Backstage Newsletter Week 45

Transcription

5 November 2009
week
A sharper image
Andre Prahl on the introduction of HDTV in Germany
Germany
France
UFA Sports founds subsidiary
Girondins de Bordeaux advances
in the Champions League
Belgium
United Kingdom
20 years of commercial
television in Europe
Diversifying revenues with
bingo
45
week
45
COVER:
Andre Prahl, member of the CBC Management Board
Photo: RTL Television, Stefan Gregorowius
2
the RTL Group intranet
week 45
“A more beautiful TV
experience, long-term”
Andre Prahl
On 1 November, the HD platform HD+ launched
with two Mediengruppe RTL Deutschland
channels: RTL Television and Vox. Viewers with a
satellite dish, a digital HD+ receiver and an
HD-ready TV set can now receive popular series
in ultra-sharp resolution, glowing colours and
unsurpassed brilliance. They can choose
between the new HD+ offer in high-definition
picture quality, digitally unencrypted in familiar
PAL-adequate picture quality, or reception of the
analogue satellite signal (PAL standard) as in the
past.
In the Netherlands, too, two TV channels are now
available in HD quality. Since 15 October, viewers
have been able to receive the two channels
RTL 7 and RTL 8 in high-definition picture quality
via the UPC cable network. To do so they need
an HD set-top box and a HD subscription with
UPC. Arno Otto, Managing Director of the Digital
Media division at RTL Nederland, says: “At RTL
Nederland, we have two priorities when it comes
to the consumer: service and quality. The switch
to HD fulfils both criteria.” In the Netherlands,
too, parts of the programming will be broadcast
in HD for starters, primarily foreign films and
series.
In France, M6 started with HD already a year ago.
Twenty-seven transmitters had been put into
operation to cover 40 per cent of the
metropolitan population. Since 31 May 2009,
new transmitters made it possible for more than
60 per cent of the population to access
programmes that are broadcast in HD. In the
coverage area, viewers equipped with a DTT-HD
With the launch of HD+ via the Astra satellite,
Mediengruppe RTL Deutschland now offers
high-definition television as well. Backstage
spoke with Andre Prahl about the launch and
its benefits for viewers.
Germany - 5 November 2009
adaptor will find all of the network’s flagship
programmes in unparalleled sound and image
quality.
The launch of HDTV in Germany, the Netherlands
and France means that RTL Group now offers the
latest generation of television in three countries,
enabling viewers to watch their TV programmes
in the best possible quality. On the occasion of
the HD+ launch in Germany, Backstage
interviewed Andre Prahl, a member of the CBC
Management Board and responsible for
Mediengruppe RTL Deutschland’s programme
distribution, about the new technology and its
benefits for viewers.
A new standard in broadcasting
HDTV
(High
Definition
Visit
.de
Television) is a broadcasting
RTL-HD e
technology which differs from
.d
Vox-HD
conventional SDTV (Standard
Definition Television) in that it
yields a better-quality image: much
higher resolution and better picture
colour. HDTV enables much greater detail
in TV images, and HDTV images appear
much sharper and more vivid than in
conventional TV. HDTV signals are needed
in order to make full use of the HD-enabled
flat screens already on the market.
3
week 45
What advantages does HD offer compared
with conventional TV resolution?
Thanks to the much higher bit rate, all of the
programming will have a far better picture quality
than in the conventional standard resolution.
Will all of the programming be shown in HD,
or only parts of it?
The HDTV signal will initially be produced using
“native” HD material for US series such as
House, Bones, Monk, and CSI: Crime Scene
Investigation on RTL Television or CSI: NY on Vox
as well as blockbusters like The Bourne
Ultimatum (on 15 November on RTL Television).
In 2010, formats like RTL Aktuell and sporting
events like Formula 1, boxing and the Football
World Cup will be added.
Native means that the format was produced in
full HD resolution, this means using recorded
using an HDTV camera. The broadcast native HD
content will greatly improve the good overall
visual impression of RTL Television and Vox’s
entire HD programming yet again. The share of
native HD content in total production will be
steadily expanded over the next few years. Our
goal is to advance this development in a speedy
manner. These elements will very quickly come
to account for a very appreciable part of the
programming.
What are the differences between producing
for regular and for HD channels?
