A great year - RTL Group · also popular with viewers, as were Expeditie Robinson, So You Think You...

week 02

12 January 2012

A great year How many RTL Group’s channels increased their market position in 2011

LuxembourgRTL Group to exit Greek broadcasting market

FranceNicolas de Tavernost on M6’s performance in 2011

GermanyRTL Television presentsfi fth ‘Commit Award’

United StatesMelanie Amaro wins The X Factor US

the RTL Group intranetweek 02

Cover:Montage with channels’ ratings increases year-on-year (in per cent).

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In 2011, almost all of RTL Group’s families of channels and fl agship channels were once again able to increase their – already good – ratings. RTL Television in Germany recorded its best yearly average since 1997. M6 was the only major channel in France to increase its audience shares year-on-year. In the Netherlands, RTL 4 had its best ratings in 14 years, while RTL Belgium remained the leading family of channels in the country with audience shares stable at 35 per cent. Despite the ongoing fragmentation in Croatia, RTL Hrvatska was able to increase its combined audience share both in prime time and all day. In Hungary, RTL Klub not only was the leading channel but also broadcast all of the 100 most-watched programmes in 2011. Alpha in Greece continued to increase audience shares, while Grupo Antena 3 in Spain increased its combined audience share by 1.5 percentage points to 18.4 per cent – the best level since 2006.

GermanyMediengruppe RTL Deutschland’s channel attracted an average market share of 35 per cent among 14- to 49-year-olds in 2011.

With a market share of 18.4 per cent, RTL Television was once again the most popular channel by far among young viewers in 2011. The channel improved its performance by another 0.3 percentage points year-on-year and came in a full 6.7 percentage points ahead of the competition. Of the 100 programmes most watched by the 14- to 49-year-old demographic in 2011, 70 were aired on RTL Television, among them the two-part drama The Hindenburg; Ich bin ein Star – Holt mich hier raus! (I’m A Celebrity... Get Me Out Of Here!); the Wladimir Klitschko vs David Haye boxing match; Formula One; season fi ve of the show series Das Supertalent (Got Talent); the Wer wird Millionär? – Celebrity Special; and the TV dating show Bauer sucht Frau (The Farmer Wants A Wife).

Vox closed the year 2011 with an average market share of 7.3 per cent in its target audience of 14- to 49-year-old viewers. Ein Tag schreibt Geschichte – 11. September 2001 had excellent ratings: The documentary about the terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center attracted up to 18.8 per cent of the 14- to 49-year-old viewer market. Numerous own productions also proved popular, such as the music talent show X Factor,Daniela Katzenberger – natürlich blond, and Die Kocharena.

In 2011, RTL II attracted an average 5.6 per cent share of its 14- to 49-year-old target viewer market. After a slow start, the series Berlin – Tag & Nacht developed into an access prime-time ratings driver within a few weeks, and the adventures of the ‘glamorous’ family Geiss became an audience favourite in 2011.

Super RTL, Mediengruppe RTL Deutschland’s children’s channel, reached an average 24 per cent of children aged 3 to 13 in 2011 – way ahead of the competition.

Winner of the yearRTL Group’s fl agship channels in Germany and the Netherlands increased their audience shares once more in 2011. Other profi t centres recorded strong performances as well.Luxembourg - 12 January 2012

Ich bin ein Star – Holt mich hier raus!


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N-TV scored the best yearly average in its history, with a total audience market share of 1.0 per cent and 1.2 per cent among 14- to 49-year-olds. N-TV’s morning news and business line-up is particularly popular with viewers. Between 9:00 and 13:00 Monday to Friday, the news channel’s annual market share of 1.6 per cent puts it clearly ahead of its competition.

FranceIn 2011, M6 added 0.4 percentage points to its audience share compared to 2010, posting the best performance among the country’s major channels for the fourth consecutive year. In prime time, M6 was the second most-watched channel (total audience), averaging 3.4 million viewers. The general-interest channel was in fact the most-watched channel (total audience) during prime time on 41 occasions in 2011 (compared to 19 occasions in 2010).

