Extending beyond the TV screen

24 June 2010
week
Extending beyond
the TV screen
25
David Luner on FremantleMedia Enterprises’ digital strategy
Germany
United Kingdom
‘RTL – Wir helfen Kindern’
with a new logo
Five invites the boss to dinner
France
France
M6 crowns a Nouvelle Star
RTL Radio remembers
Charles de Gaulle
the RTL Group intranet
week 25
24 June 2010
week
25
Cover:
Montage with a FremantleMedia app on a smartphone
Extending beyond
the TV screen
David Luner on FremantleMedia Enterprises’ digital strategy
2
the RTL Group intranet
week 25
‘Combine something
familiar with something
new’
Based on its broad catalogue of brands,
FremantleMedia Enterprises recently published
several apps for mobile devices and Facebook.
David Luner explains the strategy behind this
move.
David Luner
Viewer behaviour has changed immensely
over recent years. As digitisation increases,
consumers become more mobile and expect
that their favourite content is available to them
anywhere and at all times. With its broad range of
products, FremantleMedia Enterprises (FME)
sees it as part of its job to extend the formats
beyond the TV screen and bring them to
consumers via apps or games.
Numerous products have already been
published this year – and earlier this month, FME
announced plans to develop a console game
based on the popular talent show The X Factor.
With versions for the Xbox 360, Wii and PlayStation3, the game will be available from October
2010 in multiple languages in numerous European
territories where the show is made, including the
United Kingdom, France, Belgium, Luxembourg,
the Netherlands, Italy, Germany, Denmark,
Finland, Iceland, Norway and Sweden.
However, the FME portfolio also includes apps
for mobile devices like the iPhone to accompany such popular formats as American Idol,
Merlin, The Price Is Right and Family Feud.
This spring, FME also published a Family
Feud app for the social network Facebook. The
Facebook version of Family Feud encourages
players to give the most popular responses to
survey questions previously posed to 100
people. Players can then earn huge bonuses if
their Facebook friends help them reach a certain
level in the famed “Fast Money” round. There
are over 11,000 survey questions in the game,
United States / United Kingdom - 24 June 2010
with new content added every week. In fewer
than 30 days, the game registered more than
1 million unique players.
With all these releases and successes,
Backstage took the opportunity to ask David
Luner, Senior Vice President of Interactive
and Consumer Products at FremantleMedia
Enterprises North America, about the
underlying strategy.
Family Feud on Facebook
Recently you added iPhone and iPad apps,
Facebook games, as well as new console
games to your portfolio. How do you choose
the different platforms?
We are very proactive in making sure that we are
aware of all new gaming platforms in development, whether they are online, mobile or console
based. We then look for companies that have
the infrastructure and knowledge to not only
build the best games for these platforms, but that
3
the RTL Group intranet
week 25
have the right relationships to secure placement,
distribution and marketing for the games.
What’s the strategy behind these gaming
extensions?
The strategy is relatively simple, and has proven
to be both replicable and successful. We regularly pitch our evergreen game show brands as
familiar and comfortable ’gateway‘ brands for users to experience a new technology. The combination of something familiar with something new
is a magical combination that has worked across
a variety of gaming platforms.
Do you also liaise with other RTL Group companies to facilitate releases or to be part of
an overall strategy?
Yes, we do work closely with FremantleMedia
North America and the other production companies to ensure the integrity of the games, and
coordinate marketing efforts where possible.
What’s the most popular game you’ve
published so far?
We have had tremendous success with our
game shows across most platforms, but the
two most high-profile successes would have
to be The Price Is Right iPhone game and the
Family Feud Facebook game. An external
industry analyst estimated that Version One of
The Price is Right iPhone app game was the top
entertainment branded app in 2009.
The Family Feud Facebook game currently has
7 million monthly active unique users, and 1.5
million daily active users. This ranks the game
as the number 38 most popular Facebook game,
and by far the most successful branded entertainment game on Facebook.