The difference lies in the complexity of creating
the native HD content, this means content that is
produced in full HDTV resolution. The set design,
post-production, make-up and lighting require
greater precision and attention than in standardresolution television. There is no difference
between the content of the HTDV and regular
versions of a programme. The HDTV signal
enables native HD elements of the programming
to reach viewers in full HD resolution; in the
conventional signal, they are reduced down to
the standard resolution.
Why do people have to pay for HDTV?
The provision of high-definition channels on HD+
involves vast technological and financial outlay.
To offset the expense of these services, Astra is
charging a flat service fee of EUR 50 a year.
CSI:NY
There have been speculations in the press
that the introduction of HD+ will pave the way
to a general encryption of Mediengruppe RTL
Deutschland channels. Is there any truth to
this?
Free-TV channels have to use encryption so that
digitisation can take place in a controllable
environment. Encryption serves mainly as
protection against piracy and against
unauthorised changes to the signal by third
parties, that is to control the signal and preserve
its integrity. But this is nothing new. The signals
for our programmes have been encrypted for
broadcast to various digital cable networks or via
DSL for several years now.
What are your hopes and expectations for the
new offer?
HD+ opens up the option of offering viewers
attractive channels in high definition that are not
available yet and which would not become
available anytime soon without HD+. We hope
that HD+ and the introduction of HDTV will prove
to be a cornerstone for offering viewers an even
more beautiful TV experience long-term.
Will other channels be added eventually –
Super RTL, N-TV and RTL II?
We’re starting with our two most-watched
channels for now. But it is absolutely conceivable
that other Mediengruppe RTL channels will
follow.
4
week 45
UFA Sports goes
Slovakia
Arndt Jaworski, Managing Director of UFA Sports Slovakia
UFA Sports will be the service provider for the
Slovak national football teams and the Slovak
Cup in terms of all marketing issues involving
media and advertising rights. The cooperation
with the country’s top league, which is known
as “Corgon Liga” also covers national and
international media rights as well as marketing
a wide-reaching package of advertising rights
which include the use of the league name. The
agreement was signed on a long term
perspective.
Existing
contracts
and
partnerships (such as those with Kia, Heineken
and others) will continue and be integrated into
UFA Sports’ marketing activities.
“We are convinced that we have found the
perfect partner in UFA Sports, and we look
forward to working with them,” stated František
Laurinec, President of the Slovak Football
Association. “Our national team just made the
qualifying rounds for the World Cup in South
Africa – for the first time in the history of Slovak
football! This is the ideal basis for joining forces
with UFA Sports.”
Sports marketing company UFA Sports has
signed an extensive marketing agreement with
the Slovak Football Association and the
country’s top football league.
Germany - 30 October 2009
Arndt Jaworski, who will lead the five-member
team of UFA Sports Slovakia, is equally
confident and pleased about the new
endeavor: “Our goal is to have a lasting impact
by increasing the attractiveness of Slovak
football as a communication platform for
businesses and TV channels,” explains Arndt
Jaworski. “I am convinced that our experience
and expertise can greatly improve the revenue
situation for the SFA and the league. I welcome
this new challenge.”
Jaworski held senior management positions
with the sports licensing company Sportfive
until 2006. He then joined the Board of the
German football club 1. FC Kaiserslautern,
where his main responsibilities included
marketing, legal issues and organisation. Most
recently Arndt Jaworski has worked as
freelance management consultant for national
and international partners.
The new founded subsidiary UFA Sports
Slovakia is based in Bratislava and started
operations on 1 November 2009.
5
week 45
Celebrating 20 years of
commercial TV
On the occasion of the annual conference of the
Association of Commercial Television in Europe
(ACT), commercial broadcasters from all over
Europe met on 4 November in Brussels in the
Residence Palace. They celebrated 20 years of
commercial TV in Europe, delivering creative,
informative and entertaining content.
Belgium - 5 November 2009
Philippe Delusinne, CEO of RTL Belgium and
ACT President since June 2009, gave the
attendants an insight into latest TV
developments and commented: “It is the
attractiveness of TV and enduring interest of
people in it which ensure that TV – sometimes
combined with other platforms – will remain the
key medium for reaching out to mass
audiences. Television will not only survive, it will
thrive. But our ability to do so remains linked to
European regulation. For commercial television
to flourish in the future, a regulatory rethink is
needed, which allows for moving away from
prescriptive micro-management and instead
provides outcomes that work with the flow of
technological change.”