The French series Scènes de ménages achieved the highest ratings ever for M6 in the 20:00 time slot and attracted as many as 5.5 million viewers. The new season has 1.5 million more viewers than the previous season. Un dîner presque parfait (Come Dine With Me) ranked number one with the total audience on more than one occasion out of three, while the science magazine show E=M6 posted its highest ratings in three years. The cinematic event kicking off the school season, Le Petit Nicolas, scored the highest ratings for the year with 7.6 million viewers and the highest ratings ever for a fi lm on M6. Season 6 of L’Amour est dans le pré (the Farmer Wants A Wife) achieved a new record with 6.1 million viewers on average, representing an increase

of 1.2 million viewers over the previous season. Le 19h45 has been the most-watched televised news programme with housewives under 50 during the week since September 2011, with an average 3.5 million viewers – an increase of 800,000 viewers in one season. The magazine programmes Capital, Zone Interdite, Enquête Exclusive and 66 Minutes all continue to draw very large audiences.

W9 reported an excellent year as well, with a 3.4 per cent total audience share – a 0.4 percentage point increase over 2010. Of the 100 top ratings on DTT channels this year, 43 belonged to W9, notably thanks to magazine shows such as Enquêtes d’action and Vie croisées. Top ratings also went to The Simpsons, which allowed the channel to set a new ratings record for an animated series on DTT, while Les Ch’tis à Ibiza became the most successful reality series on DTT with a total audience share of 4.4 per cent.

The NetherlandsIn 2011, RTL Nederland’s channels collectively attracted 35.2 per cent of the 20- to 49-year-old viewer market in prime time, a solid 7 per cent increase over the previous year’s fi gure and the best annual score since 1997. RTL Nederland came in well ahead of its competitors.

The family channel RTL 4 closed the year 2011 with a new market share record: in its target demographic of shoppers aged 20 to 49, an average 20.2 per cent of viewers tuned in – the channel’s best ratings in 14 years. RTL 4 improved its performance by nearly 10 per cent year-on-year. With a total 3.745 million viewers, the fi nale of The Voice Of Holland was the

Scènes de ménages


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year’s most-watched programme. Other popular programmes included Hotter Than My Daughter, Iedereen Is Gek Op Jack, and De Jongens Tegen De Meisjes.

RTL 5 reached an average 9.3 per cent of 20- to 34-year-olds in 2011, a 6 per cent improvement over the previous year’s performance. The channel’s most-watched programme was Oh Oh Tirol, which garnered 35.1 per cent of this demographic, or 1.14 million viewers on 10 March. Oh Oh Cherso and X Cherso were also popular with viewers, as were Expeditie Robinson, So You Think You Can Dance and Topchef.

The men’s channel RTL 7 had its best year ever in 2011. RTL 7 improved its performance by 11 per cent year-on-year, achieving an average market share of 7.8 per cent among 20- to 49-year-old male viewers. Voetbal International, RTL 7 Tour du Jour, Life After Football or Leven As Een Prof were especially popular with audiences, as were the live Europa League, Formula 1 and Dart World Championship broadcasts.

The women’s channel RTL 8 also remains a reliable part of the Dutch family of channels. An average 3.2 per cent of 20- to 49-year-old women watched the channel, keeping RTL 8’s ratings stable and on par with the previous year. The most popular programmes included As The World Turns, Changeling and Gone But Not Forgotten. The children’s line-up RTL Telekids is attracting ever more viewers. In 2011, the

children’s programmes attracted 5.4 per cent of the 3- to 8-year-old viewer market, and 4.2 per cent of its target demographic, shoppers with children.

In 2011, the digital channel RTL Lounge was watched at least once by nearly 5 million viewers above the age of 6, and by 2.3 million female viewers aged 13 and older. RTL Crime, which fi rst went on air in September 2011, was watched by 4.1 million viewers at least once, and by 2.1 million viewers in the 20- to 49-year-old demographic.

