30 September 2010 week 39 Big shows – big potential Patrick Schult on FremantleMedia’s business in Asia Germany Luxembourg Das Supertalent kicks off RTL Group better than ever at the Berlin Marathon France Germany M6 Web offers US series UFA Exchange 24 hours after US broadcast takes a glimpse into the future week 39 the RTL Group intranet 30 September 2010 week 39 Cover: Collage with Patrick Schult, CEO of FremantleMedia Asia, showing a selection of shows FremantleMedia Asia produces. Big shows – big potential 2 Patrick Schult on FremantleMedia’s business in Asia Germany Luxembourg Das Supertalent kicks off RTL Group better than ever at the Berlin Marathon France Germany M6 Web offers US series UFA Exchange 24 hours after US broadcast takes a glimpse into the future week 39 the RTL Group intranet “Asia is a long term play” FremantleMedia produces and licenses its brands all over the world. Backstage asked Patrick Schult to explain how business is done in Asia. Patrick Schult, CEO FremantleMedia Asia Asia - 30 September 2010 “We are now well into the second half of 2010,” One of the biggest formats in Asia is Take Me Patrick Schult, CEO FremantleMedia Asia, Out. The concept: one single male enters an tells Backstage. “Every month I send Europe arena of 30 single women who are all looking for an update of everything we are doing – and the man of their dreams. Initially, the power rests each month I am astounded by the breadth of with the ladies as each has a light box in front work we manage and the quality of our output.” of her, and if at any point she doesn’t like what FremantleMedia has had operations in the she sees or hears, she can extinguish her light Asian region since the early 90’s and has been – and the male’s chances of taking her out. Then growing steadily ever since. “Our shows have the tables are turned as the surviving guy has been licensed into the Asian market since the to choose his favourite lady. Their subsequent mid 80’s, and in 1995, we started our first lo- date is captured on camera and shown in the cal production with Family Feud in Indonesia. next programme. This year, we expect to make approximately 40 different localised shows across Asia,” says Schult. With shows airing right across the region, FremantleMedia Asia has key offices in India, Indonesia and Japan with the headquarters in Singapore. “We have a close relationship to our clients,” Schult explains.“They appreciate the value of the know-how we offer with our formats.” Just recently, FremantleMedia Asia sold 130 episodes of Hole In The Wall into the Philip- pines and made its first deal in Cambodia this Take Me Out in the Philippines year with this format. Local versions of the show have also previously been made in India, The Take Me Out format was developed by Indonesia and Malaysia. The show was first FremantleMedia in France, was first com- broadcast and produced by Fuji TV in Japan. missioned in Australia, and has been sold to Today, FremantleMedia maintains close ties to several countries in Asia, including South Korea the broadcaster. “We set up a creative exchange and Indonesia. “Starting off with Take Me Out in with them,” Patrick Schult reports. “This alliance Indonesia was a courageous move,” Schult is truly ground-breaking and gets us one step says. “The format was rejected by broadcast- closer to developing a meaningful long-lasting ers several times for cultural reasons. Now it is relationship with a powerhouse of Japanese on air in three different versions: Take Me Out, creative talent. We have a lot to offer, as do they. Take Him Out and Take A Celebrity Out. All three We hope that one day soon, more formats from versions are very popular.” Asia will travel around the world.” 3 week 39 the RTL Group intranet Speaking of the big talent shows like Idols, X Factor and Got Talent – how are they doing? In India, Idols has just finished its fifth season. It was the first season locally produced by FremantleMedia India, with 5.9 million viewers tuning in for the final. In Indonesia, the sixth season of Indonesian Idol has just finished, and outperformed the previous four seasons. And in Vietnam the third series is currently on air and doing well. Finally, Got Talent has also made the leap to Asia. A second series has just launched in India, following season one’s success story in 2009. Earlier this year, The Philippines Got Talent was a smash hit, with the finale scoring audience shares of well over 40 per cent. In Indonesia the show is also making headlines. “Finally, Got Tal- Sreeram Chandra Mynampati, winner of this year’s Indian Idol ent has been sold into Thailand”, says Patrick This reveals how Asian culture differs from Schult. “It is the first sale in this market