RTL Radio in France picks up the digital pace

week 26 / 26 June 2014
RADIO REINVENTED
RTL Radio in France picks up the digital pace
Germany
France
The Netherlands
A new structure
for UFA Show &
Factual
M6 named audience’s
favourite channel
Unlimited video fun
week 26 / 26 June 2014
RADIO
REINVENTED
RTL Radio in France picks up the digital pace
Germany
France
The Netherlands
A new structure
for UFA Show &
Factual
M6 named audience’s
favourite channel
Unlimited video fun
Cover
Montage with RTL Radio’s advertising
Publisher
RTL Group
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L-1543 Luxembourg
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RTL Group
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QUICK VIEW
A new structure for
UFA Show & Factual
UFA Show & factual
p.8
M6 named
audience’s
favourite channel
Tristan Jurgensen:
“Digital dovetails with
our corporate culture”
M6
p.9–10
RTL Radio
p.4–7
Unlimited
video fun
RTL Nederland
p.11
Big Picture
p.12
SHORT
NEWS
p.13
PEOPLE
p.14–16
On 17 June 2014,
RTL Radio rolled out the
brand new version of
the RTL.fr website that
aims to deliver ‘enhanced
radio’. Backstage talks
to the project leaders to
explore the new face of the
leading radio site in France,
showcasing the new
digital strategy pursued by
RTL Group’s French radio
stations.
“DIGITAL
DOVETAILS WITH
OUR CORPORATE
CULTURE”
France – 26 June 2014
RTL Radio
Tristan Jurgensen, Managing Director of RTL Net
4
Following the acquisition of Girls.fr in late 2013 and
the hiring of two new managers (Thomas Karolak,
Editor-In-Chief of RTL Net, and Antoine Daccord,
RTL’s Chief Digital Editor), the overhaul of the
RTL.fr site is a new step forward for the pioneer of
‘social radio’ in France. The project lasted one year
and cost nearly one million euro. The new site is
actually part of the ambitious Renaissance project,
which aims to reorganise all digital productions by
the RTL Group’s French radio stations (RTL, RTL2,
Fun Radio).
Commenting
on
the
project’s
goals,
Tristan Jurgensen, Managing Director of the
digital subsidiary RTL Net, says: “The new site aims
to become one of the leading news sites in France”.
Already firmly established with 3.7 million unique
visits each month, RTL.fr has been the leading radio
site for 17 months in a row and is now one of the top
15 news sites in France. “Ultimately, we are aiming
for more than four million unique visitors monthly in
the long term.”
RTL.fr: presentation of the new site
RTL Radio is investing in ‘enhanced radio’ – an
unprecedented experience in the French radio and
television sectors – focusing on rich web content
and digital consumption across all devices. “The
aim is to extend the radio experience by offering
additional services, triggering new consumption
habits and recruiting new audiences”, explains
Christopher Baldelli, Chief Executive Officer of
RTL Radio. “Digital dovetails with our corporate
culture”, he added, stressing – just a few days before
the launch of digital terrestrial radio (DTR) in France
– that “RTL will not need DTR to go digital” (Editor’s
note: RTL is one of the private national radio stations
opposed to this project, which, in its view, does not
have an economic model).
“THE AIM IS TO EXTEND
THE RADIO EXPERIENCE
BY OFFERING ADDITIONAL
SERVICES, TRIGGERING
NEW CONSUMPTION
HABITS AND RECRUITING
NEW AUDIENCES”
Christopher Baldelli
Christopher Baldelli, CEO of RTL Radio in France
An interface geared to consumption across
all devices
The new RTL.fr site boasts a ‘responsive design’ interface
What exactly has changed on the new
RTL.fr site? “We took advantage of the
opportunities offered by digital while remaining
faithful to our radio DNA. We took nothing
away, but went even further”, underlines
Jurgensen. In France, 30 per cent of radio is
consumed via mobile devices and six million
people listen to the radio every day on a new
device (computer, tablet or smartphone1) .
