How RTL Nitro became the fastest growing new

week 37 / 12 September 2013
BROAD. LOUD.
MALE.
How RTL Nitro became the fastest growing new channel
in Germany in recent months
Germany
Anke Schäferkordt
talks about the
important role
of RTL Group for
Bertelsmann
France
M6 and W9
present their
schedules for
the 2013/14 TV
season
Canada
Broadband TV hits
a billion monthly
impressions
North America
The X Factor USA
returns with two new
faces: Kelly Rowland
and Paulina Rubio
week 37 / 12 September 2013
BROAD. LOUD.
MALE.
How RTL Nitro became the fastest growing new channel
in Germany in recent months
Germany
Anke Schäferkordt
talks about the
important role
of RTL Group for
Bertelsmann
France
M6 and W9
presented their
schedules for
the 2013/14 TV
season
Canada
Broadband TV hits
a billion monthly
impressions
North America
The X Factor USA
returns with two new
faces: Kelly Rowland
and Paulina Rubio
Cover
Montage with RTL Nitro’s main
marketing motif of its autumn campaign
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
Anke Schäferkordt:
“Content remains the key
to success”
RTL Group
p. 8–14
“Passion, experience, talent”
M6 / W9
p. 15–17
“We need to make
a lot of noise”
RTL Nitro
Jennifer Lopez and
Harry Connick Jr. join
Keith Urban on Idol
p.4–7
FremantleMedia North America
p. 18
Broadband TV hits a billion
monthly impressions
Big Picture
p.21
Broadband TV
p. 19
The X Factor USA
returns with Honda as
an official sponsor
FremantleMedia North America
p. 20
SHORT
NEWS
p. 22–23
PEOPLE
p.24–27
Backstage spoke with
Oliver Schablitzki, Head
of RTL Nitro, about his
channel’s strategic
direction and
programming.
“WE NEED TO
MAKE A LOT OF
NOISE”
Germany – 12 September 2013
RTL Nitro
Oliver Schablitzki, Head of RTL Nitro
4
Flemish TV series Matrioshki
But why did Mediengruppe RTL Deutschland decide
to launch this new channel at all – and what sets
it apart from the competition? “With the increasing
digitisation and accompanying fragmentation, the
television market in Germany is changing in two
respects,” explains Schablitzki. “For one, it has
become much easier and cheaper to disseminate
a channel, and secondly, the market is becoming
thematically broader overall. There are more niches
and not just the big general-interest channels.” As a
result, the huge channels are losing audience share
to smaller ones. Which is why Anke Schäferkordt,
Co-CEO of RTL Group and CEO of Mediengruppe
RTL Deutschland, said early on: “When the market
fragments, fragment yourself before someone else
does.”
Derren Brown – The Experiments features a mixture of stunts,
magic and illusion
On 1 April 2012, Mediengruppe RTL Deutschland
launched a new digital channel – just in time for the
switch from analogue to satellite TV in Germany. “So
we picked a time when many people were running
the channel search anyway because of their new,
digital equipment,” says Oliver Schablitzki. This
helped the channel get off to a comfortable launch,
accompanied by trailers on all Mediengruppe RTL
Deutschland channels. A year and a half later,
the channel already has an audience share of
1.1 per cent among 14- to 59 year-old men and a
0.9 per cent share of the 14 to 59 age group as a
whole – which makes it the fastest-growing channel
launched in recent months in Germany.
A look at the current portfolio quickly showed
what direction the new channel should
take in terms of content: a rich and diverse
entertainment programme line-up for men.
While N-TV is also aimed at a male target
audience, it focuses more on decision-makers
interested in business. “The other channels in the
portfolio, with the exception of N-TV, tend to be
aimed more at women,” says Schablitzki. “What
1,2
1.1
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A’12 M’12 J’12
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Audience share development among men aged 14 to 59
Next >
5
makes us different from other men’s channels?
We offer the widest programme line-up for the
demographic: entertainment, sport, documentaries,
series and films.”
This is evident in the line-up for the upcoming
season, too: “Especially in our daytime
programming, we will continue to rely on classics,”
says Schablitzki. “Shows like Walker, Texas Ranger,
Highlander, Emergency 51, Friends and Seinfeld
are well-known and remain popular – including
among younger viewers.”
In the new season, RTL Nitro will show
documentaries and factual entertainment on
Monday evenings instead of comedy. One of
these formats is Derren Brown – The Experiments.
Tuesdays on RTL Nitro are devoted to movie
highlights, plus the all-star six-hour miniseries
Hatfields & McCoys starring Kevin Costner and Bill
Paxton as a free-to-air TV premiere. Wednesdays
are all about crime and action. Thursdays are the
new comedy evening with new episodes of series
including Modern Family and Raising Hope. On
Fridays this autumn sees the launch of the fourth
season of the award-winning series Breaking
Bad. New to the programme line-up are the
Emmy-nominated series The Riches with Minnie
Driver, the drama series Die Firma, the western
series Longmire and the Flemish television series
Matrioshki, about a group of women from Lithuania
and Russia who are abducted by traffickers and
taken to Belgium.
“Of course, compared to independent competitors
we benefit from the fact that we are part of
Mediengruppe
RTL
Deutschland,”
explains
Schablitzki. “And we also benefit from the Group’s
programme acquisitions, or the output deals
it signs. On the other hand, as a small channel we
certainly don’t get first choice when it comes to which
channel gets to broadcast which series. An open
dialogue within the company helps here. We talk
about what series best fits in which environment.
A format like Longmire will end up on RTL Nitro
because of all the channels, we’re the best match
for it.”
