How 6ter quickly earned a pride of place in the French

week 24 / 13 June 2013
A DESTINATION
CHANNEL
How 6ter quickly earned a pride of place in the French DTT world
Germany
Germany
Belgium
India
More than half Teamworx
“A fairly intense year” Big RTL Thrill adds
a million euros to produce
English feed
for flood victims unprecedented
documentary about
football’s ‘Kaiser’
week 24 / 13 June 2013
A DESTINATION
CHANNEL
How 6ter quickly earned a pride of place in the French DTT world
Germany
Germany
Belgium
India
More than half Teamworx
“A fairly intense year” Big RTL Thrill adds
a million euros to produce
english feed
for flood victims unprecedented
documentary about
football’s ‘Kaiser’
Cover
Catherine Schöfer, Deputy Managing Director at 6ter
Publisher
RTL Group
45, Bd Pierre Frieden
L-1543 Luxembourg
Editor, Design, Production
RTL Group
Corporate Communications & Marketing
before yo
ink
up
Th
t
rin
backstage.rtlgroup.com
backstage.rtlgroup.fr
backstage.rtlgroup.de
QUICK VIEW
More than half a million
euros for flood victims
RTL Television
p. 8
“It’s essential to try
things out, that’s how
you learn.”
Teamworx to produce
unprecedented
documentary about
football’s ‘Kaiser’
6ter
p.4–7
Teamworx
p. 9
RTL Belgium
SHORT
NEWS
p. 10
p. 13–15
“A fairly intense year”
Big Picture
p.12
Big RTL Thrill
adds English feed
Big RTL Thrill
p. 11
PEOPLE
p.16–18
On 12 December 2012,
Groupe M6 launched its
third Free-TV channel, the
general-interest channel 6ter.
Six months later, Backstage
caught up with its Deputy
Managing Director, Catherine
Schöfer, to find out how the
channel was faring.
“IT’S
ESSENTIAL TO
TRY THINGS OUT,
THAT’S HOW
YOU LEARN.”
France – 13 June 2013
6ter
To mark international Earth Day on 22 April 2013, 6ter interrupted its regular programme schedule and launched its first day entirely dedicated to a
single theme – a first for a television channel in France
4
© Patrick Robert/6ter
How have the ratings evolved over these past
six months? How is 6ter doing compared with
the other new channels?
6ter was quick to establish itself. Its first ratings
already reflected a primetime audience of more
than 300,000 viewers. Our strategy entailed
getting off to a strong start, because we believed
it was essential to attract viewers straight away
and then work to secure their loyalty. Once that
was achieved, the challenge to be met was to
maintain that same level of performance. We
succeeded in achieving that, and today we
are even experiencing some growth. In fact,
during May the channel notched up its biggest
audiences of the year among viewers aged 4
and above. The other channels adopted a
different strategy, starting off more slowly.
Subsequently some of them saw their audiences
increase afterwards, whereas others did not, but
6ter continued to perform steadily throughout, and
recently its ratings began to rise.
Mac Lesggy explores the secrets of Ancient Egypt in Xplora
Which types of programmes draw the largest
audiences on 6ter?
Films. We’ve seen our audiences peak at up to
370,000 viewers. Magazines and documentaries
also achieve high ratings, especially Xplora,
C’est du propre and Norbert et Jean: Le Défi!.
Where series are concerned, our audiences
tend to fluctuate from programme to programme.
Broadcast in primetime, 90210 and Super Hero
Family are very popular, the latter having already
attracted up to 291,000 viewers. On the other hand,
we were disappointed with the poor performance
of Raising Hope, which may be due to the format.
Unlike the United States, French viewers are not
very much used to 26-minutes-long primetime
programmes. However, we know it’s essential to
try things out. That’s how you learn. That said, our
ultimate aim is to excel in all genres.
© Patrick Robert/6ter
Would you thus describe the channel’s launch a
successful one?
Absolutely! Among the DTT channels what
sets 6ter apart is its positioning. It is a generalinterest channel that combines power and
quality, focussing on a number of genres.