Accordingly, the new site boasts a ‘responsive
design’ interface capable of adapting to
different screen formats. “For the RTL brand
alone, new devices already account for
10 per cent of consumption. Indeed, such
consumption has doubled in just one year;
it barely existed three years ago”, adds
Jurgensen.
“FOR THE RTL BRAND
ALONE, NEW DEVICES
ALREADY ACCOUNT
FOR 10 PER CENT
OF CONSUMPTION.
SUCH CONSUMPTION
BARELY EXISTED
THREE YEARS AGO”
Tristan Jurgensen
Next >
1
According to the Global Radio study published
by Médiamétrie in 2013
5
Enhanced content
The ‘Renaissance’ continues
Radio content linked to the station’s programming
(live and replay videos) and the news has doubled.
Since news doesn’t wait and radio is consumed in
real time, priority has been given to instant access.
The rich site monitors and develops topics in real
time via timelines, with modular sequences used on
the various pages and sections of the site. The site
is now more interactive, giving visitors a chance to
engage and contribute to programmes and events
via social conversations and the sharing of content.
The new RTL.fr site is a prelude to the renovation
of the RTL2 and Fun Radio websites within the next
year, and to new mobile apps – beginning with the
app for the RTL.fr site, which is scheduled to be
released during the autumn. “By June 2015, we want
to have re-released our entire digital offering for our
three radio brands”, Tristan Jurgensen explains.
“All of our digital products will be revamped by then”.
In financial terms, the project should also make it
possible to develop the digital monetisation of our
radio stations via new formats for advertisers and
systematic pre-rolls on all videos.
Video: the height of ‘enhanced radio’
In line with the ‘live video’ approach launched in
April 2013, visual content – both photos and videos
– play a key role. RTL.fr publishes between five
and ten videos per day, ranging from filmed shows
to news analysis by the station’s journalists. The
aim is to increase this to 20 videos per day.
It should also be mentioned that live and
time-shifted viewing of videos enables new
audiences to discover RTL Radio’s programmes.
Nearly half of the site’s visitors who consume
RTL.fr programming do not listen to the station
on a conventional radio, making this a new way to
attract and retain new listeners.
With their new digital strategy, RTL Group’s French
radio stations aim to consolidate their digital brands,
with other acquisitions along the lines of Girls.fr
(see box on the next page) regularly considered.
“When an external acquisition makes sense within
the company’s general strategy and offers obvious
synergies with the station and with our websites, it
dovetails naturally with the development of the digital
offerings of our radio brands”, concludes Jurgensen.
“BY JUNE 2015, WE WANT
TO HAVE RE-RELEASED
OUR ENTIRE DIGITAL
OFFERING FOR OUR
THREE RADIO BRANDS”
Tristan Jurgensen
The new RTL.fr site gives visitors a chance to contribute via social conversations
Next >
The new RTL.fr site:
guided tour
6
RTL.FR: NUMBER 1 RADIO SITE IN FRANCE
3.7 million unique visitors per month
Source: Médiamétrie//NetRatings, Panel France Fixed Internet, 1st quarter 2014. Rankings based
on the Channels and Brands of radio station sites present in the Médiamétrie interface
Live rich radio and streaming views round
the clock on all devices
Consumption doubled in one
Source: eStat-Médiamétrie, live streaming 2013
Now one of the top 15 news sites
More than 1.3 million subscribers on social networks
Source: Médiamétrie//NetRatings, Panel France Fixed Internet, Ranking in the News category,
1st quarter of 2014. Official RTL accounts, including presenters, journalists and shows
GIRLS.FR: RTL RADIO’S FIRST DIGITAL ACQUISITION
In late 2013, RTL Radio in France announced an agreement with Bauer Media France to acquire
Girls.fr. Focusing on young women aged 15 to 24, Girls.fr covers fashion, beauty and people, but is primarily
designed to help teenaged girls with their love life.