Although he had no football rights to announce,
Schablitzki joked at the launch of the new season in
August: “we do have Formel Eins for you” [editor’s
note: Formel Eins is German for Formula One]. He
was not, however, talking about motor racing, but
about the iconic music clip show from the 1980s,
which returns to German television in its 30th
Hatfields & McCoys starring Kevin Costner and Bill Paxton
anniversary year. The show will be moderated –
as it was then – by Peter Illmann. He was the first
of its four presenters and moderated the first 67
shows. Now he returns to relive the highlights of the
legendary show series with today’s audiences
“These home-grown productions are of course not
an end in themselves,” says Schablitzki, explaining
the idea behind the show. He said one must
always consider which formats can be bought on the
market, which could possibly be commissioned
as co-productions, and which ones are worth
producing entirely in-house. The magazine of
“Ich bin ein Star – Holt mich hier raus!” (I’m a
Celebrity – Get Me Out of Here!) for example,
was more due to tactical reasons,” Schablitzki
recalls. “At the time, we mostly added it to the
programme line-up to generate attention. And how
better to do this than with one of the most popular
shows on German television? It was less about
having a pure men’s theme and more about the
possible marketing impact.”
The idea behind the revival of the iconic Formel
Eins, however, is a different one. “As a generalist
channel for men, of course music is very important
for us,” says Schablitzki. “We’re also banking on the
nostalgia factor. This show can be used to appeal
to different generations. Formel Eins just fits well –
especially as the show celebrates its anniversary
this year. That was another reason we decided to
revamp the show, albeit using the principles and
logic of contemporary productions.” From 19 October,
RTL Nitro will air ten programmes each showcasing
the top 30 Formel Eins music clips.
Next >
6
Motif of the autumn campaign
This autumn RTL Nitro is promoting its
programme line-up with a new campaign based
on four well-known faces featured on the channel:
Bryan Cranston, who plays the main character
Walter White in Breaking Bad, Ed O’Neill from
Modern Family, Kevin Costner from Hatfields &
McCoys, and the British illusionist Derren Brown.
Derren Brown is the only non-fictional character.
Schablitzki is cautious about stating his personal
target for RTL Nitro in the year ahead: “Now that
our audience shares are at just over 1 per cent, we
naturally want to keep them. And of course we
also want to expand our leading position among
third- and fourth-generation channels.” But, he
explains, the rise to the one-per cent mark is easier
than increasing it from one to two per cent. “This can
only happen if we actively poach audience shares
elsewhere,” says Schablitzki. “We’ll just go ahead
and serve up good programming. And as a small
channel we need to make a lot of noise, to make
sure people notice us.”
On 23 August, the first eight episodes of Breaking Bad were
watched by up to 2.9 per cent of male viewers aged 14 to 59
7
ANKE SCHÄFERKORDT:
“CONTENT REMAINS THE KEY TO SUCCESS”
RTL Group
In
a
comprehensive
interview
with
the
Bertelsmann
intranet,
Benet,
Anke Schäferkordt talks about her first
18 months on the Bertelsmann Executive
Board – and the important role of RTL Group
for Bertelsmann.
Luxembourg – 12 September 2013
Anke Schäferkordt started as a trainee
at Bertelsmann at a time when the
Corporate Center was still known as the
Hauptverwaltung. Today, 25 years later,
she
sits
on
our
company’s
Executive Board. For her this is less the
culmination of a storybook career at
Bertelsmann than an indication that
she has a job in an industry and
with content that she “really enjoys a lot.”
In conversation with Benet, Anke
Schäferkordt
takes
the
time
to
review her first 18 months on the
Bertelsmann Executive Board and as
Co-CEO of RTL Group with Guillaume de
Posch – months that were characterised
by an intense strategy process at
RTL Group and Bertelsmann, and also by
the successful listing of her company on
the Frankfurt Stock Exchange, as well as
of record results even in today’s difficult
markets.
Ms.
Schäferkordt,
you
joined
Bertelsmann in 1988 and were
appointed to the Executive Board in
April 2012. Was this the fulfillment of
a dream or a long-cherished plan?
Anke Schäferkordt: Neither – and that’s
not what’s important to me, either. Of
course, from the outside my career looks
soundly and well planned, when you say
“from trainee to Executive Board member,”
but when I joined the junior managers
program back then, the Executive Board
was a long way off. It was in a different
Anke Schäferkordt, Co-CEO of RTL Group and member of the Bertelsmann Executive
Board
Next >
8
league, one I didn’t think about and couldn’t even imagine, so I wouldn’t
have dared dream about it. Although I like to be very organized in matters
of business, I don’t personally follow any milestone principle as in, ‘five
years from now I will have achieved this, and in ten years that.’ So job titles
don’t play a crucial role for me. For me, what counts much more is what
I’m doing in my job and what is driving our industry, as well as working
together in a strong, creative and entrepreneurial team. I simply really
enjoy my work! That is why I’ve worked in this industry and this
company so happily and for so long. And besides, there has never
been a lack of change and challenge for me within
RTL Group.
“FOR ME, WHAT COUNTS MUCH
MORE IS WHAT I’M DOING IN
MY JOB AND WHAT IS DRIVING
OUR INDUSTRY, AS WELL AS
WORKING TOGETHER IN A
STRONG, CREATIVE AND
ENTREPRENEURIAL TEAM.”
Can you take stock of your first 18 months on the
Executive Board for us? Was there anything
that came as a surprise even to you, a bona fide
Bertelsmann veteran?
Anke Schäferkordt: Of course I already knew
Bertelsmann and its businesses quite well – especially the television business, which I’ve been involved
in since 1991. And while I’ve always kept myself informed about the other divisions over the years, there’s still a big
difference
in
following
developments
from
the
outside
versus being part of an Executive Board, making decisions
that affect these divisions. I have therefore used the past few months
to learn a lot about the work and businesses of the other divisions.
I want to be well prepared and thoroughly understand all
the decisions that I’m involved in making. So while
I’ve learned a lot of new things on the Executive
Board, I was not really surprised by anything – except maybe how
time-consuming the work for the Bertelsmann and RTL Group
Executive and Supervisory Board meetings can be sometimes.