Consequently, it is now a destination channel,
a channel people consciously choose to watch.
Like most larger channels, we attract our best
audiences during primetime, as well as during
access primetime and at lunchtime. The other
new DTT channels tend to be complementary
channels, which are watched mainly at specific
slots when they air popular programmes. For
instance, HD1 attracts large audiences in the
afternoon, whereas RMC draws its biggest
audiences on access and primetime.
Top Chef season three finalists Norbert Tarayre and Jean Imbert
ready for a new challenge in Norbert et Jean: Le Défi!
Are your advertising revenues in line with the
channel’s audiences?
When you launch a channel, advertisers wait for
you to prove yourself. 6ter offers them a positioning
and values they appreciate and with which they can
associate their brands. Given the good ratings I can
tell you that we are actually doing better than we
forecasted.
Next >
5
© CBS Studios Inc.
90210 Beverly Hills: Nouvelle Génération, performing well both offline and online
Where does 6ter stand as far as digital
is concerned?
These days it is impossible to think of a channel
without considering digital integration. For this
reason, right from the start 6ter had a website,
a catch-up platform and an app. One week prior
to the channel’s launch, Web users could already
watch presentation clips via a pre-play function.
Thanks to the app, which is now also available
on other platforms, those people who do not yet
receive 6ter (Editor’s note: so far its coverage
reaches less than 60 per cent of all French
households), can watch its programmes live.
In the digital domain we’ve greatly benefited from
Groupe M6’s expertise and are continuing to do
so today, thanks to cross promotion. For instance,
part of 6ter’s digital consumption originates from
other Groupe M6 online services. Finally, since
5 April fans of the cookery programme Norbert et
Jean: Le Défi! have been treated to an enriched
viewing experience.
Do you envisage doing the same with other
programmes?
Ultimately we will do the same for all programmes
that permit it, because enriched content is a must if
it constitutes a real plus for viewers, as is definitely
the case with Norbert et Jean: Le Défi!. Viewers are
happy with this function and many of them make
use of it, either when the programme airs on 6ter or
when it is repeated on M6.
© JL Bulcao/M6
What prompted you to schedule a day’s
programmes around a specific theme, such
as the Journée pour la Terre (Earth Day)
on 22 April?
At 6ter we like to stand out from the crowd.
We constantly look for ways to create channelbased events and don’t hesitate to take risks that
others would not dare to take. That’s why we
turned our programming upside down and also
changed the channel’s visual identity for nearly
24 hours, to pay homage to our planet while
remaining true to one of our fundamental
values: discovery. We were very happy with
the results of this initiative and will certainly
repeat it next year, either taking up the same
theme again or focussing on another one.
We already have plenty of ideas.
Spotless, Danielle and Béatrice in C’est du propre
Can we expect other programmes aired on 6ter
to have a second life on M6 or even on W9?
Yes, I would love that. Either because we produce
formats that we can share and even co-finance
with other Groupe M6 channels, or because since
we don’t have the same pressure to perform
during primetime, we are more flexible in our
choices. Working on a different scale and having
less demanding objectives makes us more
adaptable. Indeed, this is what enables us to indulge
by scheduling events like Earth Day.
When characterising M6, Thomas Valentin used
the words “audacity” and “creativity”. Which
words would you use to describe 6ter?
“Sharing”, “pleasure” and “discovery” – because
these words aptly sum up the channel’s core spirit.
6ter is a lively channel, offering conviviality and
humanity, to viewers of all ages.
Next >
6
RESULT OF THE ‘MÉDIASPHÈRES’ MARCH 2013 STUDY ON THE PERCEIVED IMAGE
OF THE SIX NEW DTT CHANNELS.
…is the most popular of these channels among viewers because of the quality of its programmes
and is also the most attractive channel, judging by its ratings.
…has a positive image thanks to its range of accessible, family viewing which enriches the types
of programmes available on DTT in some domains (series, discovery, film).
…offers viewers, first and foremost entertainment, but also enables them to discover and learn in
a different, modern way.
(The figures are based on an omnibus telephone survey comprising 1000 interviews carried out by the market
research institute BVA in March 2013 on a representative French sample of individuals aged 15 and above).