BelgiumWith a total audience share of 34 per cent in 2011 (after 33.9 per cent in 2010), RTL Belgium remained the leading family of channels in French-speaking Belgium. Of the year’s 100 programmes most watched by audiences aged 4 and older, 86 were aired on RTL Belgium, 14 on public broadcaster RTBF. RTL-TVI’s special news edition on the Liège shooting and grenade attack on 13 December 2011 (943,302 viewers; 50.9 per cent audience share); humoristic show Jingle Belges! with François Pirette on RTL-TVI on 2 January(908,460 million viewers; 41.4 per cent audience share); and RTL-TVI’s 19:00 news show on 23 January were ranked as the year’s three most-watched programmes. Other ratings highlights included the Belgium vs Turkey match in the European football championships’ qualifying round, on 3 June on Club RTL (753,417 viewers; 46.5 per cent audience share) and RTL-TVI’s Grand Direct with Bart de Wever on 13 December (737,271 viewers; 37.7 per cent audience share).

RTL Belgium’s fl agship channel RTL-TVI achieved its best yearly average among viewers aged 4 years and older, attracting 26.9 per cent of the demographic (same as in 2009). Among 15- to 34-year-olds, the channel also set a new record with a 27.9 per cent audience share.

Ben Saunders, winner of The Voice of Holland

Elio di Rupo in Grand Direct


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CroatiaIn 2011, the channels of RTL Hrvatska – RTL Televizija and RTL 2 – recorded a combined average audience share of 25.5 per cent, despite the ongoing fragmentation. Compared to 2010, when four national channels were available, RTL Hrvatska’s audience share was up by 1 percentage point although the number of channels increased to nine. Eight of the ten most-watched movies in Croatia in 2011 were broadcast on RTL Televizija. With an audience share of 49 per cent during the Christmas season, Home Alone 2 was the most-watched movie of the year. The channel was also successful with its series: nine of the year’s ten most-watched prime-time US series were broadcast on RTL Televizija. One of its most popular shows was the fi rst pan-regional edition of Big Brother, which was watched by an average 30.2 per cent of viewers. With an average audience share of 30.8 per cent, the Turkish drama 1001 noć proved popular as well.

In January 2011, RTL Hrvatska had launched a second national channel: RTL 2. With an average audience share of 4.9 per cent among viewers aged 18 to 49, the channel became the country’s most-watched specialised channel within one year. Among the most-watched programmes were sitcoms including King of Queens, Raymond, How I Met Your Mother and Malcolm In The Middle.

HungaryIn 2011, RTL Klub, Hungary’s leading channel, reached an audience share of 21 per cent among viewers aged 18 to 49, well ahead of its nearest competitor. If one considers prime time (19:00 to 23:00) only, the gap to RTL Klub increased even further and now amounts to more than ten percentage points. RTL Klub was able to increase its prime-time audience share of viewers aged 18 to 49 by 0.7 percentage points to 29.8 per cent, although viewers can choose from more than 100 channels in the Hungarian language. RTL Klub was the most-watched channel during 95 percent of prime time in 2011. Additionally, all of the 100 most-watched programmes in 2011 were broadcast on RTL Klub. The list includes programmes such as X-Faktor at number one, Való Világ at number two and Csillag Születik at number three.

GreeceIn 2011, the media landscape in Greece remained highly competitive. Nevertheless, Alpha TV managed to increase its average audience share in its key 15 to 44 demographic by 0.8 percentage points to 14.6 per cent.The channel’s key programmes once again included the satirical show Al Tsantiri News, which drew an average audience share of 46.7 per cent among viewers aged 15 to 44. Despite the ratings successes, given the heavy and ongoing economic and fi nancial crisis in Greece,RTL Group announced in January that it will sell its 70 per cent majority shareholding in Alpha Media Group to the Greek entrepreneur Dimitris Contominas.

LuxembourgRTL Lëtzebuerg’s position as a local market leader was once again indisputable: in 2011 the RTL Lëtzebuerg family reached 304,000 viewers a day – translating to 69 per cent of Luxembourg’s population tuning in every day.