You allude to your various roles: CEO of Mediengruppe
RTL Deutschland, Co-CEO of RTL Group, and a member
of the Bertelsmann Executive Board. How do you reconcile
them all?
Anke
Schäferkordt:
The
Group
can
only
benefit
if
we Executive Board members remain close to the operational
business. As CEO of Mediengruppe RTL Deutschland,
I run Bertelsmann’s largest single business. As Co-CEO of
RTL Group, I also am responsible, together with Guillaume de Posch,
for RTL Group’s overall business and strategic development.
Although these are two positions, they look at one and
the
same
business,
though
certainly
from
different
perspectives. On both levels, I learn things that I can contribute
directly to the work of the Bertelsmann Executive Board. Other
Executive Board members do exactly the same thing. We mutually
benefit from the mix of our different backgrounds and expertise – and
so does Bertelsmann.
The television business, as you just hinted at, is immensely
important for Bertelsmann right now. RTL Group contributes by
far the largest share of revenues and earnings in the company.
Will this continue to be the case?
Anke Schäferkordt: The role that RTL Group and therefore the TV
business plays at Bertelsmann is not defined solely by its share
of the Group’s total revenues or profits, but also by how successfully
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9
we manage our business and continue to grow. Because we are
determined to continue doing this in the future, television will be a
source of joy for Bertelsmann for many years to come.
You were the first woman on the Bertelsmann Executive Board,
and the only one until Judith Hartmann’s appointment as CFO.
How important was this step?
Anke Schäferkordt: For me personally, the issue of women is less
important. For Bertelsmann, diversity is fundamentally important.
What do you mean by that?
Anke Schäferkordt: I started my career as a woman and continue it as
a woman. For me personally, this topic is irrelevant in the day-to-day
business. But for Bertelsmann it was a very important signal that it
is opening up to more women in management, and on the Executive
Board.
In Luxembourg, you share the post of RTL Group CEO with
Guillaume de Posch. How do you divide tasks, and how is the
collaboration between you two going?
Anke Schäferkordt: Despite all the prophecies of doom about
Co-CEO structures: really good. Guillaume lives for television. I live
for television. We understand each other. We have the same goals.
The intensive strategy process right after our appointment helped us
bond. It was an ideal introduction. So far, we have taken every decision
unanimously together with our CFO Elmar Heggen – and we have no
intention of changing that. We did a roadshow together for eight days
in April, where we presented RTL Group to more than 200 potential
investors in individual or group meetings and in conference calls. After
these individual meetings, three-quarters of the investors signed
orders for our shares. The entire IPO project was a team
effort and team building at its best. When the roadshow
came to an end, we practically missed each other’s company.
“GUILLAUME LIVES
FOR TELEVISION. I LIVE
FOR TELEVISION. WE
UNDERSTAND EACH
OTHER. WE HAVE
THE SAME GOALS.”
This IPO in Frankfurt was most certainly among the decisive
moments of your first months as Co-CEO of RTL Group. Is the
share price now the first thing you look at in the morning?
Anke Schäferkordt: As ever, the first thing I look at are the audience
shares of our Mediengruppe RTL Deutschland channels. The second
is the current advertising bookings for our German channels, and
the third is at the audience ratings and the advertising bookings for
RTL Group’s international channels. And then comes the share price.
What I’m saying is that in future we will continue to focus our work on
what we can really influence and control. The share price is at best
something we can only indirectly influence, while we can very directly
control the successful management of our businesses. Of course, the
one affects the other: If the business is going well and growing, we
create the basis for the share price to rise in the long term. So the
significantly higher free float of RTL Group shares has not changed
our strategy and management. Just as we keep the interests of our
‘old’ shareholders in mind, we also keep the new investors in mind.
I’m delighted that we have so many new investors who are interested
in long-term, sustainable success – just as we and Bertelsmann are.
RTL Group is now certainly under more intense scrutiny but as before,
it will not strive for short-term profit maximization just to drive the share
price up for the short-term.
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10
The investors are bound to have been delighted by RTL Group’s
recent record performance, when it reported one of its best first
halves ever in mid-August – and in an ever more challenging,
partly declining market no less. How does your company do it?
Anke Schäferkordt: It was indeed a challenging six months. All of our
TV advertising markets declined, with the exception of Germany –
and that was only just stable. But this wasn’t an entirely surprising
development, nor was it the first time. There’s no getting around
the fact that our free-to-air TV channels operate in an advertisingdependent and therefore volatile business. We’ve repeatedly seen
market fluctuations of up to ten per cent from one year to the next.
Given these conditions, you can only be successful with a very well
run, very cost-conscious company. Cost discipline is in our DNA.
When the advertising markets are down, we can respond very flexibly
and have plenty of ways to achieve savings, for example in the
marginal timeslots of our programming, in the early morning or late
evening. Besides, in times of declining markets, our competitors are
forced to tighten their belts as well. In such a phase, it’s unlikely that a
broadcaster is going to launch a surprise attack on the others by
making expensive investments. That would be almost suicidal.
“IF THERE IS ONE
COMPANY THAT
WILL BENEFIT WHEN
THE ADVERTISING
MARKETS BOUNCE
BACK IN EUROPE,
IT IS RTL GROUP.”
But this cannot go on forever, can it?
Anke Schäferkordt: No, it can’t, of course, but we always strive to
remain capable of coming up with a response. The Spanish TV
advertising market, to name the toughest example, has shrunk by
more than half over the past five years. Nevertheless, Antena 3
continues to operate profitably. Eventually, the pain threshold is
reached, of course, but I prefer to see the glass as half full rather than
half empty – and if there is one company that will benefit when the
advertising markets bounce back in Europe, it is RTL Group. We are
number one or two in each of our markets, and are ready to take off.
…while not exactly waiting for the starting signal for a new
upswing in Europe.
