match. That’s why Barack ned a lot of power during the last campaign: Obama bought 30 minutes of airtime in three the Internet allows you to reach voters who networks just before the final of the world might not be reached at all via other media or series, one of the sport events the most wat- traditional election campaigning. I can imagine ched by American viewers.

Peter Kloeppel, RTL Television’s Jacques Esnous, News Director of RTL Radio France editor-in-chief and anchor of RTL Aktuell

6 week 44 the RTL Group intranet

RTL Group TV and radio coverage of the US elections (a selection):

RTL Television, Germany: 3 November 22:15 Documentary: Amerika zwischen Angst und Aufbruch. Peter Kloeppel unterwegs in einem zerrissenen Land

5 November 00:35 News Spezial – Amerika wählt: joint special report by RTL and N-TV live from New York with Christoph Teuner and Peter Kloeppel

N-TV, Germany: 4 November 16:25 Documentary: Amerika wählt: Der Kampf ums Weiße Haus by Christian Wilp 17.15 News Spezial – Amerika wählt 22.00 Special Edition of Heiner Bremer – Unter den Linden 1 live N-TV, RTL and CNN’s Election Party in Berlin 23.00 News Spezial – Amerika wählt with Christoph Teuner live from New York

5 November 00.30 News Spezial – Amerika wählt: combined special report from RTL and N-TV live from New York with Christoph Teuner and Peter Kloeppel 06.00 News Spezial – Amerika wählt with Ulrich von der Osten live from New York / including Wahl-Frühstück with Heiner Bremer

RTL Radio, France 5 November 00:00 RTL La Nuit Américaine with live reports from the election 05:00 RTL Petit Matin goes American 07:00 RTL Matin in partnership with the International Herald Tribune, discussion of first results

RTL 4, The Netherlands 4 November 22:30 Special reports with live connections to New York

5 November 06:00 Breakfast Bulletin with Suzanne Bosman reflecting on the result of the elections

RTL-TVI, Belgium 30 October 19:45 Tout s’explique covers the election in detail

6 November 19:45 Tout s’explique explains the Air Force One

Five, United Kingdom Daily: special How America Works feature as part of Five News

7 week 44 the RTL Group intranet

Reality competition Fiver has acquired the rights to Stylista, the latest US reality show from the producers of America’s Next Top Model and Project Runway, as well as the free digital terrestrial television rights in the UK to Step It Up & Dance. Stylista United Kingdom - 24 October 2008

In the eight-part series Stylista shot in New much-anticipated addition to the Fiver schedu- York, eleven budding fashion enthusiasts are le. It is fantastic to be working with CBS given the chance of a lifetime to vie for a much- Paramount again on such a glossy and quality coveted editorial job with Elle magazine. The show.” competitors will work as assistants to Elle’s Fashion News Director Anne Slowey, the tough Step It Up & Dance is a reality competition but well-respected fashion icon. Each episode, series which challenges twelve high-stepping the recruits will carry out an assistant task and hopefuls from around the US as they learn a fashion editorial assignment. And each week, exactly what it takes to make it big in the cut- in consultation with Elle’s Creative Director, Joe throat dance industry. Presented by actress Zee, Anne will fire one person, until the last and dancer Elizabeth Berkley and Jerry assistant standing gets promoted to the cove- Mitchell, the series puts the dancers through a ted real-life job opportunity. The grand prize is gruelling set of tasks each week as they master to the value of USD 100,000, and includes a every conceivable dance style, from ballet and paid editorial position at Elle magazine, the ballroom to Broadway and burlesque. As the lease on an apartment in Manhattan for a year, competition gets fierce and contestants are eli- and an annual clothing allowance at the high minated each week, only one person will get street store H&M. the final “call back” and the chance to perform for the winning the prize of USD 100,000. Director of Programmes for Fiver and Five US, Hannah Barnes, said: “Stylista comes with Both series are planned to be shown on Fiver in superb credentials, and is an exciting and 2009.