This first acquisition on the web is part of the company’s digital strategy to develop a number of vertical topics,
combining the power of radio content with the depth and interactivity of the Internet. Previously, RTL Group’s
French radio stations have developed their digital offering through internal growth (RTL.fr, RTL2.fr, Funradio.fr,
RTLAstro.fr, RTLAuto.fr etc.).
With Girls.fr, RTL Group’s French radio stations are bolstering their expertise in coaching and interactivity
with teenagers, two areas already extensively covered by Fun Radio via its cult show Lovin Fun. Offering a
genuine connection with the Fun Radio audience, RTL Net, is continuing to develop Girls.fr with the help of
the station’s listeners and the content covered on Funradio.fr.
Visit the RTL.fr website
7
A NEW STRUCTURE FOR UFA SHOW & FACTUAL
UFA Show & Factual
UFA Show & Factual is restructuring its
development work in the show segment
with effect from 1 July 2014. In the spirit of
the ‘One UFA’ approach, a new, simplified
organisational structure will be established
across UFA, to future-proof the company and
enhance its innovative powers.
Germany – 20 June 2014
Modelled on the ‘showrunner’ principle piloted by FremantleMedia in
many countries, in the future all producers and Executive Producers
(EPs) at UFA Show & Factual are expected to maintain quicker and
more direct ties with the broadcasters. As they develop new shows,
this will help them offer their customers everything from a single source
– from the initial idea for a show, to adaptations, through to production.
Ute Biernat, Managing Director UFA Show & Factual
The restructuring of UFA Show & Factual comes in response to the
rapid changes in the media market and strengthens the company’s
competitiveness thanks to the focused interaction between producers
and customers from now on.
Ute Biernat, Managing Director UFA Show & Factual, says:
“By realigning our development work, we enhance our employees’
creative and producing know-how, which will allow us to offer our
customers programme ideas and formats quicker and more flexibly.”
8
M6 NAMED AUDIENCE’S FAVOURITE CHANNEL
M6
The M6 channel ranked at the top in the
TV Notes 2014 survey carried out by
Puremedias.com, RTL Radio and 20 minutes
with a large panel of viewers over the course of
June this year.
France – 26 June 2014
L’Amour est dans le pré © M6
According to the poll, M6 is at the top of the podium in no fewer than
five categories. The channel’s flagship presenter, Karine le Marchand,
was awarded the title of audience’s favourite host. Also appearing in
the results was the programme she presents, L’Amour est dans le pré,
which was voted the favourite docu-reality show.
In an interview with Puremedias.com, Thomas Valentin, Vice
President of the M6 Board of Directors, said: “Apart from having a lot of
viewers watching every day, it’s nice to get high-quality feedback. We
have paid attention to this ever since launching our channels. We’re
tied for first place with TF1 on the number of awards. M6 is the second
most popular channel among Internet users. W9 and 6ter are also well
placed among the DTT channels. M6 is behind four of the top five
reportage magazines. So it’s very gratifying that these are especially
important awards, such as the one for Karine Le Marchand.”
Next >
9
Commenting on Karine Le Marchand, he added: “Millions of viewers
love her because she sounds authentic and shows things you don’t
normally see on TV. She transports very positive values that are fully
consistent with those of our channel.”
M6 came in first in the following categories as well: for a French series,
with Scènes de Ménages, for a magazine programme on society, with
100% Mag, and for a newsmagazine programme, with 66 Minutes.
Asked about the decline in M6’s viewership, the Valentin replied: “All
over the world, television is passing through turbulence. In France,
the major fragmentation due to digital media and replay has been
further exacerbated by the passage of 25 free-to-air channels. So M6
had a bit of a shakeup this season, partly caused by that. In response
to a question about whether some formats might be somewhat
‘well-worn’ by now, he concluded: “The problem is that M6 is often
copied. Capital, Zone interdite, Le Loft, our JT, coaching formats,
anything and everything we do is always copied. Hence, perhaps, the
sense of saturation. But that won’t stop us from doing a third season of
La meilleure boulangerie.”