6TER’S DIGITAL WORLD IN FIGURES:
TERRAIN D’INVESTIGATION:
© Pascalito/DR/6ter
350,000 6ter apps downloaded
28,000 fans on Facebook
7,000 followers on Twitter
12 million videos watched (catch-up,
live) including 3 million viewings of
90210 Beverly Hills (via catch-up TV)
Anicet Mbida hosts Terrain d’Investigation
Screenshot of the 6ter App
A new investigative society
magazine launched on 25 May
Airs during primetime every Saturday
Has attracted up to 134,000 viewers
to date
7
MORE THAN HALF A MILLION EUROS
FOR FLOOD VICTIMS
RTL Television
For a week now, RTL Television has been
calling on the viewers of its news and
magazine shows to donate funds for flood
victims in Germany. The Stiftung RTL –
Wir helfen Kindern currently has 580,956 euros
at its disposal for helping the victims. As well as
emergency relief, the foundation also aims to
provide long-term support.
Germany – 13 June 2013
Wolfram Kons
Wolfram Kons, RTL Charity Director, said: “Our thanks go to all
viewers who have made donations. Our focus is still on the
emergency relief being provided by the many amazing workers of
our partners on the ground in the crisis zones, the ‘Johanniter’ and
‘Malteser’. But even once the waters have subsided and the disaster
has disappeared from the headlines, we won’t forget the flood-stricken
children and their families, and will help with reconstruction.”
Stiftung RTL – Wir helfen Kindern especially wants to get
destroyed kindergartens and nurseries up and running again, such as
the Jona daycare facility for children in Dresden. To ensure that the
105 kindergarten and crèche kids can return to their day-care centre as
soon as possible, RTL – Wir helfen Kindern is paying for the extensive
renovations needed.
For more information on the relief campaigns and ways to donate,
please visit http://www.rtl.de/cms/mein-rtl/rtl-wir-helfen-kindern/jetztspenden.html
8
TEAMWORX TO PRODUCE UNPRECEDENTED
DOCUMENTARY ABOUT FOOTBALL’S ‘KAISER’
Teamworx
Nico Hofmann and Sascha Schwingel have
managed to win over German football legend
Franz Beckenbauer for the most elaborate
documentary ever made about the ‘Kaiser’.
It will be directed by Thomas Schadt.
Germany – 11 June 2013
Thomas Schadt is one of Germany’s outstanding documentary
filmmakers and has won much recognition and multiple awards
for his portraits of public personages, such as former German
Chancellor Gerhard Schröder. For Teamworx, he previously realised
the docu-drama Der Mann aus der Pfalz (The Man from the
Palatinate) about another former Chancellor, Helmut Kohl.
Franz Beckenbauer
For Nico Hofmann, Teamworx CEO and producer, Franz Beckenbauer
is both a hero and an icon. He says: “Never before have filmmakers
had the opportunity to accompany the ‘Kaiser’ for such a long time –
our film will be an introspection and homage to one of the most exciting
athlete’s lives ever. We thank Franz Beckenbauer and especially his
manager Marcus Hoefl for their open-mindedness towards our ideas,
which made this unusual project possible to begin with.” Hoefl added:
“We held many constructive conversations and together explored
together how best to realise such a project. Franz’s life has been so
incredibly full of experiences. In the end, the concept convinced us.
And of course we always had in the back of our minds that Nico and
his team have already made a lot of great movies.”
For the movie, which is being shot to commemorate
Beckenbauer’s 70th birthday on 11 September 2015, Thomas
Schadt will accompany Germany’s most famous professional football
player, and most internationally popular athlete. Viewers will share
Franz Beckenbauer’s work in the lead-up to the 2014 World Cup
in Brazil, and visit the places that have been important in his life.
International celebrities and friends will talk about Beckenbauer’s
influence on football, and unlike in previous documentaries,
Franz Beckenbauer himself will look back on his nearly 50-year
career and take stock. This extraordinary portrait will show sides of
Franz Beckenbauer that have never been seen before.