for quite that of Europe or the US and how audiences some time.” differ as well. “We need to respect cultural differences in order not to insult beliefs or So what’s next? In 2011, X Factor will feelings,” says Schult. “In the localisation proc- launch in India, as a local production by ess we adapt our international formats to suit FremantleMedia India. “There is also high the tastes of the local viewers.” In terms of interest in the show in Indonesia and the Asian audiences, “our shows are often more Philippines,” says Schult. Idols will continue celebrity focused,” he says. “In Asia it was in India and return for a seventh season in difficult to focus too much on regular people, like Indonesia. “Most of our shows all over Asia will in Europe or the US. Even Family Feud, which be renewed,” he says happily. “And the classic runs in prime time five days a week, still features game shows are continuing their comeback.” a celebrity with his or her family.” Super Family is the Indonesian adaptation of Family Feud Recently, FremantleMedia Asia sold How Clean Is Your House into Vietnam as a fully advertiser- funded programme (AFP). “It’s always great to sell a format for the first time – andHow Clean Is Your House is in this category,” says Schult. “The recently launched show has beaten the channel The Prince Dance Group receiving the winner’s cheque average share by over 25 per cent.” This marks at India’s Got Talent the third significant AFP sale in the region after Vietnam Idol and Thailand’s Got Talent. 4 week 39 the RTL Group intranet At the Marathon Not only was the Berlin Marathon a big topic in the programming of N-TV and the Berlin radio stations, but many RTL Group employees ran the marathon themselves – despite the less than cosy weather. The RTL Group team with a total of 42 runners from 13 subsidiaries and the Corporate Centre in Luxembourg Luxembourg / Germany - 27 September 2010 The day was unpleasant indeed: 13°C and a constant drizzle literally put a damper on everyone’s spirits. The RTL Group team, too, with a total of 42 participants from 13 subsidiar- ies and the Corporate Centre in Luxembourg, struggled with the adverse conditions. But they persevered and all of them crossed the finish line. Also, the celebrity group running for the ‘RTL – Wir helfen Kindern’ foundation mastered the route easily. The boxers Ina Menzner and Arthur Abraham, high-jumper Carlo Thränhardt, foot- baller Marco Rehmer, actor Götz Otto and The celebrity group running for the ‘RTL – Wir helfen Kindern’ N-TV’s Managing Director Hans Demmel and foundation mastered the route easily RTL presenters Ulrike von der Groeben and Wolfram Kons each ran five kilometres for Regarding radio, the run was covered by charity, then ran the last five kilometres of the 104.6 RTL and 105’5 Spreeradio. Both ‘Real – Berlin Marathon’ together, led by the channels also had set up stages at the event. legendary boxing coach Uli Wegner. The On the RTL stage at Berlin’s Weltkugelbrunnen organisers paid one euro for each metre of the (Globe Fountain), the Hermes House Band kept run, so that in the end the team proudly accepted things lively for the athletes and spectators, while a cheque in the amount of EUR 42,195 for the the Spreeradio stage served to give the arriving foundation. half-marathon runners a fitting welcome. N-TV reported live from the event. Between 8:30 N-TV’s Chief Editor Volker Wasmuth said: and 12:00 the sports moderators Britta Hofmann “Broadcasting this kind of top event live was and Nico Holter reported from the route, where a big challenge. I am especially proud of the some 700,000 spectators cheered on the 40,945 outstanding work done by the whole team and runners from 122 nations. Broadcasting from the excellent cooperation with the organisers the marathon was a special challenge this year SCC Running, the production firm Powerplay, because the helicopters were grounded by and RTL Radio.“ the inclement weather, so that only part of the planned footage could be shown. 5 week 39 the RTL Group intranet Off to a brilliant Saturday start Das Supertalent began the new season with outstanding ratings: On 25 September, the talent show attracted more viewers than ever before. The Jury: Bruce Darnell, Sylvie van der Vaart and Dieter Bohlen Germany - 27 September 2010 Viewership for the second episode of Das Supertalent peaked at 8.87 million on Saturday evening, with an average 7.74 million viewers tuning in throughout the show. The popular talent show attracted an excellent 38.8 per cent share of the 14 to 49 viewer market, a market share that is not only above that of last December’s finale, but also the highest market share Das Supertalent has achieved among young audiences to date.