week 20 the RTL Group intranet Newsletter 15 May 2008 The Grand Finale Tom Sänger talks about season five of Deutschland sucht den Superstar Germany EUR 100,000 for cyclone victims in Burma Five Bavarian TV Awards for RTL Group companies United Kingdom TalkbackThames picks up Rose d’Or Award France M6, the educational channel The Grand Finale m Sänger talks about season five of eutschland sucht den Superstar COVER: The two DSDS finalists: Fady Maalouf (left) and Thomas Godoj. 2 week 20 the RTL Group intranet “Success compels us to continue” Next Saturday, 17 May, the fifth season of Deutschland sucht den Superstar ends with the final sing-off between Thomas Godoj and Fady Maalouf – a good time for us to talk to Tom Sänger, head of entertainment at RTL Television in Cologne, about the show, its secret to success and its future. Tom Sänger Germany - 15 May 2008 Season five of the wildly popular talent show the season was that DSDS was again a hot Deutschland sucht den Superstar (DSDS), the topic, with plenty of relevance for our society.” German version of the international hit format Idols, kicked off on 23 January 2008. The for- By now, things have quieted down again – in mat has been sold to 35 countries since its that respect at least – because since the recalls inception. and the live shows began, the main focus has been firmly on the singing, the candidates and From the beginning, viewers in Germany loved their stories. the auditions, the recalls and the various live theme shows. But there were critical voices rai- Tom Sänger looks forward to next Saturday’s sed as well, and by the time a candidate had a finale, when a show extravaganza and a sensa- breakdown at an audition in Cologne, the tional sing-off await fans. Finalists Thomas and debate was in full swing: DSDS is harmful to Fady make this the third time in a row that two minors, it was said, and the show’s primary aim men have made it to the finale of the popular is to ridicule people. The comments of jury show. The press hazards that this is because member Dieter Bohlen in particular came under the fans who call in to vote for the candidates fire while other journalists defended him. In the tend to be female – so Linda Teodisiu, 16, lost German tabloid Bild, Gerhard Zeiler, CEO of out last Saturday. “I spent about a second RTL Group, responded: “Dieter Bohlen’s com- debating whether we shouldn’t perhaps chan- ments are about as harmful to minors as pop ge the rules at short notice and admit three music or an Asterix comic.” candidates to the finale because of the high quality,” jokes Tom Sänger, but quickly adds, “I “I often felt this discussion was hypocritical and would have probably gotten into big trouble sanctimonious. It seemed to me as if some of with the licensors.” the critics were simply jumping on the bandwa- gon of knocking something that has made RTL In all, RTL Television is very happy with how the so successful and popular”, Tom Sänger, head fifth season is going. Although at 29.3 per cent of entertainment at RTL Television, said and the average market share among 14- to 49- added, “Human dignity is a valuable asset. So year-olds is slightly below the previous sea- it is not a suitable topic for a debate on tastes, son’s average, it is still well above the channel’s where a small number of critics set out to tell average. “Our market shares are, with few throngs of viewers or the nearly 30,000 people exceptions, very stable, approaching 30 per who auditioned what’s good for them and what cent among young audiences, and that's in isn’t. However, it was also interesting to obser- season five. DSDS is the most popular show ve that the critics in turn were criticised for their series on German TV among 14- to 49-year- dogmatic attitude. Basically, the bottom line for olds. We have every reason to be extremely 3 week 20 the RTL Group intranet satisfied, but still, after the finale we will take our time to review what we could do even bet- ter”, Tom Sänger explained. More and more fans are accessing the RTLnow.de website, where the shows may be viewed free of charge. Clips from the format have been viewed a total of 50 million times on RTL’s various Internet platforms. On 5 April, world-class performer Mariah Carey joined the remaining candidates to share a few helpful hints for their race for the Superstar title. This was the first time an international celebrity appeared on Deutschland sucht den Superstar and coached the candidates. A few days ago, Mark Medlock, the fourth-sea- son winner, released his latest single Summer Love, taking it straight to No.1 in the German single charts, sending Madonna to