The documentary is a Teamworx production for ARD; the project is
being lead managed by Bayerischer Rundfunk.
9
“A FAIRLY INTENSE YEAR”
RTL Belgium
On 11 June 2013, RTL Belgium unveiled
its summer television programme schedule
around a barbecue that gathered journalists,
hosts, directors and news services. It was
also an occasion to take stock of the previous
season.
Belgium – 12 June 2013
Belgium’s Got Talent
Wes and Travis
In television, RTL Belgium remained the leader during the 2012/13
season in French-speaking Belgium. Together, the channels RTL-TVI,
Club RTL and Plug RTL registered a 33.4 per cent audience share
(compared to 34.2 per cent for the previous season) and remained
far ahead of the competition from the public service. In an interview
with the daily newspaper L’Echo, RTL Belgium’s Director of Television
Stéphane Rosenblatt said: “It was a fairly intense year, but on the
whole, the variations were slight.” CEO Philippe Delusinne explained:
“The advertising market improved in March and April.” The second half
of the year will notably see the return of the talent contest Belgium’s
Got Talent.
Despite a slight reduction in its audience over a year with
a 24.8 per cent audience share, 18 of RTL-TVI’s entertainment
programmes still managed to rank among the top 20 in their genre.
These included François Pirette, Les gens d’en bas sont déjà belges,
Top Chef and Belgium’s Got Talent, which respectively placed first,
second and third. RTL-TVI’s Le journal de 19 heures confirmed its
supremacy, ranking number one on 269 occasions (in 273 days).
Le journal de 13 heures also remained the leader every day this
season. Club RTL’s performance was notable – the channel scored a
5.8 per cent audience share that had increased over a year thanks to
its football match coverage (compared to 5.1 per cent for the 2011/12
season).
While waiting for the start of the next season, flagship channel RTL-TVI
is offering a multitude of series this summer, including Wes & Travis
(USA Network) and The Gate (ABC). The channel will also show new
seasons of 24, Criminal Minds and The Glades. In the entertainment
category, Ma maison la plus originale de France will air on Sundays. In
sport, Club RTL will offer the Wimbledon tournament (from 26 June to
6 July), football in August with the Champion’s League (20, 21, 27 and
28 August) and the friendly Belgium-France match (14 August).
10
BIG RTL THRILL ADDS ENGLISH FEED
Big RTL Thrill
Big RTL Thrill, the joint venture channel
between
RTL
Group
and
Reliance
Broadcast Network, announced the addition
of an English feed across key Indian markets,
beginning 12 June 2013.
India – 10 June 2013
The channel with the tagline ‘Action ka Baap’ (Ultimate Action
Destination) will feature a range of globally acclaimed shows such as
Fear Factor, Hole in the Wall and Wipe Out in both Hindi and English.
With this international palette of hit shows, now available to a larger
audience base, the channel is on its way to becoming the one-stop
destination for male action-related entertainment in India.
Sunil Kumaran, Business Head of Regional TV at Reliance
Broadcast Network, comments: “With this latest development we intend
to emulate the success we have achieved in Hindi-speaking markets.
We have chosen the content according to our viewers’ penchants and
preferences and are confident it will work.” With the dual feed, a variety
of new shows in the offering, and the second phase of TV digitisation
with 38 additional cities getting access to digital TV, “we are confident
that Big RTL Thrill will find an enhanced relevant male audience base,
and will prove to be the best possible choice for marketers wanting to
reach out to this desirable audience.”
Big RTL Thrill, which initially launched in Uttar Pradesh in November
2012, has scored compelling audience ratings. Backed by its success
in Uttar Pradesh, Big RTL Thrill recently entered the key markets
of Mumbai and Delhi. Targeted at male viewers aged 15 to 44, the
channel broadcasts its action-packed content to 29 million male
viewers.
11
Attraction
has Talent!
The finale of season eight of Thames produced
Britain’s Got Talent aired on ITV1 on Saturday 8 June 2013.
Judges Simon Cowell, Amanda Holden, Alesha Dixon
and David Walliams were all on their feet, along with
the entire audience, as Attraction, the shadow dance
group from Hungary was crowned this year’s winner.