The TV Notes annual survey, carried out by Puremedias.com,
RTL Radio and 20 Minutes, is designed to name the favourite
programmes, hosts and television channels of French viewers via an
extensive online survey. This year, the survey was carried out between
2 and 22 June 2014 and registered an exceptional number of votes
(740,852 in total, to be precise).
10
UNLIMITED VIDEO FUN
RTL Nederland
The ‘Videoland Unlimited’ range is now live
and accessible to all users – via the completely
redesigned website and apps. For a fixed
amount, users get unlimited access to movies
and series.
The Netherlands – 26 June 2014
Even before the go-live, interest was huge, with 150,000 prospective
customers registering for the new platform. Anyone can now sign up
for a free one-month trial of the service.
The ‘Videoland Unlimited’ range is now live and accessible to all users
Co Mast, CEO of The Entertainment Group, says: “The new platform
has already exceeded all expectations, which is why its development
took a bit longer than anticipated. During the past few months, we’ve
redesigned the platform from the ground up and adapted it for various
channels. Then, in the past few weeks, we fine-tuned it further based
on initial feedback from users.”
Arno Otto, Managing Director of RTL Digital Media, comments:
“People’s enthusiasm for VOD is undiminished. It quickly became clear
that the advance registrations for Videoland Unlimited were on a very
rapid increase. We don’t want to make the Netherlands wait for our
series and movies any longer.”
Videoland can be accessed on iPads, Android tablets and Samsung
Smart TVs. Apps for iPhone and Android smartphones, the Playstation
3 and 4, and Smart TVs by Philips, LG, Toshiba, Sony, Panasonic,
Sharp and Loewe are being developed by the end of the year.
Videoland Unlimited has already been available from the TV providers
KPN, Telfort, XS4ALL, Delta, Glashart and Caiway since November
2013. Besides the Netherlands, Videoland Unlimited is now also
available in Belgium.
11
Paris Première
for all
On 23 June 2014, Groupe M6 unveiled
a full page advertisement in the daily
newspapers Le Monde, Libération and
Le Figaro announcing that: “Paris Première
is the most anticipated channel on free DTT”.
Designed in-house, the campaign supports
Paris Première’s switch to free DTT in France
and calls the media regulatory authority (CSA)
to green light this request. The decision is
expected to be made at the end of July 2014.
SHORT NEWS
1/1
Kate & Mim-Mim land in Germany
FremantleMedia Kids & Family Entertainment / Super RTL
FremantleMedia Kids & Family Entertainment’s animated series
Kate & Mim-Mim has been sold to broadcaster Super RTL in Germany.
The deal will result in Kate & Mim-Mim going to air on the channel
later this year. Super RTL will also manage the licensing and home
entertainment rights for the series in Germany.
United Kingdom / Germany – 24 June 2014
To new heights – on high heels
Vox
In the new coaching show Chicas Walk Academy, Catwalk trainer
Jorge González will bring Cuban flair to Germany. The six part show
started 24 June 2014 on Vox.
Germany – 24 June 2014
Double success
FremantleMedia North America
At the Daytime Emmys 2014 ceremony, FremantleMedia North
America’s shows Family Feud and Let’s Make A Deal won awards in
the respective categories of ‘Outstanding Game Show Host’ and ‘Best
Original Song’.
North America – 25 June 2014
FMI on board to distribute
WWI documentary
FremantleMedia International
FremantleMedia International will distribute the World War One
documentary series Railways of the Great War with Michael
Portillo globally (excluding the UK). The series is produced by the
FremantleMedia UK company, Boundless for BBC Two (UK).
United Kingdom – 25 June 2014
Top Chef comes back
Antena 3
The second season of the Spanish version of the popular cooking
competition returns to Atresmedia’s flagship channel Antena 3. Fans
can upload a five minute audition video on the Antena3.com website
until Friday 27 June and get a chance to compete against Top Chef’s
official contestants.
Spain – 25 June 2014
13
PEOPLE
JEAN-MICHEL
KERDRAON
RTL Radio
France – 20 June 2014
After 14 years at RTL Radio in France,
Jean-Michel Kerdraon, Vice President of the
Management Board, is leaving the company at the
end of this season to devote his time to new projects
and to exploring new horizons.