Step It Up & Dance 8 week 44 the RTL Group intranet

The fascination of handball Mediengruppe RTL Deutschland has acquired the exclusive Free TV rights to the 2009 Handball World Cup. During the 2007 Handball World Cup in Bremen (Germany) Germany - 27 October 2008

IP Deutschland took a closer look at sport German national team. In addition, every mor- events: the latest Sport+Markt Institute survey ning the Sport Spezial – Handball Frühstück will on sports sponsorship involved interviews with provide hourly background reports, interviews more than 1,000 sports enthusiasts aged 14 to and analyses. 65 years. The results show that handball is very popular among respondents. Small wonder: From 16 January to 1 February handball has become enormously popular in 2009, all handball matches Germany since the 2007 handball World Cup. A involving the German look at the recent past shows just how power- team, as well as the final, fully the appeal of handball has grown: in 2006, will be available as live- only 14 per cent of Germans said they were stream videos on rtl.de. interested in the sport. Today, the figure is 23 Both rtl.de and visit per cent, which translates to approx. 11 million sport.de will run a handball enthusiasts in Germany. Handball has Handball World Cup www.ip-deutschland.de/ thus already surpassed perennial favourites like special. Clipfish.de will handball track and field, and its scores are over 50 per feature a separate cent above those of the now scandal-ridden Handball World Cup chan- sport of cycling. nel, and n-tv.de will serve up a three-week special with During the Handball World Cup from 16 the latest summary tables and January to 1 February 2009, RTL Television’s news stories related to the handball tour- viewers will be treated to live broadcasts of all nament. matches featuring the German side, plus the final, including comprehensive advance and The RTL Mobil portal treats handball fans to an follow-up coverage. The matches are schedu- extensive mobile handball special featuring a led to be broadcast during access prime time. live ticker, user voting, mobile downloads, team portraits and a quiz. Meanwhile, N-TV will offer a unique service cal- led Sport Spezial. The news channel will report directly from Croatia and provide match sum- maries after each encounter played by the

9 week 44 the RTL Group intranet

Promoting independent and diversified production On 22 October, the Union of Independent Producers (SPI) and Groupe M6 concluded an intertrade agreement to reform the relations between producers and broadcas- ters, as wished by Christine Albanel, French Minister of Culture and Communication. France - 27 October 2008

The members of the SPI, who attach utmost This agreement allows the preservation of the importance both to the diversity and indepen- diversity of programmes offered to the French dence of programmes produce a large number public by not making prevail a given genre over of works of very different genres ranging from another. It is to guarantee the preservation of art and essay documentaries to live shows as the wealth of French audiovisual creation, thus well as theatrical and television films. The SPI respecting the specific identity of the broad- which represents 370 independent producers, casters. This agreement also restates the is the only union which is active both in the necessity of independent and diversified crea- fields of theatrical and audiovisual production. tion. The agreement stipulates that M6 undertakes to maintain its level of contribution to audiovisual production in accordance with its commit- ments to invest in French production as agreed in 2007, namely:

15 percent of its revenues in the production of French and European audiovisual works, among which 10 percent in independent works,

11.5 percent of its revenues in audiovisual works of the following genres: fiction, anima- tion, live entertainment, video music, creative documentaries and audiovisual works of more than 13 minutes for information and science magazines, among which 8.5 percent in independent works.

M6 also commits to broadcast 120 hours of unreleased audiovisual works, for which broad- casting starts between 20.00 and 21.00, every year. Nicolas de Tavernost

10 week 44 the RTL Group intranet

Jungle Fever After the first season, there is no doubt about it: I’m a Celebrity… Get me out of here! is the biggest hit in Hungary’s TV line-up this fall. I’m a celebrity... Get me out of here! Hungary - 28 October 2008

The reality show shot in the Argentinean rainfo- rest near the Iguazu Falls has strengthened RTL Klub’s market leading position. Produced by Hungarian and Argentinean staff, the show shot to the top of the ratings list, with an average market share of 41 percent in the key target group (18 to 49).