What kind of format is best suited to digital
extension?
Game Shows are the perfect format for any
type of gaming, because they have an inherent
“game-play” to them. In addition, it is relatively
easier to deliver on consumer expectations and
gain marketing momentum with familiar TV titles.
Family Feud is also available for consoles and PC…
…just like The Price Is Right…
show, but rather transfer the brand essence and
key brand and gaming elements into the platform
in the most user-friendly manner. Each game is
an exercise in maximising the brand value and
platform features.
What’s coming up next?
Our next big branded release is The Price Is
Right Facebook game, which is set for launch
on 28 June. On the heels of that release, we are
excited about the launch of non-branded intellectual property games that we have taken an
investment position in. We expect our first two
games to launch between July and August of this
year.
What’s the challenge in transferring a TV
brand to other platforms?
The biggest challenge is having the creativity
and flexibility to re-interpret classic game shows
to fit within the platform limitations that are inherent in each type of new gaming. It is important
to note that we are not trying to replicate the TV
…which is also available on iPhone
4
the RTL Group intranet
week 25
Everything’s new
at ‘RTL – Wir helfen
Kindern’
The new logo
The channel’s extraordinary charity efforts
include a dedicated foundation and the
RTL-Spendenmarathon telethon with Wolfram
Kons. With the first broadcast in 1996 it
is the longest-running charity show on
German television. “The ‘RTL – Wir helfen
Kindern’ foundation works year-round for
children who need our help. We want to bring this
to our viewers’ attention and be as omnipresent
with our relief projects as we are with our big
RTL-Spendenmarathon telethon in November,”
declares Anke Schäferkordt, RTL Television
CEO and Chair of the ‘RTL – Wir helfen Kindern’
foundation. This week, RTL Television presented
a new logo and a trailer campaign.
Since its very first charity activity RTL has
paid for all administrative, personnel and
production costs. As a result, each donation
can be passed along by the Stiftung RTL
foundation to the selected children’s relief
projects, without deducting a single cent. To date
more than EUR 78 million have gone to fund
hundreds of children’s aid projects in German
and abroad.
RTL Television has provided relief for children
in need in Germany and around the world.
The broadcaster’s charity activities now have
a new logo.
Germany - 21 June 2010
This year, Xavier Naidoo joins ‘RTL – Wir helfen
Kindern’ as a new mentor. The successful
musician is committed to constructing an ‘RTL
Kinderhaus’ in his hometown, Mannheim. Funds
raised during the RTL-Spendenmarathon in
November 2010 will be used to expand the
existing ‘Aufwind-Mannheim’ facility into an
‘RTL Kinderhaus’. This would secure adequate
after-school care and support of the region’s
children (lunch, homework tutoring, creative
recreational offerings) for the next three years.
There are currently ten ‘RTL Kinderhaus’
facilities across Germany, in cities including
Cologne and Wolfsburg. More such centres for
socially disadvantaged children are to be added
over the next few years.
Xavier Naidoo (center), mentor of the
‘RTL Kinderhaus’ in Mannheim
er on
he trail
Watch t
ge
Backsta
5
the RTL Group intranet
week 25
“A colourful and
flavourful year full of
emotions”
Out of 30,000 contestants, only one remained:
Luce has been crowned winner of the eighth
season of Nouvelle Star.
Luce
When she signed up to take part in Nouvelle
Star, 20 year-old Luce made a bet with her
friends: wearing a black fake moustache,
she hoped to appear on the “unforgettables”,
a hilarious segment for viewers that sums up the
best of the worst singers of the year on video.
But then, destiny decided differently. Luce, who
admits to “never having sung anywhere other
than my bathroom”, never ceased to charm the
viewers and judges with her unconventional and
unique performances. On 16 June, she displayed
her talent with her interpretation of the songs Je
dis aime, by the singer M, Mad About You, by
Hooverphonic, and especially Ne me quitte pas
by Jacques Brel, for which she received honours
from the judges. For her repeat performance
of Ne me quitte pas, André Manoukian even
insisted on mounting the stage at the Pavillon
Baltard to offer her a “musical wedding ring” in
the shape of a yellow flower.