Anke Schäferkordt: We’re certainly not spending our time just waiting.
We’ve developed a clear strategy for RTL Group centering on the three
core businesses of broadcast, content and digital. After extensively
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11
testing and updating this strategy last year, our focus is now on putting
it into action to further strengthen RTL Group. Our strategy is also in
line with Bertelsmann’s strategic priorities.
Can you please explain your strategy for the three business areas
in more detail?
Anke Schäferkordt: In our broadcast business, the most important
thing, on the one hand, is to strengthen our position in the TV and
radio markets we already operate in today – which corresponds to
strengthening the core in the context of Bertelsmann’s strategy. In
2012 alone, we launched four new channels in these core markets,
all of which have so far actually exceeded our expectations. And on
the other hand, we are turning to new markets – in the world’s growth
regions as defined by Bertelsmann. Here we are initially taking very
risk-conscious steps on a financially manageable scale. We just want
to get a foot in the door and gain some experience. Big RTL Thrill in
India is one example; the recently announced partnership with CBS for
joint expansion in Asia is another. It has already led to the launch of a
first channel at the beginning of September – RTL CBS Entertainment.
In 2014, this will be followed by a second: RTL CBS Extreme.
“I STARTED MY CAREER AS A WOMAN AND CONTINUE
IT AS A WOMAN. FOR ME PERSONALLY, THIS TOPIC
IS IRRELEVANT IN THE DAY-TO-DAY BUSINESS.”
Among other things RTL Entertainment CBS will start off by airing
major Fremantle Media shows such as America’s Got Talent or
The X Factor USA in Asia shortly after they are broadcast in the
U.S. How will RTL Group’s production or content arm generate
new growth itself beyond this geographic expansion?
Anke Schäferkordt: FremantleMedia is rightly one of Bertelsmann’s
declared growth platforms. The necessary restructuring of
FremantleMedia has been completed; new, attractive formats are
in the pipeline or are already on air in some countries. We believe
very strongly in the future of the production business and
see global growth opportunities for FremantleMedia, both organically
and through acquisitions – because attractive content will continue
to be crucial in the future. The constantly growing number of digital
distribution platforms is increasing demand for top content. This makes
FremantleMedia very interesting and attractive both for Bertelsmann
and the stock markets. FremantleMedia also has the unique selling
proposition of being Europe’s only globally operating production
company.
You have defined RTL Group’s strategic priorities of
strengthening the core, growth regions and growth platforms,
and mentioned the digital business. How specifically do
things stand with digital transformation as the fourth focus of
Bertelsmann’s strategy?
Anke Schäferkordt: We are driving forward the digital transformation of
our businesses and see digitization as a great opportunity. There’s a
very simple reason for this: Our core business is to offer our viewers,
listeners, users, consumers – or whatever you call our audience –
attractive programs. This is something we’re good at; it’s our core
competence. On what screens, whether in linear or non-linear
programming, really makes no difference. Television has an important
advantage here: It is already digital. So, going forward, we will – first
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12
– continue to rely on traditional linear television. Second, we will bring
our formats from linear to non-linear television. Online video is very
clearly the main focus of our digital strategy. Third, we will produce
new content specifically for digital platforms through FremantleMedia.
In the end our broadcasters must manage, with appropriate business
models, to ensure that it doesn’t matter what device their
programming is watched on – and whether it is linear or non-linear.
Above and beyond this, we have to produce original content for the
Internet. To refinance all this, we rely on advertising, subscription and
pay-per-view models as well as the distribution of our content on other
platforms. The fact that we can approach advertisers and offer them
both traditional and new forms of television from a single source is a
great advantage.
In the area of online video, the partnership with Broadband TV
announced in June plays an important role...
Anke Schäferkordt: FremantleMedia is already the most-watched TV
production company on Youtube with 400 million video views a month.
But it’s true that Broadband TV will give us a considerable boost us
in this area. Broadband TV is the fifth largest multi-channel network
on Youtube, and technologically very innovative. Under its Viso and
TGN brands, Broadband TV works with more than 10,000 content
partners, including those from the music, entertainment, games and
sports industries. A multi-channel network can be compared in some
ways to a television channel that broadcasts formats from a number
of completely different production companies – only online and not on
traditional television. Overall, RTL Group will generate more than 15
billion online video views with it in 2013.
“RTL GROUP WILL
GENERATE MORE
THAN 15 BILLION
ONLINE VIDEO
VIEWS IN 2013.”
Your predecessor Gerhard Zeiler strongly plugged traditional TV
with the phrase “The future of TV is TV” and references to the
steady increase in viewing times. How would you complete the
sentence “The future of TV is…?”
Anke Schäferkordt: ... far more than TV. If we assume that by ‘TV’
we mean so much more than just a box in the living room. Linear TV
viewing is still dominant and, here I agree with Gerhard Zeiler, will
remain so for a long time. But new forms of viewing keep being
added. For me all of this is ‘television’ – and an opportunity for us and
for our content, if we position ourselves accordingly.
Sports certainly count as some of the most attractive content a
TV channel can have. RTL landed a coup in Germany with the
acquisition of the rights package for the German national soccer
team’s qualifying matches for the Euro 2016 and 2018 World Cup.
Why? Will this pay off?
Anke Schäferkordt: Top European sports and profitability don’t exactly
get along. But a channel cannot strive to have every single format be
profitable – our program lineup would be the poorer even beyond sports
if that were the case. It’s the mixture that has to be right and profitable.
The right mix of programs is what makes a channel attractive, both for
viewers and for advertisers. In this connection, sports is sometimes the
icing on the cake, and with this rationale, it was a real coup.
Why?
Anke Schäferkordt: Because it is an investment in the RTL brand that
is spread over several years, which ultimately makes it manageable.