In the first nine shows, viewers voted for the celebrity they wanted to send on a ‘Bushtucker trial‘ – a fight for yellow stars against spiders, rats, snakes, a dangerous descent down a waterfall, or some other crazy mission. Later, viewers were invited to send SMS texts to vote for the king or the queen of the jungle. Finally, the decision is in: pop star Mariann Falusi is queen of the jungle, having scored more votes than either Éva Horváth (former beauty queen) or Dániel Benko (internationally acknowledged musician turned eccentric). The participants of the show were reunited at the “Reunion” live programme in Budapest.

After a mere four-day break, the second season started on Monday, 27 October with ten other celebrities trying to survive in miserable condi- tions in a bid for the largest audience for RTL Klub.

Mariann Falusi, Queen of the Jungle

11 week 44 the RTL Group intranet

Student TV The Pietshow, a web series produced by Grundy UFA and StudiVZ, went online on Tuesday 28 October. The Pietshow Germany - 27 October 2008

The Pietshow is the first online format to emer- ge from a comprehensive collaboration between the UFA group and the social network StudiVZ.

Starting in the second week, every Tuesday and Friday the 15 four-minute episodes will go online on StudiVZ. To shorten the wait between the episodes, there will be little 15- to 30-second “snippets” featuring jokes and calling on the community to get involved.

Grundy UFA CEO Rainer Wemcken says: “Producing series is what we do best. We look forward to providing more entertainment on the new platforms – and to doing so in cooperation with StudiVZ, a partner who is vastly successful in the field: this is a collaboration between two market leaders. This offering caters especially to young viewers, who are spending more and more time online.”

Taking its cue from StudiVZ’s target audience, the series developed by Europe’s market leader in industrial series production tells the story of an unintentional student flat share, where things aren’t quite as real as they may appear Rainer Wemcken, Grundy UFA CEO at first glance. This is the biggest such cooperation to date between a TV production firm and a social network.

StudiVZ COO Michael Brehm says: “By laun- ching this new series about the life of several students, we offer our members even more entertainment, and hopefully plenty of material for the community to talk about. We are very happy to have found the ideal partner for this innovative, exciting project in Grundy UFA.” 12 week 44 the RTL Group intranet

Help for Heroes The charity single Hero was launched on 25 October, as part of the third live show in this season of the Talkback Thames-produced talent show The X Factor. The twelve X Factor finalists recording Hero from Mariah Carey United Kingdom - 28 October 2008

The live show was watched by 9.7 million vie- The twelve X Factor finalists had recorded a wers, or 40 per cent of the market. In all, as moving cover version of Mariah Carey’s classic many as 10.7 million people tuned in to watch. Hero. The CD went on sale on 27 October – all Later that evening, the decision show – during net proceeds will be donated to the Help For which the charity single was presented – Heroes charity, which takes care of wounded attracted 7.7 million viewers, or 38 per cent of British soldiers, and the Royal British Legion’s the market. Poppy Appeal, which has devoted itself to wounded soldiers since 1921.

Big Brother returns Now that the Big Brother house has been renovated for the ninth season, viewers can look forward to a terrific new setting as well as a completely new and off-the-wall concept. Germany - 28 October 2008

Before the candidates move into the Big Lauenstein emerged as the happy winner from Brother house on 8 December – live and on season two of Big Brother. Now, the two cam starting at 20:15 – RTL II will present women will present Big Brother – The Decision Exklusiv – The Big Brother Special at 19:00, live every Monday. featuring interesting insights about last season’s candidates. What became of them after RTL II Programme Director Axel Kühn had pro- their stint on Big Brother and how do they vided an outlook on the upcoming season this remember this exciting episode of their lives? summer: “Christmas and New Year’s Eve in the house, away from your loving relatives and Miriam Pielhau, 33, and Alida-Nadine friends. That is simply fascinating.“ Lauenstein, 31, will moderate the new Big Brother season. Together, they will present Big Brother made its debut in Germany in the opening show, as the candidates move in, March 2000. Since then, 218 candidates have guide viewers on a tour of the house and spent a total of 1472 days living on the Big explain the new rules. Brother set. The format is a worldwide success and has been broadcast in nearly 70 countries Pielhau moderated the show last season as to date. well. Lauenstein, who now joins her, puts a veteran Big Brother expert at her side. In 2001,