The show was watched by a peak audience
of 13.1 million viewers.
SHORT NEWS
1/3
RTL II signs on as new media partner to
German Media Pool
RTL II
The German Media Pool (GMPVC) is launching its second
media-for-equity fund with a new media partner on board: RTL II.
Germany – 7 June 2013
Touring France for a good cause
W9
Les Ch’tis decided to take on another major challenge.
This time, they stayed in France and got involved with the ELA
(European Leukodystrophies Association).
France – 7 June 2013
Calling all shopaholics
M6
Starting on 10 June 2013, M6 aired a new programme in access
prime time: Les reines du shopping (Shopping Queen).
This competition based on fashion and creating a look is
presented by Cristina Cordula.
France – 10 June 2013
RTL Radio Deutschland initiates
nationwide radio campaign
for Diversity Day
RTL Radio Deutschland
The ‘Charter of Diversity’ initiative under the patronage of German
Chancellor Angela Merkel organised Germany’s first Diversity Day on
11 June 2013. RTL Radio Deutschland is supporting the campaign
with a nationwide radio campaign.
Germany – 11 June 2013
13
SHORT NEWS
2/3
France in ‘Marine’ blue, white and red
M6
On 9 June 2013, in prime time, M6 aired a new documentary –
a portrait of several people who voted for France’s National Front
party. Ils ont voté Front National achieved very good ratings,
capturing the interest of almost 2 million viewers.
France – 11 June 2013
environMINDday 2013 at RTL Group
(part 1)
RTL Nederland
RTL Nederland participated in the environMINDday again this year.
On 3 June, RTL Nederland’s meteorologist and weather presenter
Helga van Leur gave employees an inspiring presentation on the
influence that human beings have on climate change.
The Netherlands – 11 June 2013
Toggo and Toggolino kids’ tablets
Super RTL
In cooperation with KD Interactive, Super RTL is launching two
innovative, child-friendly tablet models that are branded with the
popular children’s brands Toggo and Toggolino.
Germany – 12 June 2013
environMINDday 2013 at RTL Group
(part 2)
Mediengruppe RTL Deutschland
Mediengruppe RTL Deutschland, too, participated in
environMINDday again. Sustainability was the main theme
of this year’s edition and a range of mobility- and health-related
activities and information were provided for employees.
Germany – 12 June 2013
14
SHORT NEWS
3/3
Europe celebrates the dance floor sound
Fun Radio
On 13 June, Fun Radio, through its trademark license in Spain, holds
the ‘Fun Radio Dance Event’ in Madrid to reward the top European
DJs at a ceremony.
France – 13 June 2013
environMINDday 2013 at RTL Group
(part 3)
RTL Klub
RTL Klub in Hungary gave a boost to their own environment by
planting ten trees around the premises. To test how much energy
consumption they could potentially save at the site, they switched
off central air-conditioning in the non-business critical areas,
and compared consumption of with that of a regular day.
Hungary – 13 June 2013
15
PEOPLE
PIERRE LATTÈS
HAS DIED
Fun Radio
France – 7 June 2013
On 4 June 2013, Pierre Lattès, co-founder of Fun Radio,
died at the age of 65.
In a press release, Fun Radio’s Managing Director Jérôme
Fouqueray stated: “The entire Fun Radio team is very
moved by the death of Pierre Lattès. Today, 28 years later,
Fun Radio remembers where it came from and how it
was born one evening in October 1985 as the result of a
regrouping of local stations in Nancy, Grenoble,
Montpellier, Bordeaux, Carcassonne, Toulouse and Nice,
under the impetus of Pierre Lattès and his associates.”
Pierre Lattès began his career on José Arthur’s
Pop Club on the France Inter public radio station.
He then worked for Europe 1 for a year before returning
to the public station, where he remained until 1985.
In that year, on 2 October, he launched Fun Radio with
Eric Péchadre and Jean-Baptiste Blanchemain. He left the
station in 1988 after it was bought by the Hersant group.