A student nurse in Montpellier, Luce, who is
originally from Perpignan, faced another
formidable contestant, 25-year-old François
from Brest. With The Bitter End by the group
Placebo, the young singer, who had the heavy
task of starting the competition, nevertheless
raised the bar very high and was showered with
compliments from the judges. Philippe Manoeuvre assured him that, thanks to his performance,
he had “entered the rock and roll world through
the front door”. However, this was not sufficient
to counter the wave of affection the viewers had
for the attractive extra-terrestrial Luce.
France - 18 June 2010
Once the verdict was reached, Luce took some
time to realise what had just happened: “I feel
like this isn’t true. I wasn’t expecting it at all. It’s
like a dream. Most of all I am very touched, very
moved by all these tokens of support. François
and I met during the course of the competition.
He’s the one who has made the most progress.
He is someone who deserves the very best…
I want to make music, music that is human and
that I can relate to,” she confided to presenter
Virginie Guilhaume.
Thanks to the audience, the young singer won
the right to sign a contract with a major record
company to record her first album. And, as a
symbol of the friendship that unites them, the
two heroes of the evening wished to thank the
audience by offering them a final duet, with the
song Je dis aime.
In terms of audiences, the final edition of the
2010 talent show faced strong competition from
TF1 with the US series Criminal Minds and from
France 2 with the match between South Africa
and Uruguay in the first phase of the 2010 World
Cup. It nevertheless succeeded in drawing 3.56
million fans for a 15.3 per cent total audience
share.
6
the RTL Group intranet
week 25
The Boss Is Coming
to Dinner
Five and Discovery Real Time have
commissioned a brand new, 25-part interview
series with a twist.
United Kingdom - 18 June 2010
The Lanes Health & Beauty in Brighton
In The Boss Is Coming to Dinner, candidates
looking to land their dream job will not have a
formal interview, but will have to entertain their
prospective boss in their own homes. They will
not only have to show that they are ideal for the
job, but will also have to host the perfect evening
including doing all the cooking. The nerve-wracking interviews will last all evening with the boss
also getting a sneak peek into the candidates’
home lives, and seeing how they fare under
intense pressure. At the end of each show, one
candidate will make it through to the Friday final,
where the four successful candidates will face a
task at the chief’s house. Two will be eliminated,
and two will go on to face the boss one last time
before finding out which candidate will be handed
their dream job.
Greg Barnett, Five’s Commissioning Editor, said:
“I am thrilled to be able to announce this exciting
new commission for Five. It is a unique format
with some huge characters. Expect blood, sweat
and panic as the week progresses and people
fighting over a hot stove for the job of their
dreams.”
Among the bosses, there will be Julie Coates
who owns and manages Katie Price’s favourite
beauty parlour in Brighton, Mark Summers who
runs his own casting and choreography agency,
and whose clients include Madonna, 50 Cent
and Oasis, and Jill East, a professional dog
trainer who is searching for someone to join
her internationally acclaimed team at Canine
Comforts of Cheltenham.
The series will air in August 2010 on Five.
7
the RTL Group intranet
week 25
“The Résistance will not be extinguished”
RTL Radio France allowed listeners to relive General de Gaulle’s famous appeal
of 18 June on the BBC airwaves, a speech that has since become mythical.
France - 18 June 2010
On 18 June 1940, at the BBC studios, General
de Gaulle appealed to the French not to cease
fighting against Nazi Germany in spite of the
armistice signed the day before by the government of Marshal Pétain. The original recording
of the speech does not exist, as the BBC technicians were busy preparing the recording of Winston Churchill’s speech. But it was made public
and broadcast on foreign airwaves. It became
the symbol of the general’s entry into the Résistance and, 70 years later, RTL Radio allowed its
listeners to relive this period in French history
with a special presentation.