Viviane Reding, EU Commissioner for
Information Society & Media, said: “The
biggest challenge for the next European
Commission will be to work effectively to
accelerate the recovery from the world
economic
downturn.
Information
and
communication technologies, including media,
will play a crucial role in this process as a
source of productivity, innovation and growth.”
Broadcasters present at the ACT Conference
confirmed that commercial broadcasters are
constantly adapting their business models,
diversifying revenues via multimedia activities
and launches of new channels and services
such as Catch-up TV, mobile TV, IPTV, HDTV
and 3D-TV. Pekka Karhuvaara, CEO MTV
Media Finland, said: “TV is not dying, as Bill
Gates said. In fact, TV is having babies.”
Philippe Delusinne
Ross Biggam, ACT Director General,
concluded: “As we move from the world of
‘broadcasting’ to one of ‘multiplatform
distribution of audiovisual content’, two things
will remain certain. That the viewer’s control
over what to watch, and when and where to
watch it, will only continue to increase. And for
that, the decisive factor in our business is what
it always has been: the programmes.”
6
week 45
Further growth with Habbo
RTL II announces a new extension to its online offering in cooperation with Habbo.
Habbo Hotel on RTL2.de
RTL2.de will integrate Habbo in its My Pokito
website. Teenagers can log in to the Habbo
Hotel directly from there to access all of the
community’s offerings. RTL II will present itself
to young users of the Habbo world with a
branded TV studio that runs programmerelated promotions. In addition, a partner
button on the Habbo.de startpage takes users
directly to the My Pokito website hosted by
RTL2.de.
“The many different options for interaction on
Habbo gives our young viewers and users an
ideal community platform. The online world is
frequented by a very attractive demographic
and thus offers the ideal setting for our
products and formats,” says Daniela Geißler,
Head of Special Marketing at RTL II.
“We deliberately chose RTL II as our
cooperation partner, because not only is there
an overlap in the target audience, but the
channel also delivers entertainment with a high
fun factor,” says Bernhard Falch, CEO of
Sulake Germany.
Habbo Communities currently exist in 31
countries on six continents. As of today, in
Germany alone there are over six million
registered users, and the site gets 920,000
visitors a month. Over 90 per cent of its users
are between 12 and 18 years old.
7
week 45
Blue-and-Whites defeat
Bayern 2:0
Yoann Gourcuff and Nicolas de Tavernost
After the game, the team’s delighted coach
Laurent Blanc took questions from LeMonde.fr:
“I think we let the Bavarians have the ball too
much. But overall I feel we mounted a good
defence, kept our ranks closed in the back and
gave the Bavarians only few real opportunities.
I think our victory this evening here in Munich
was an outstanding performance, and clearly
shows that we belong in the Round of 16.” The
website of the sports paper L’Equipe quotes
Blanc as saying that he is proud of his players
and confident about the future. “If anyone had
suggested to me that we would have qualified
for the Round of 16 after just the fourth game, I
would have declared them mad. But this shows
the progress we’re making. (…) Qualifying after
just four games is a remarkable achievement.”
FC Girondins de Bordeaux, which is owned by
Groupe M6, qualified for the Champions League
Round of 16 by defeating Bayern Munich.
France - 4 November 2009
Yoann Gourcuff, a key Bordeaux player, shot
the first goal in the 37th minute. Striker
Marouane Chamakh followed it up with the
second for a 2:0 in the 89th minute. So not only
was this Bayern’s second encounter with the
team from Bordeaux, it was also their second
defeat at Girondins’ hands. On LeMonde.fr,
Bayern defender Philipp Lahm is quoted as
saying: “It needs to be said that the team was
under considerable pressure. Our plan was to
win today’s Champions League match. But all
options are still open and we will give our all in
the next two matches. Though that may seem
hard to believe in the wake of this match, after
losing to Bordeaux 2:0.”
Nicolas de Tavernost, Chairman
of the Management Board of
Groupe M6 and a majority
shareholder of Girondins des
Bordeaux, also praised the
players: “Congratulations are
due to the players; this was no
mean feat. They have made
great strides in recent years,
and
have
proven
their
professionalism and their skill.