In 1993, the Compagnie Luxembourgeoise de
Télédiffusion (CLT) obtained consent from the CSA
in France for the acquisition of a 34 per cent capital
of Fun Radio.
Pierre Lattès
16
PEOPLE
PER BLANKENS NAMED EXECUTIVE
PRODUCER OF AMERICAN IDOL
FremantleMedia North America
North America – 12 June 2013
Following
the
announcement
that
Executive
Producers Nigel Lythgoe and Ken Warwick are leaving
American Idol, FremantleMedia North America recently
announced that Per Blankens will executive produce the
singing competition for its upcoming thirteenth season.
Per Blankens produced the Swedish version of the Idols
format from 2007 to 2011 with great ratings success.
In its eighth season in 2011, the programme scored
51 per cent of the total audience, outperforming its
competitor TV4’s prime-time average by 145 per cent.
In addition to his work on Idols, Blankens has served as
Managing Director of Friday TV, part of the Shine Group,
and Head of Programmes for Meter TV. He has overseen
Scandinavian versions of such international formats as
Idol, Master Chef and Biggest Loser.
Trish
Kinane,
Idols
Executive
Producer
for
FremantleMedia North America comments: “Per is a
creative and experienced executive who has been the
show runner on the blockbuster Swedish Idol for more
than 5 seasons. He is extremely passionate about Idols
and I’m very excited about his ideas and vision for keeping
Idols creatively vibrant. He brings the talent and energy
needed to keep American Idol strong.”
Per Blankens adds: “The Idols franchise is a worldwide
phenomenon and I’m honoured to be a part of the most
popular of the franchises, American Idol. I can’t wait to
get started as auditions for the new season are just a few
weeks away.”
American Idol is produced by FremantleMedia North
America and 19 Entertainment, a division of Core Media
Group.
Per Blankens
17
PEOPLE
CRAIG CEGIELSKI AND STEFANIE BERK
JOIN FREMANTLEMEDIA NORTH AMERICA
FremantleMedia North America
North America – 13 June 2013
Thom Beers, CEO of FremantleMedia North America
(FMNA) recently named Craig Cegielski Executive Vice
President and Stefanie Berk Senior Vice President of
Scripted Programming and Development.
Thom Beers, CEO FremantleMedia North America
comments: “We’re thrilled to have these two wonderfully
talented individuals join our team. Scripted programming
is a huge priority for us and both Craig and Stefanie bring
passion, great relationships and years of experience with
them to FremantleMedia.”
Craig Cegielski adds: “It’s incredibly exciting to be
joining FremantleMedia as it takes a step forward
in scripted entertainment. As the leading global
independent studio, the company is perfectly positioned
to maximize its resources as an international content
company. The addition of Stefanie Berk reinforces our
commitment to talent relationships and support of creative
visionaries as she’s demonstrated during her tenure with
Playtone.”
Craig Cegielski joins the company from Open Circle
Entertainment, an independent television company, which
he co-founded in January 2013. Prior to that, Cegielski
was Executive Vice President of Programming & Sales
for Lionsgate International Television. Before joining
Lionsgate, Cegielski worked for CBS/King World
International specialising in local production and
programming. From 1998 through to 2004, he worked
for Paramount Pictures in the co-production division of
Paramount International Television.
Craig Cegielski
Stefanie Berk
Stefanie Berk, who joined FMNA on June 10, comes from
Playtone, where she was Head of Development since
2011. At Playtone, she developed and managed all TV
and film projects for company partners Tom Hanks and
Gary Goetzman. From 2007 to 2011 Stefanie Berk was
Vice President, Development, where she worked on such
projects as Mamma Mia, Charlie Wilson’s War, John
Adams and The Pacific. Prior to Playtone, Berk was an
assistant to director Baz Luhrmann.
Stefanie Berk: “After many great years at Playtone,
I’m thrilled to be joining FremantleMedia and couldn’t be
more excited to be working with Thom and Craig. As we
seek to expand upon FremantleMedia’s scripted series,
I’m looking forward to working with amazing talent in a time
when the television landscape couldn’t be more inspiring.”
18
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