During the show Choix de RTL, RTL Radio
broadcast an interview with Franck Bauer,
the last survivor of the “Radio London” adventure. He was an announcer at BBC and with
his memory, offered RTL Radio listeners a
precious, funny and astonishing testimony.
Afterwards, in London, special correspondents from the station attended the commemorative ceremonies, in the presence
of President Nicolas Sarkozy and Prince
Charles, and heard the testimonies of important
resisters who accompanied General de Gaulle.
On Sunday 13 June at 12:40, Bernard Lehut
presented a special edition of Livres ont la
parole dedicated to the 70th anniversary of the
appeal of 18 June 1940 and welcomed Eric
Branca, author of De Gaulle et les français libres,
published by Editions Albin Michel.
General De Gaulle
8
The Biggest
t
r
o
p
s
r
o
t
o
m
h
c
Dut
event
n is
sport fa
ery Dutch motor
ev
oric
of
t
ar
he
e
Th
n-up to the histr
ru
e
th
in
er
ck
ce fo
beating qui
which takes pla
TT Assen race, on 26 June. RTL 7 is
the 80th time g it live, starting
broadcastin :00.
at 11
the RTL Group intranet
week 25
Toto stage private concert
During their two-week tour Toto will travel to Berlin for just one gig – a private concert
for 105’5 Spreeradio.
Germany - 18 June 2010
Sex lessons on Fiver
Fiver has commissioned DCD Media-owned September Films to produce Sex Lessons,
a ten part, 30 minute series starting in July.
United Kingdom - 21 June 2010
New computer game turns fans into stars
The PC game Gute Zeiten, schlechte Zeiten – Flirt und Karriere has been on sale in
stores since 21 June. It gives all of the fans of Germany’s most popular soap opera the
chance to slip into the role of a Gute Zeiten, schlechte Zeiten character for a while.
Germany - 22 June 2010
A Sunday to celebrate for M6
On 20 June, the programmes 100% Foot and Capital broadcast on M6 beat their
previous audience records for the season.
France - 22 June 2010
10
the RTL Group intranet
week 25
Start the day with a smile and a song
Detlev Jöcker, composer and music producer will partner with Super RTL to produce
a music format for preschoolers, featuring music-and-dance videos which will tell
little stories from the world of kindergartners and preschoolers.
Germany - 24 June 2010
It only takes one day to change the rest of your life
In July, FremantleMedia North America will begin the auditions for American Idol
season 10. For the first time ever, 15-year-olds are eligible to audition.
North America - 24 June 2010
Quality management of Ventadis certified
Ventadis has long placed a high value on smooth cooperation with customers and
business partners. Now, the mail order subsidiary of the French Groupe M6 has
received the AFAQ ISO 9001 certification.
France - 24 June 2010
11
the RTL Group intranet
week 25
People
Mireille Derks
Netherlands - 24 June 2010
Starting in mid-August, Mireille Derks will
supervise the daily work of RTL Nieuws’ Internet
editors in her new capacity as Head of Internet
at RTL Nieuws, with overall responsibility for all
content found at RTLNieuws.nl.
Mireille Derks
Derks has ten years of experience in online
journalism, having served as editor and publisher of Zibb.nl and MKB Online. She most recently
worked as publisher of the annual multimedia
restaurant guide SpecialBite.
Marc Schreuder, deputy chief editor of RTL
Nieuws, says: “Mireille is a pro. She combines
online expertise with in-depth knowledge about
the needs of the target audience, making her an
ideal choice for the position at RTLNieuws.nl.”
12
http://backstage.rtlgroup.fr
http://backstage.rtlgroup.com
http://backstage.rtlgroup.de
er
PuGbroluipsh
RTL
den
ierre Frie
45, Bd P xembourg
u
L-1543 L
tion
Produc
,
n
g
i
s
e
D
g
Editor,
Marketin
s and
up
RTL Gro Communication
te
Corpora