Because there will be something at stake in every game – which
guarantees viewer appeal. Because RTL Television will turn it into a
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13
major sports event, as always, including attractive rights for online
and mobile. And because the qualifiers – unlike the tournaments
themselves – are scheduled sparingly, so there is no oversaturation,
and some of them take place in the strong months for advertising sales.
“98 PERCENT OF
THE HIGHEST-REACH
COMMERCIAL BREAKS
IN ALL OF GERMAN
TELEVISION ARE ON
RTL AND VOX.”
RTL is bound to draw audiences in the double-digit millions for
the matches. Do you dream of other RTL formats having that
many viewers again?
Anke Schäferkordt: We don’t dream about it; our team in Cologne
is working very hard to make it happen. To put it bluntly: We’re not
happy with recent developments in RTL Television’s audience shares
– but are very happy with Mediengruppe RTL Deutschland’s overall
performance. Vox, RTL and RTL II Nitro compensate for the decrease
in RTL’s audience share. Our family of channels actually widened their
lead over our main commercial competitor in the first half of the year.
And RTL Television itself is still by far the number one in the target
demographic. In other words, our concept of families of channels is
the right answer to the increasing fragmentation of the TV landscape
– which can’t be prevented anyway and is having much more intense
repercussions in other countries. In the U.S., for example, the leading
channel only has a five-percent audience share. Of course, I prefer 17
or 18 percent for RTL Television; it’s nicer than the 14 percent audience
share we recently had. But our peak market shares – which incidentally,
we’ve never been able to properly monetize – were due in large part
to a strong afternoon lineup and the talent shows. Deutschland sucht
den Superstar (Idols) and Das Supertalent (Got Talent) simply have a
level of viewer engagement and run over so many weeks like no other
format – to this day, albeit by no means as much as in the beginning.
That’s why every broadcaster and producer around the world is looking
for the next great show idea, and RTL is in the thick of the action. But
there won’t be anything like the talent shows again anytime soon.
Source:
Does that prospect worry you?
Anke Schäferkordt: No, I’ve been around long enough to be able to
put this kind of development into perspective. TV, like fashion, follows
changing trends. Like all other RTL Group channels, RTL Television
will broadcast a lot of new formats, some of which have already
gotten off to a good start. And even if RTL has lost audience share, our
Group’s market position is very strong. 98 percent of the highest-reach
commercial breaks in all of German television are on RTL and Vox.
14
“PASSION, EXPERIENCE, TALENT”
M6 / W9
M6 recently presented its schedule for the
new 2013/14 TV season. The channel intends
to offer its viewers a different look at life
each day; inviting them to be entertained, to
discover, to escape, to share, to learn, to get
informed and to dream.
France – 6 September 2013
The new season’s showreel ends with the following words:
“These
moments
are
precious,
so
let’s
live
them
together!” To ensure that its viewers will enjoy their time watching
M6, the channel has put together a new season that is a blend of
“passion, experience and talent,” as explained by M6 Programme
Director Bibiane Godfroid.
M6 Programme Director Bibiane Godfroid
The early evening schedule has undergone several changes.
Since 26 August, M6 has been airing La meilleure boulangerie de
France in access prime time. The programme, scheduled to run for
seven weeks, has been a hit, drawing between 1.2 and 1.4 million
viewers every day at 17:35. Le 19h45 and the magazine
programme 100% Mag are back in a new formula. The most popular
news programme with viewers under 50 hopes to “promote an even
clearer understanding of current affairs,” as was stated in the press
release for the launch.
Presented by Cristina Cordula, Les Reines du shopping, already
proven a success after its two-week trial period in June 2013, returns
to access prime time in the upcoming season. Starting on
21 September, on weekends in access prime time, Must célébrités
presented by Sandrine Corman replaces Accès Privé, the
magazine show about celebrities in the news. Must célébrités
features 52 minutes of reports, exclusive interviews and all the
latest trends rocking the celebrity world.
While other French TV channels are busy launching access prime
time talk shows, M6 is bucking the trend – something that has long
been a source of its strength. Bibiane Godfroid confirms: “The power
of M6 in this time slot is to broadcast images rather than talk shows.”
In prime time, the new programmes include two new
American series: Touch and Under the Dome. The first, a blend
of fantasy, esotericism and emotion, marks the return of Kiefer
Sutherland (24 Hours) to television. The series debuts on M6 on
14 September. The second is a series adapted from the
Stephen King bestseller. Both are airing exclusively on M6 and have
scored excellent ratings in the United States.
Next >
15
Les Nannies with Jocelyn (left) and Emilie
Other new programmes include two ‘coaching’ shows:
Les Nannies, on which two nannies, Jocelyn and Emilie, come to the
rescue of overwhelmed parents, and Pour le meilleur et pour le pire, in
which couples try to overcome their conjugal difficulties with the help
of Adriana Karembeu and a psychologist. The first format aired on
10 September in prime time, and the second on 9 September in the
second half of the evening.
Incroyable Talent returns for a new season (eighth) and also
welcomes a new judge. The contest for amateur pastry makers,
Le meilleur pâtissier, which scored good ratings in its first season,
returns as well. In the special-event category, M6 will present
Ice show. This talent contest, designed by Studio 89 (Groupe M6),
will see four legends of French figure skating, Philippe Candeloro,
Surya Bonaly, Gwendal Peizerat and Sarah Abitbol, team up with two
celebrities. A jury of professionals will judge the contestants.
Nicolas de Tavernost, Chairman of the Management
Board of Groupe M6
Another programme from the production company of Groupe M6:
Retour au pensionnat. After Pensionnat de Chavagnes, which
aired in 2004, adolescents between the ages of 13 and 15 will
experience 1950s-style discipline in order to earn their certificate of
studies. Naturally, the channel’s flagship programmes such as Scènes
de Ménages, Maison à vendre, Un trésor dans votre maison, Bones,
White Collar and NCIS are returning for another new season.