the second place. This is Medlock’s third number-one pla- cement in the single charts. It remains to be seen whether his successor will be able to match this performance. On Saturday, Fady Maalouf and Thomas Godoj will perform three songs each – and each of them will be singing a title written specifically for them, to be released as a single following the show. And while the winner’s career runs its course with a Sony BMG recording contract, a Mariah Carey DSDS judges: Dieter Bohlen, Anja Lukaseder and Andreas "Bär" Läsker 4 week 20 the RTL Group intranet team of producers, tours and performances and the rest, RTL Television will already be pre- The show in Facts and figures: paring the sixth season. “Success compels us to continue,” says Tom Sänger. “We will review A total of 100,439 people auditioned the concept and make more changes than we for all five seasons. have in previous seasons. I firmly believe that long-term success depends on systematically 28,290 candidates auditioned for the fifth season alone. evolving the concept. A programme brand can run very long, if you resolutely pay attention to On average, 5.33 million viewers its ongoing evolution, the unpredictability of ages 3 and over watched the shows events, and the fact that programming mana- in season five. This translates to a gers must never rest on their laurels, but must market share of 17.8 per cent. be critical precisely when things are at their best, and ignite the next stage in the develop- Among 14- to 49-year-olds, the market share was 29.3 per cent. On ment. We will examine everything, because that average, 3.39 million young viewers is the only way to take big strides. We already watch the talent show. responded to factual criticism on the issue of minors in the media during the present season, Last year's winner Mark Medlock and have broadcast ‘edited’ reruns in our day- earned gold and platinum records for time programming.” his debut project Mr. Lonely. His latest single Summer Love entered Meanwhile, there are other interesting formats the German single charts at No.1 this ahead for viewers in the Saturday evening time week, bumping Madonna down to slot, as Tom Sänger said: “We are already at an No.2. His new album Cloud Dancer advanced stage of planning the upcoming sea- will be released on 30 May. son: I believe in the return of family game shows and strong standalone theme shows to Saturday evening TV. In July and August, we But first, on Saturday, 17 May, starting at 20.15, will present the specific formats to our adverti- Germany’s new idol will be crowned, but Tom sing customers and the media. One thing is Sänger refused to comment on his favourite: certain: there will be further ‘talent search’ “I’m not about to reveal his name since I, too, shows: Das Supertalent (Got Talent) enters its abide by the show’s concept, which is that the second round, and we're working on the viewers decide. I feel they’ve done an excellent Singing Office format – RTL Group employees job of that to date, and I’m counting on them to take note.” do so again during the finale.” The Finalists: Thomas Godoj: Fady Maalouf: ‘King of Rock’ ‘Emperor of Soft Sounds’ “You really rock the stage,” The 29-year-old sang his way said Dieter Bohlen, commen- into listeners’ hearts with his ding the 30-year-old musician interpretation of Patrick during a theme show. Godoj Swayze’s She’s Like the Wind. was born in Rybnik, Poland, “That performance put you in and emigrated to Germany with his family in the group of favourites,” Dieter Bohlen prai- 1986. Godoj no longer works in the field he sed him. Maalouf was born in Lebanon from was trained for – design draughtsman – pre- where, after being hit by shrapnel several ferring to concentrate instead on music and times during the civil war, he finally fled to writing songs. He and his two bands Cure of France with his family. He studied fashion Soul and Wink have played a number of design, worked for a number of designers, concerts and received several newcomer speaks five languages fluently, and most awards. recently worked in Hamburg. 5 week 20 the RTL Group intranet Who will be the Supertalent of 2008? Following the high ratings seen last fall for the first season of Das Supertalent, RTL Television is again looking for Germany’s biggest entertainment talent. Auditions started on 12 May. Germany - 13 May 2008 Since Whit Monday, 12 May, RTL Television has As many as six million viewers tuned in to RTL been calling on talented people to demonstra- Television to watch the finale of the first season te their outstanding abilities in six German of Das Supertalent on 3 November, 2007.