Christopher Baldelli, Chief Executive Officer of
RTL Radio in France, had the following comment for this
occasion: “I sincerely wish to thank Jean-Michel Kerdraon
for all of the work he has accomplished and for the
remarkable investment he made in our company. I wish
him much success in his future endeavours.”
Jean-Michel Kerdraon, Vice President of the Management Board
of RTL Radio in France
Holding a Bachelor’s degree in Law and a graduate of the
Ecole supérieure de commerce of Brest and the Institut
d’études politiques (IEP) of Paris, Jean-Michel Kerdraon
began his career in 1980 as a Management Controller with
the Compagnie Luxembourgeoise de Télédiffusion (CLT).
In 1983, he was named Executive Assistant for the same
company. Following that, he was promoted to the position
of Director of Subsidiaries and Participation in 1991. In
1997, he became Executive Vice President of Radio for
RTL Group. In 2000, Jean-Michel Kerdraon joined
the Ediradio-RTL company, where he became
Vice President of the Management Board in 2002.
Jean-Michel Kerdraon is also an administrator
for IP France, RTL2 and Fun Radio.
14
PEOPLE
CAROLINE
ESKDALE
W9
France – 24 June 2014
Caroline Eskdale has joined
W9 as a Short-Term Formats
Project Manager. She will
be part of the team led by
Pierre-Guillaume Ledan, Head
of Short-Term Formats at W9.
Caroline
Eskdale
brings
her expertise in production
Caroline Eskdale, Short-Term
development and monitoring
formats Project Manager
and will work closely with outside
producers in the making of short-term format shows for
W9. She will also be responsible for maintaining the
channel’s editorial identity in these programmes.
In 2006, Caroline began working as a Production
Manager for self-promotion programmes and was
subsequently promoted to the position of Programme
Manager at TH6 and Série-Club. Caroline has been in
charge of productions there since 2012.
15
PEOPLE
CHRISTIAN
NIENABER
RTL II
Germany – 25 June 2014
RTL II is expanding its digital business and has recruited
Christian Nienaber as Director Digital with effect from
1 July.
In this newly created position, he is responsible for the
digital departments – Online, Mobile, Smart TV and Social
Media – and reports directly to RTL II Director Andreas
Bartl.
RTL II Managing Director Andreas Bartl says: “The
digital sector constantly gives rise to new opportunities
and challenges. In Christian Nienaber, we have gained
an outstanding professional who has long years of
experience in the digital sector and will help us to further
expand our digital business. We are excited to be putting
our ambitious goals into action with him.”
Nienaber, a business graduate, was a Senior Manager
at Mediengruppe RTL Deutschland, most recently as
Vice President Video on Demand & Video Production at
RTL Interactive. Here he was responsible among other
things for the design and operation of the TV channels
RTL Television, RTL Nitro, Super RTL, N-TV and Vox’s
digital VoD offerings. Previously, Nienaber had served
as Project Manager Business Development, and at
RTL Creation, as Project Manager for RTL Television’s
marketing campaigns.
RTL II’s digital business is being given more of a priority on
the sales side as well. Martin Wendler, who has worked
at RTL II’s marketing sales house EL CARTEL MEDIA
since 2012, was appointed to head the newly created
department Digital Media Solutions with effect from
1 June. In this position, he is now responsible for
developing and expanding the digital marketing
department.
Christian Nienaber, Director Digital of RTL II
media activities on Facebook, Twitter and Youtube. Social
media campaigns tying in to TV programmes, such as the
award-winning Facebook activities of the soaps
Berlin – Tag & Nacht and Köln 50667, celebrate
nationwide ratings records and demonstrate the
relevance of digital measures.
The digital sector plays a key role at RTL II as a modern
and innovative media company. The TV channel attracts
a great deal of traffic to its own platforms RTL II Now
and RTL2.de and is continuously expanding its social
16
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