This is no coincidence, but the
result of very hard work,” the
AFP newswire quotes de
Tavernost as saying.
Laurent Blanc
8
week 45
Audiences love the
evening news
Tuesday’s evening news was presented by David Jacquot
With 3 million viewers and a 13 per cent
audience share of viewers age 4 and up,
Tuesday evening’s Le 19.45 achieved its best
rating for a weeknight since its launch.
With this new record, Le 19.45 is showing a
strong increase as compared to its average
audience of 2.4 million viewers since the show
was launched. One year ago, in the months of
September and October 2008, the programme
6 Minutes (M6’s former all-image evening news)
drew an average of 2.1 million viewers.
Invited by “Buzz Média Orange-Le Figaro”,
Vincent Régnier, Groupe M6's Head of news,
explained the reasons for this success: “The
priority of our news is to ask the questions
people are asking, hence the coverage of
‘society topics’. It also has to be spectacular,
so that people want to watch it. Now that the
news has stabilised, the aim is to find a perfect
mix between providing a service and explaining
current events. The news also has to have an
element of surprise and astonish people.”
Le 19.45 confirmed its position on Tuesday
evening as the second most-watched evening
news show by viewers under 50 with an
audience share of 20.1 per cent of that target
group.
9
week 45
“Strictness and discipline”
That’s the motto at the Valgrange boarding school where intrigue and mystery
abound. L’Internat, the new French series on M6, is an adaptation of the hit series
El Internado on Antena 3.
France - 30 October 2009
The cast of L’Internat
“Le Valgrange” is an educational establishment
set in a dense, isolated forest. Young
elementary and secondary level pupils come to
live in this mysterious place where the uniform
is a requirement. In everyone’s eyes, the
school’s headmaster Victor Durier has
succeeded in turning this former orphanage
into a model of private education in the region.
While everything seems to be ready to
welcome the pupils for a studious year, “Le
Valgrange” conceals dark secrets that will soon
upset the lives of its residents.
bursar Hélène Massart. Speaking about her
character, she says: “Hélène is the bursar at
the school, she has been there for years and
remains very attached to Valgrange, which she
has known since it was an orphanage. The
directors and I call her the boarding school’s
‘soldier’, and I think of her as being the soul of
the place. She knows everyone and each
person’s history. Of course, she has her own
history, her own secret and a dark side. It’s truly
a creative pleasure to develop such a
character.”
A multitude of renowned French actors’ names
appear in the credits of this new blockbuster
series on M6. It will be shown in the first part of
the evening starting on Thursday 19 November.
Guillaume Cramoisan plays the school’s
headmaster Victor Durier and Valérie Kaprisky
plays Elsa Lendorff, the director of studies as
well as the headmaster’s companion. Laure
Marsac plays Marie, the charwoman who
arrives on the first day of school carrying a
heavy secret. Another grande dame of French
cinema, Bernadette Lafont, plays the school’s
L’Internat was adapted from the Spanish series
El Internado, which is produced by Globomedia
and airs in prime time (22:00 in Spain) on
Antena 3. It was first broadcast on 24 May
2007 and has become a huge success. Since
then, 40 75-minute episodes have been
broadcast and now the Spanish are in their fifth
season, which started on 12 May 2009. M6 has
shot ten 52-minute episodes and the entire
series will be released as a 3 DVD box set
available at M6 Vidéo at the end of 2009.
10
week 45
A new online magazine
for teenagers
The online version of Fan 2 for teenagers takes
its inspiration from the best of the print
magazine.
Fan2.fr, first online magazine for teenagers
News about their favourite stars, photos,
videos, community forums, beauty and fashion
hints – all the know-how of Fan 2 magazine is
now available in this new portal developed by
the Eeple company. A true news and advice
portal for adolescent girls, Fan2.fr takes its
inspiration from the best of the print magazine
to offer teenagers a site that’s truly designed
with them in mind.