13 week 44 the RTL Group intranet

RTL Spendenmarathon: Ilka Eßmüller The 13th RTL Spendenmarathon on RTL Television starts on 20 November. This year, the focus is on children’s relief projects in Africa and the battle against child poverty in Germany. Ilka Eßmüller is the celebrity sponsor for the construction of a healthcare station and numerous wells in Mozambique.

Germany - 28 October 2008

Mozambique is one of the poorest countries in Africa. There are fewer than 1,000 doctors to serve the 20 million people who live here. In Part II of the large parts of the country, not only is medical Spendenmarathon care inadequate, many people don’t even have direct access to clean drinking water. The series situation is especially dire in three villages in Mabote district, far inland and home to around 1,000 people.

Ilka Eßmüller is sponsoring the construction of a first-aid station with birth station attached in one of these villages. Residents are also to be educated in matters of hygiene in order to reduce infant and child mortality.

Other planned courses will educate people about the dangers and contagiousness of Malaria and the HI Virus and how to protect themselves. The donated money will also be used to build enough wells and cisterns in the villages so that each of the 1,000 residents has direct access to clean drinking water.

Ilka Eßmüller supporting her project in Mozambique

14 week 44 the RTL Group intranet

Agent 007 on a mission Throughout next week RTL Radio France will play host to the most famous agent in her majesty’s secret service, and will feature an exclusive interview with James Bond actor Daniel Craig. France - 24 October 2008

Germany’s ‘OnlineStar 2008’ This year’s ‘OnlineStar 2008’ audience award goes to the social network wer-kennt-wen.de. Germany - 24 October 2008

Germany’s best comedy On 24 October, RTL Television broadcasted the presentation of the German Comedy Award. The RTL series Doctor’s Diary won for Best Comedy Series. Germany - 27 October 2008

Popular access prime time Scenting the airwaves at 17:50 from Monday to Friday, the cookery show for well-informed food lovers, Un dîner presque parfait, was rated the public’s favourite programme last week. On Wednesday, the delectable reality show even beat its own audience record since its launch last February, attracting 2.6 million viewers. France - 27 October 2008

Continuing three top shows Extreme Fishing and Warship have both been commissioned for second series, while the fifth series of The Hotel Inspector will start filming in the winter, following hit runs earlier this year. United Kingdom - 28 October 2008

Kylie Minogue on DVD FremantleMedia Enterprises acquired the worldwide DVD rights to Kylie Minogue’s current international live tour KylieX2008 as well as the bonus footage 12 Hours and the 2006 documentary White Diamond. United Kingdom - 29 October 2008 15 week 44 the RTL Group intranet

Auditions for aspiring actors UFA introduces separate auditions to provide active support to up-and-coming actors fresh out of drama school. Germany - 29 October 2008

An award for the on-air design RTL II has won a first prize at the Motionawards08, presented at Motion08 – The Motion Graphics Conference, for its current on-air design ‘Metamorphosis’. Germany - 29 October 2008

Farmers make for a successful TV Monday Bauer sucht Frau once again garnered top total audience ratings on 27 October, averaging 7.61 million viewers and a 24.6 per cent market share and peaking at 8.82 million viewers. Germany - 29 October 2008

Home Entertainment music DVD distribution deal Eagle Rock Entertainment and FremantleMedia Enterprises signed an output deal under which FME will release (in Australia and New Zealand) all new music DVD titles from Eagle Vision, one of Eagle Rock’s Home Entertainment labels. United Kingdom - 29 October 2008

Shooting Starts on Geheimnis der Wale Shooting on the Teamworx event mini-series Geheimnis der Wale – a movie which shows the problem of noise pollution in the oceans – began on 27 October. The cast include German star actors Veronica Ferres and Mario Aderf. Germany - 30 October 2008

16 week 44 the RTL Group intranet

People Matthias Ebel sets up his own production firm Germany - 23 October 2008

Matthias Ebel, 42, head of the Punktnews desk at RTL Television, will be leaving the channel at the end of the year to establish a production firm of his own.