At the presentation of the programmes for the upcoming season,
Nicolas de Tavernost, Chairman of the Management Board of Groupe
M6, talked about the advertising market. “The Group’s market share
rose in the first half,” he explained, adding that “the advertising market
performed well during the summer.” According to his observations, even
if one could not talk about a return to growth, “the advertisers have a
desire to return to television, so we’re not worried at this time,” and as a
result, M6 would continue to “be creative in commercial terms”. Groupe
M6 retains a 24 per cent net share of the television advertising market.
Next >
16
Les Ch’tis à Hollywood with Paris Hilton (Centre)
Also at the start of September, W9 held a press conference for the
upcoming season and the channel’s ninth year on the air.
For the 2013/14 season, as W9’s Managing Director Frédéric de
Vincelles explained, “love and humour will go hand in hand this
season.” In the humour category, the channel is airing a new season of
Les Ch’tis – specifically Les Ch’tis à Hollywood. After conquering Ibiza,
Tyrol, Mykonos and Las Vegas, the Ch’tis return to the United States
for a fifth season. This year, the most glamorous of heirs, Paris Hilton,
will join them on their adventures and help them find their place in this
town of excess.
Frédéric de Vincelles, Managing Director of W9
This season on W9: Séduis-moi... si tu peux!
Blending love and humour, La Belle et ses princes presque charmants
– another of the channel’s powerful brands – returns for a third season.
The programme, which gathered an average of 1.4 million viewers
last season, has some surprises for the viewers as well as the
participants. This year, the suitors will have to pass an eliminatory
test. Finally, another of W9’s flagship brands, Soda, returned on
7 September for a third season. The number one shortcom in its
weekend access prime time slot welcomes two new characters this
season: Juliette, who is Adam’s first real girlfriend, and Uskur, the
manager of a fast-food restaurant and Adam’s boss.
On the love side, the channel launches a new speed-dating game show:
Séduis-moi…si tu peux! (Take Me Out), which will air weekdays in access prime time. Created and produced by FremantleMedia France,
the programme will be presented by Jérôme Anthony. It will feature 24
single women in search of love who will have suitors presented to them
on stage. But watch out! These young ladies are demanding, to say the
least. As long as their light remains on, it is a sign that the single man
is of interest to them, but at the slightest disappointment, they will not
hesitate to turn it off…
Finally, in the sport category, W9 will air Europa League matches,
the Masters from Bercy and London, and, of course, the Super Bowl,
whose broadcast rights have been acquired by the channel up to the
year 2015.
17
JENNIFER LOPEZ AND HARRY CONNICK JR.
JOIN KEITH URBAN ON IDOL
FremantleMedia North America
ABOUT HARRY
CONNICK JR –
DID YOU NOW?
Harry Connick Jr.
Fox recently announced the return of global
superstar
Jennifer
Lopez
to
the
season 13 American Idol jury. Joining
Lopez and previously-announced returning
judge Keith Urban will be musician and
actor Harry Connick Jr. What’s more,
Randy Jackson is back in a new role…
North America – 6 September 2013
He found multi-platinum
success with the soundtrack
to When Harry Met Sally
He had a recurring role on
American sitcom Will & Grace
He had roles in Independence
Day, P.S. I Love You and New in
Town, among others
He was signed to Columbia
Records aged 19 and has
released 29 albums
OVER THE PAST 12 SEASONS,
IDOL FINALISTS HAVE:
Released more than 200
albums
scored 396 No.1 Billboard hits
garnered more than 250
million I-Tunes downloads
and been certified with 95 Gold
and 83 Platinum records
American Idol contestants have
conquered Broadway, television and
film and have won numerous awards
and accolades, including American
Country Music Awards, Country
Music Awards, Grammy Awards and
an Academy Award.
While Lopez, Connick Jr. and Urban take their seats behind the panel,
American Idol veteran Randy Jackson will lend his industry expertise
to the contestants as an in-house mentor. Fan-favourite host Ryan
Seacrest will be back to hype up the crowd and navigate the judging
panel for season 13 of the FremantleMedia produced show.
Kevin Reilly, Chairman of Entertainment, Fox Broadcasting
Company said, “American Idol has always been about discovering the
next singing superstar, and next season our judging panel will deliver
a most impressive combination of talent, wisdom and personality to
do just that: Jennifer Lopez, the triple-threat global superstar who
loves Idol and whom Idol fans love; Harry Connick, Jr., a bona-fide
musical genius and fantastic American Idol mentor whose honesty
and expertise can help turn these hopefuls into stars; Keith Urban, a
multi-Grammy-winning artist who was such a positive force on the
show last season. We are also very excited to have our friend Randy
Jackson now in a new role as mentor, and the captain of our team – the
heart and soul of American Idol – Ryan Seacrest returning as host.”
“I’ve always been a huge fan of American Idol and really enjoyed
my time as a mentor on the show,” said Harry Connick, Jr. “And I
am honoured that they’ve asked me to be a judge this season. As an
entertainer, I am truly excited to bring my perspective to American Idol,
and to help emerging performers find their way.”
“Surprise, surprise! I am so happy to be back as part of this amazing
show that started it all,” says Randy Jackson. “Season 13 is the place
to be. The original talent show is back with a vengeance and ready to
discover the best talent in America.”
American Idol hopefuls will meet the season 13 team when the
auditions travel to Atlanta, Austin, Boston, Detroit, Omaha, Salt Lake
City and San Francisco. American Idol XIII debuts in January 2014 on
Fox.
18
BROADBAND TV HITS A BILLION
MONTHLY IMPRESSIONS
Broadband TV
In addition to reaching a billion monthly
impressions, Broadband TV, one of the
largest Multi-Channel Networks (MCN)
on Youtube, now registers more than
100 million subscribers from over 10,000
content partners, an increase of 2,200 content
partners in just two months.