With the “Only Girls” section, the portal offers
beauty, fashion, health, psychology and love
advice as well as the magazine’s top shopping
tips. This column gets down to answering all
the important questions asked by teenage girls
and guides them through this pivotal period of
transition into adulthood. The “VIP Section”
(Carré VIP) allows Fan2.fr internet users to take
advantage of special privileges such as
invitations to attend the M6 and W9 flagship
programmes Nouvelle Star and X Factor or get
seats to the Twilight press conference with the
film crew in attendance.
An essential link to the magazine, this new
player on the digital scene is sure to become a
standard news site for teenagers. Fan 2
magazine is the standard in print for
adolescents with one and a half million readers.
For more than 10 years, Fan 2 magazine has
been building true complicity with its female
readers by always remaining close to their
concerns. The magazine positions itself as “the
friend of the stars” with collector-edition
content for fans and lots of the latest news on
the lives of their favourite stars.
Fan 2 is a star magazine presented by Karine
Ferry broadcast saturdays on M6. The printed
edition is published by M6 Editions.
11
week 45
Diversifying revenues with
the FreeBingo show
Five broadens its revenues beyond traditional TV advertising with the launch
of a new bingo programme streamed on the web.
United Kingdom - 2 November 2009
The hour-long programme, The FreeBingo
Show, aims to drive awareness of and traffic to
a suite of online gaming services operated by
Five. The FreeBingo Show airs each weekday
morning at 11:00. Viewers can play for cash
prizes but as the name implies, registration and
the games themselves are free for adults over
the age of 18. It is presented by Charlie
McArdle and produced by Two Way Media Ltd.
It is promoted daily on Five’s main TV channel
and the website Five.tv.
Jonathan Lewis, Five’s Head of Digital Media,
said: “The business model that underpins
commercial TV is changing and broadcasters
must diversify their revenue streams. Gaming
activities such as Five’s online bingo and
casino services are just one such example of
how broadcasters can broaden their revenue
base beyond traditional sources.”
The recent changes to the rules on
teleshopping have also opened up new
opportunities for broadcasters to further
diversify revenues. In a separate agreement,
last month Five became the first UK national
terrestrial broadcaster to take advantage of
Ofcom rules that allow terrestrial broadcasters
to air up to six hours of teleshopping, including
TV gaming, in a 24-hour period. The liberalised
rules allow Five to carry NetPlay TV’s
interactive
TV
casino
product,
SuperCasino.com, in its overnight teleshopping
window.
The free bingo game at Five.tv
12
week 45
Awards in October
The programme won the German veterinarians
Council Media Award 2009
This year, three works by RTL Creation won
International Eyes & Ears Awards for Innovation
& Effectiveness. The sweeping anniversary
campaign 25 Years of RTL won the award for
‘Best Campaign Promoting a Broadcaster’. The
promo campaign for Die Patin (The Godmother)
took first place in the category ‘Best On-Air
Promotion
Campaign
for
Fictional
Programming’. And finally, the Nokia 6210
Navigator promo won for ‘Best Special
Advertising Format’. Six other creations from
RTL Television were also nominated.
RTL Television and Super RTL have won three
Eyes & Ears Awards 2009 each.
In addition, the film Niko, ein Rentier hebt ab
(The Way To The Stars), which is distributed by
Universum Film, was one of three films
nominated for the European Film Award 2009 in
the new category ‘European Film Academy
Animated Film’. The exciting story about
friendship, family and the miraculous power of
the magic of Christmas was filmed with
German support and was
co-produced with
Universum Film. The European Film Award is
presented on 12 December 2009 in Bochum,
Germany. Niko, ein Rentier hebt ab opens in
German movie theatres on 5 November 2009.
The children’s and family channel Super RTL
ended up winning three awards. The crafts
magazine Kibama came in first in the category
‘Best Programme-Related Design Package’;
Super RTL’s Hollywood Clique label prevailed
in ‘Best Programme Label Design’; and the
Kinder helfen Kindern (Children Help Children)
campaign won first prize for ‘Best Social Spot’.
Mediengruppe RTL Germany won the
‘Decathlon’ special award bestowed on
companies that garnered ten or more
nominations. Apart from the various
RTL Television and Super RTL creations,
N-TV’s news design had also been nominated.
In the lead-up to the 750th episode of the vet
documentary Menschen, Tiere & Doktoren,
(People, Pets & Vets) which airs on 4 December
2009 at 17:00, the programme won the German
Veterinarians Council Media Award 2009 ‘for
high-quality journalism’. The judges felt that the
vet documentary paints “a realistic and
contemporary picture of the veterinary
profession.”