Ebel’s new production firm will produce exclu- sively for the news and magazine programmes of Mediengruppe RTL Deutschland channels. Ebel has held various positions at RTL Television since 1997. In 2000, he took on the editorial management of the midday magazine Punkt 12. Since 2006, he has also been in char- Matthias Ebel ge of the early-morning programmes Punkt 6 and Punkt 9. In his capacity as senior executive editor of the Punktnews shows, Ebel’s achievements included the successful lengthe- ning of Punkt 12 to a two-hour format last year.

Stefan Altenburg will succeed Ebel as senior executive editor of Punktnews, with Martin Gradl, Sylvie Vieten and Volker Kutz serving as his deputies.

Michael Wulf, Chief Executive Editor at RTL Television, says: “Matthias Ebel is a purebred journalist who successfully helped to shape RTL Television’s information department in recent years. He was formative in establishing the Punkt news programmes as the market leaders ahead of the competition’s formats. I thank him for his dedication and our excellent cooperation and am glad that we will be able to rely on his journalistic expertise in future as well.”

Matthias Ebel comments: “After eleven years at RTL Television, I am eager to tackle a new and exciting challenge. I would like to take this opportunity to thank my team for their remarka- ble dedication and my supervisors for the trust placed in me. I will always look back fondly on my time at RTL Television. Now I look forward to realising new projects in cooperation with the Mediengruppe RTL Deutschland channels.”

17 week 44 the RTL Group intranet

People Ford returns to Five Jeff Ford, Managing Director, Digital Channels and Acquisitions United Kingdom - 30 October 2008

Jeff Ford, Channel 4’s Director of Acquisitions Ford previously worked at Five from 1997 until and FilmFour, is to join Five as Managing 2005 initially as Director of Acquisitions acqui- Director, Digital Channels and Acquisitions. ring schedule mainstays CSI, Law and Order and Aussie soap Home & Away. In 2003, he Ford, who was Five’s Managing Editor before added the role of Managing Editor to his acqui- leaving to go to Channel 4 in 2005, will join in sitions responsibilities, deputising for the early 2009 and be responsible for the broad- Director of Programmes and overseeing the caster’s digital channels, Fiver and Five US, channel's commissioned drama. He joined and acquisitions across all channels. He will Channel 4 in July 2005 as Director of report directly to Chair and Chief Executive, Acquisitions responsible for both feature film Dawn Airey, and sit on the Five Executive and series acquisition for the broadcaster’s Board. Dawn Airey took up her post on 27 portfolio of channels (Channel 4, E4, More4 and October. FilmFour). In September 2006, Ford also took over strategic management responsibility for Dawn Airey said: “I am thrilled Jeff is coming FilmFour following the digital film channel’s back to Five. He is undoubtedly one of the best successful free-to-air relaunch on 23 July. acquisitions executives in the world and he will make a significant contribution to the revitalisa- tion and success of Five.”

Jeff Ford said: “I’m very excited to be returning to Five and working, once again, with Dawn Airey. When I first joined the channel in 1997 Dawn and I were part of a team that helped create a brand that connected with a UK audience looking for something unique, fun and honest. I’m proud to return to Five to further build on its reputation for the best of US shows, enhance the digital channels and help Dawn create, develop and implement a future strate- gy for the company as we approach digital switchover.”

18 http://backstage.rtlgroup.fr http://backstage.rtlgroup.com http://backstage.rtlgroup.de

Publisher RTL Group 45, Bd Pierre Frieden L-1543 Luxembourg

Editor, Design, Production RTL Group Corporate Communications and Marketing