Canada – 10 September 2013
In June this year, the company announced an initial $36 million
investment from RTL Group, the leading European entertainment
network. At the time, the deal marked the largest private placement in
a Canadian Internet media company since 2007 and will support the
business in its expansion plans.
“With growth comes increased competition and we’re looking forward
to showing the market how we are different,” said Shahrzad Rafati,
Founder and CEO. “Our proprietary technology platform benefits
content creators of all sizes and we have a compelling road map of
features that we can’t wait to release to make our content creator
community even more successful.”
Broadband TV’s online Multi-Channel Network or “MCN” line of
business consists of its two brands VISO and TGN. Together, VISO
and TGN achieve more than one billion monthly impressions, from 100
million subscribers from over 10,000 content partners.
Headquartered in Canada, Broadband TV’s MCN business runs
parallel with the company’s Content Management line of business.
The business works with a number of major brands, including the NBA,
Discovery and A&E to provide accurate and scalable content detection
and monetisation solutions to generate significant revenues from their
fan uploaded content.
19
THE X FACTOR USA RETURNS
WITH HONDA AS AN OFFICIAL SPONSOR
FremantleMedia North America
A NEW SPONSOR
In a bid to help launch the
redesigned 2014 Odyssey minivan,
Honda has partnered with The X
Factor as an official sponsor for
Season 3 of the US talent show. The
campaign will feature digital voting
sponsorship and off-air rights, as
well as a Fan Rewards program.
The Fan Rewards program offers
fans reward points for clicking
and interacting their way through
The X Factor digital landscape, to
use for exclusive show and Honda
merchandise.
As The X Factor USA returns for its third
season, the panel welcomes two new
superstar judges; Kelly Rowland and Paulina
Rubio will join returning judge Demi Lovato
and X Factor mogul Simon Cowell in their
quest to find America’s next big superstar.
North America – 11 September 2013
MEANWHILE IN ISRAEL…
Following the successful premiere
of season ten of The X Factor
in the UK and with the US version
returning on 11 September, The X
Factor Israel, set to air this autumn,
premiered its first official promo
starring format creator Simon
Cowell and supermodel Bar Refaeli,
who hosts the local edition of the
show:
This season’s judging panel:
Demi Lovato, Simon Cowell, Kelly Rowland and Paulina Rubio (from left to right)
From the thousands of hopefuls that have auditioned across the US,
solo acts and groups aged 12 and above will step in front of the judges,
the audience and all the viewers at home. They’re hoping to get a “Yes”
from the judges and continue on their way towards the one-milliondollar recording contract. Mario Lopez will be back to host the series
for a second season.
The X Factor USA returned for its third season in a two-night premiere
on Wednesday 11 and Thursday 12 of September.
In season one, Melanie Amaro was crowned the winner with Simon
Cowell as her mentor. Season two saw country star Tate Stevens take
it all the way, backed by L.A. Reid. Who will take the crown and the
recording contract this season?
The X Factor is co-produced by FremantleMedia North America and
Syco Entertainment.
20
Two legends of showbiz
unite on RTL Television
Günther Jauch and Thomas Gottschalk are two grandmasters of German showbiz,
best friends, and are taking on the whole of Germany together.
On 9 September, the dream team of German TV entertainment returned to the screen
on RTL Television. The programme scored a record audience share
of 24.7 per cent in the 14 to 59-year-old target group.
SHORT NEWS
1/2
RTL Radio’s Internet figures for July
RTL Net
In July 2013, RTL.fr confirmed its uncontested leadership since the
start of the year and established itself as France’s number one radio
website for the entire 2012/13 season.
France – 6 September 2013
Radio stations in RTL’s portfolio clean up at
the German Radio Awards 2013
RTL Radio Deutschland
In four out of ten categories, the coveted awards went to stations in the
RTL portfolio.
Germany – 10 September 2013
Mediengruppe RTL Deutschland and
Deutsche Telekom expand their partnership
Mediengruppe RTL Deutschland
At the beginning of September 2013, Mediengruppe RTL Deutschland
and Deutsche Telekom announced that all of the
Cologne-based media group’s HD channels are to be fed into
Telekom’s Entertain service from now on. The free TV stations
are receivable in the existing HD Start package.
Germany – 11 September 2013
Fun Radio launches its new application
Fun Radio
Fun Radio is the leading FM radio station in France, with over
3.5 million downloads from the App Store. It has just released version
3 of its application – a new and completely redesigned build.
France – 11 September 2013
22
SHORT NEWS
2/2
Vox’s new look
Vox
Accompanying the new season, Vox has revealed a new design.
The result is a new look that is strong on all platforms – it is better
graphically, more modern, brighter and more clearly structured.
The red ball is and remains the core element of the logo.
Germany – 12 September 2013
It’s been a great summer in Hungary
RTL Klub
During the summer, RTL Group’s Hungarian channel, RTL Klub,
increased its prime-time audience share by 1.6 per cent. Film Plusz
and Cool were the most and second-most watched Hungarian
language cable channels.
Hungary – 12 September 2013
23
PEOPLE
JONAS
ENGWALL
RTL CBS Asia Entertainment
Singapore – 11 September 2013
RTL CBS Asia Entertainment Network announced that
Jonas Engwall has been appointed as its Chief Executive
Officer (CEO), reporting to the new company’s Board of
Directors. Jonas Engwall will be based in Singapore and
will be employed directly by RTL CBS Asia Entertainment
Network.
Joint statement from Andreas Rudas, RTL Group’s
Executive Vice President Regional Operations and
Business
Development
CEE
and
Asia,
and
Reed Manville, Executive Vice President, International
Channels at CBS Studios International: “We are delighted
to announce the appointment of Jonas Engwall as CEO
of our new Asian venture. Jonas has vast experience in
international broadcasting, and a passion for television.
He has been with RTL Group for many years and was
instrumental in launching its first channel in India, Big RTL
Thrill. As head of the new venture, Jonas will lead a strong
team which brings together the best of two global TV
giants RTL Group and CBS.”