The movie is nominated for the European Film Award
13
week 45
E N T E R TA I N M E N T
New documentary series Der Straßenchor
On Sunday 1 November, the new digital channel ZDF Neo aired the first of eight
weekly instalments of the UFA Entertainment produced series Der Straßenchor
(The Street Choir).
Germany - 30 October 2009
Number one radio website
With 2,344,000 unique visitors in September 2009 and 550,000 more unique visitors
than the number two general-audience radio station, RTL.fr is France’s number one
radio website.
A new flat courtesy of Bel RTL
The Belgian station Bel RTL had announced a contest with a flat worth EUR 150,000
as the grand prize. Now the winner has now been picked.
Golden October
Mediengruppe RTL Deutschland channels attracted 36.0 per cent of the 14- to
49-year-old viewer market in October. RTL Television had an excellent audience
share of 18.4 per cent – the best monthly audience share since January 2004.
M6 and W9 very pleased with audience figures
In October 2009, in an increasingly competitive world, M6 posted a total monthly
audience share of 11.2 per percent, maintaining the high level obtained in October
2008. W9 remains the leader among the DTT channels.
14
week 45
Love is the recipe
Last Sunday evening on RTL-TVI viewers chose the romantic docu-soap L’amour est
dans le pré as their main course. The second episode drew 494.000 viewers for a
total audience share of 26 per cent – the highest audience rating of the evening in
the french-speaking Belgium.
Best October in nine years
RTL Nederland had its best October since 2000 this year. The family of channels
attracted an average 31.9 per cent of the 20- to 49-year-old viewer market, which
puts it ahead of the SBS group and the public-service broadcasters (27.5 per cent
each).
Netherlands - 4 November 2009
October also a month to celebrate in Belgium
The RTL Belgium family registered its best month of October since the arrival of the
new audiometry system in 1997. In the time slot 17:00 to 23:00 the family of
channels registered a total audience shared of 36.5 per cent – 1.7 percentage points
more than in October 2008.
The big hit of the autumn season
The second season of Csillag születik (A Star Is Born) has been a tremendous
success on RTL Klub since it premiered at the beginning of October, and viewer
interest has remained high ever since.
Hungary - 4 November 2009
15
week 45
People
Nicolas Thorin at M6 Web
France - 30 October 2009
Groupe M6 announced the arrival of Nicolas
Thorin as director of Internet advertising
services for M6 Web.
Nicolas Thorin, 38, started his professional
career at Ziff Davis Publishing before joining
Yahoo! France in 2002 and putting together the
partnerships and special operations unit in
2004.
He joined CBS Interactive in 2007 where he
was the editor of the lifestyle and entertainment
group until 2009, and then carried out a
number of mandates as a consultant, notably
at Young and Rubicam, for their client
Paramount Pictures.
People
Wessel van Diepen
Wessel van Diepen
is back at Radio 538
Netherlands - 5 November 2009
Over 3 years ago, Wessel van Diepen bade
farewell to his job as moderator of the
programme 538 Dance Department. Now, he’s
back.
Van Diepen will stand in for Dennis Ruyer, the
current moderator of the dance show, on 7
November and 14 November,, enabling him to
go on holidays. “I am confident that Wessel will
only present the best dance tunes in the weeks
ahead. MeanwhiIe, I’ll be scaling the Himalayan
peaks and thinking of him.”
Wessel van Diepen co-founded Radio 538 in
1992, and moderated programmes such as Van
Diepen Draait Dor, Van Diepen’s Dance
Department (now 538 Dance Department) and
the Nederlandse Top 40. Wessel van Diepen
left Radio 538 in October 2006. 538 Dance
Department airs Saturdays between 20:00 and
4:00. In addition, a new podcast is posted for
download every Wednesday at Radio538.nl.
16
http://backstage.rtlgroup.fr
http://backstage.rtlgroup.com
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Publisher
RTL Group
Frieden
45, Bd Pierre
bourg
m
L-1543 Luxe
n
n, Productio
Editor, Desig
arketing
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ications and M
un
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om
C
te
Corpora

Backstage Newsletter Week 45

Transcription

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