Jonas Engwall, CEO of RTL CBS Asia Entertainment Network
Jonas Engwall, Chief Executive Officer of RTL CBS
Asia Entertainment Network, commented: “This is an
unprecedented partnership between two leading global
broadcasters in a region with huge growth potential.
Together with my team, I look forward to launching our
two first channels, RTL CBS Entertainment HD and
RTL CBS Extreme HD, across Asia. Our new channels
will offer world-renowned content including exclusive
first runs of some of Asia’s favourite reality programmes
America’s Got Talent, Fear Factor and The X Factor USA;
dramas Under The Dome, Elementary and Beauty and
the Beast and daily shows Entertainment Tonight and
Late Show with David Letterman. I am very confident that
these programmes will prove extremely popular across
our footprint and represent a highly valuable proposition
for all our partners. We have already had very positive
feedback from all premier platform owners in the region.”
24
PEOPLE
FREMANTLEMEDIA NAMES SENIOR TEAM FOR NEW
DIGITAL & BRANDED ENTERTAINMENT DIVISION
FremantleMedia
United Kingdom – 9 September 2013
FremantleMedia announced key appointments in the new
Digital & Branded Entertainment Division, launched earlier
this year as part of the company’s strategic realignment.
The division is spearheaded by Keith Hindle,
CEO Digital & Branded Entertainment, who has
appointed Olivier Delfosse to the position of SVP Digital
for FremantleMedia Group, based in Los Angeles and
reporting to Keith.
In his former role as SVP Digital for FremantleMedia
Enterprises North America, Olivier was instrumental
in developing market-leading digital activities for key
brands such as American Idol, America’s Got Talent, and
The X Factor USA. In his new position he will work with
FremantleMedia teams around the world on key digital
initiatives, and help develop Fremantle’s global strategy in
digital content, digital distribution platforms and strategic
investments.
Keith Hindle, CEO Digital & Branded Entertainment
Also based in Los Angeles is Tom Hoffman, who is
taking on the role of Executive Director of Digital & Social
Media and will report to Olivier. Tom brings a wealth of
experience in digital content development and distribution,
having worked extensively on FremantleMedia’s digital
content initiatives including Youtube original channel The
Pet Collective. Tom will help transfer digital development,
interactive and social media expertise to our digital teams
around the world.
Based in Berlin, Jens-Uwe Bornemann takes on the role
of Vice President Digital, Continental Europe, reporting
to Keith. In this role he will co-ordinate FremantleMedia’s
European digital businesses with the local teams, and
implement the worldwide digital strategy. Jens is a highly
experienced digital executive with excellent knowledge
of European digital activity: as Vice President Digital
Ventures & Innovation at UFA in Germany, he developed
and implemented the digital strategy and transformation of
the company over the past 8 years, in close cooperation
with the UFA management board. Jens-Uwe also founded
the UFA Lab which contains the digital business activities
of UFA. He will stay in charge of UFA’s digital businesses,
heading the UFA Lab in Berlin and Cologne, and as
managing director of the pay-tv channel Passion jointly
run with Mediengruppe RTL Deutschland.
Next >
25
Based in New York, Katharine Lewis has been appointed
SVP Strategy & Operations for the company’s digital and
branded entertainment activities. Katharine has previously
served as Deputy MD for FremantleMedia’s Ventures
group in London and as SVP Business Development for
FremantleMedia Enterprises Americas, where she was
instrumental in several strategic investments, including
the Montreal-based gaming company Ludia and the
international transmedia company @Radical Media.
She also headed up FremantleMedia’s Participation TV
business in Asia and the Americas, launching interactive
shows in emerging markets and Australia. Katharine will
work closely with Keith on the long-term direction of the
company in these areas, and in the identification and
implementation of key partnerships and investments.
Jens-Uwe Bornemann, VP Digital Continental Europe
Keith commented, “FremantleMedia is renowned for
creating world-class content watched by millions
around the world. Central to our continued innovation is
the development of market-leading interactivity, digital
brand extensions, and a closer working relationship with
advertisers around the world. We aim to extend these
relationships across our traditional TV activities, but also
to bring them to the emerging world of digital distribution,
which now offer an unparalleled way for us to connect
with our audiences. I am delighted to have been able to
bring on a crack team to work with our highly skilled teams
around the world”.
The new division will work closely with
FremantleMedia’s 22 production offices around
the world, across activities such as TV show
interactivity, social media extensions, second-screen
apps, digital content production and distribution,
and advertiser partnerships across new and existing
IP.
FremantleMedia has already achieved a leading
position on Youtube as the most viewed of any
television producer, network, or movie studio
worldwide, with 79.7 million monthly unique users
in June 2013 alone, and over 4.5 billion views of
FremantleMedia content globally in 2012.
26
PEOPLE
QUENTIN
MOSIMANN
Fun Radio
France – 10 September 2013
DJ Quentin Mosimann is now in command of the
turntables on the Party Fun show every Saturday from
20:00 to midnight on Fun Radio.
Quentin Mosimann joins the team of DJs at Fun Radio in
France, to host the programme Party Fun. With his arrival,
Party Fun confirms its status as the standard dance music
programme in France and in Europe, with events such as
Party Fun Club, Party Fun Live and Fun Radio Dance.
Every weekend, the programme draws 661,000 listeners,
an increase of +29 per cent in one year (+149,000
listeners).
DJ Quentin Mosimann was voted “Best Dance DJ 2011”.
DJ Mag rated him as number 74 out of the Top 100 DJs in
the world and the number 5 DJ in France. He also won the
title of “Francophone DJ Discovery” in 2013. He performs
at 120 club and festival dates a year and his community
of online fans is very active (220,000 Facebook fans and
73,000 followers on Twitter).
Party Fun airs every Saturday from 20:00 to midnight on
Fun Radio.
Quentin Mosimann
27
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