SpainGrupo Antena 3’s eponymous fl agship channel scored an audience share of 11.7 per cent in the advertisers’ preferred 16- to 54-year-old demographic (2010: 11.8 per cent). Among total audiences, Antena 3 reached 11.5 per cent of Spain’s TV viewers (2010: 11.7 per cent). This put the channel at number three in both groups. Neox was the leading Spanish digital channel, with an audience share of 3.6 per cent in the advertisers’ preferred demographic of 16- to 54-year-olds (2010: 2.9 per cent). The channel garnered 2.7 per cent of the total audience market, a year-on-year improvement of 0.5 percentage points. Nova attracted 1.7 per cent in the demographics sought after by advertisers and a total audience share of 1.5 per cent – on par with the performance in 2010. Nitro, the group’s third digital channel, was watched by an average 1.4 per cent of Spain’s viewers.

The concept of establishing families of channels has clearly paid off: it allowed the group to partially compensate for the losses suffered by the fl agship channel, so that its share of the 16- to 54-year-old demographic increased from 16.9 per cent in 2010 to currently 18.4 per cent – its best score since 2006.


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TV consumption in Germany was higher than ever before in 2011. Viewers watched an average 225 minutes of television per day last year – two minutes more than in 2010. Viewers aged 14 and older also added two minutes, bringing their average daily viewing time to 239 minutes in 2011. A breakdown by age group shows an increase in consumption among older viewers, and stable TV viewing in the new reference demographic: with 280 minutes a day spent watching TV and six TV minutes added, the 50- to 64-year-old demographic saw the greatest increase in viewing time. Pensioners (65+) continue to watch the most TV, averaging 306 minutes a day in front of their living-room screens. The reference demographic of 20- to 59-year-olds remains constant and on par with the previous year’s high level of 221 minutes a day; so did the 14- to 49-year-olds, who watched 192 minutes of TV a day as in 2011. The

youngest demographic of 3- to 13-year-old children maintained last year’s peak value of 93 minutes.

In France, TV consumption increased by 15 minutes amounting to a total of 227 minutes in 2011 (viewers aged 3 and above), according to a study by the French Médiamétrie. This signifi cant increase is fuelled by several factors, including a rainy summer in France and major sporting events such as the rugby and women’s football World Cups, as well as the Tour de France. Additionally, 2011 was a big year in news, for example the earthquake in Japan and the affair around Dominique Strauss-Kahn.

Spain shows a similar picture: average viewing time reached 239 minutes – the highest level since 1990.

20102011

212

227235

239

223 225

Average daily TV viewing time (in minutes and per person)

TV viewing times exceed previous year’s peak values


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The transaction is subject to approval by the Greek Competition Commission and is expected to close in the fi rst quarter of 2012. As Mr Contominas currently owns a minority stake of 30 per cent in Alpha Media Group, he will become again the sole owner of the company, while the current management will continue to be involved in the operating management of the channel.

Gerhard Zeiler, CEO of RTL Group, says: “Given the heavy and on-going economic and fi nancial crisis in Greece, we eventually decided to exit the Greek market. While we cannot infl uence the overall market development, our local management team led by CEO Christoph Mainusch, together with Alpha’s employees, succeeded in increasing the channel’s ratings and cutting programme costs at the same time – both to a substantial extent. We are happy to have found a solution that enables Alpha to continue broadcasting. We wish Alpha, its employees and our business partner Dimitris Contominas truly all the best for the future – and thank them for their outstanding contributions and their commitment in very diffi cult times.”

Dimitris Contominas says: “Alpha has signifi cantly improved its market position over the past three years. I regret that RTL Group will leave the Greek market, especially given the achieved development. I would like to thank my business partners at RTL Group for the trusting and fair collaboration and the expertise they contributed to reposition Alpha towards a younger audience. I am pleased to continue working with Alpha’s highly professional management team to steer the company through turbulent times.”

RTL Group acquired a majority stake in Alpha Media Group in December 2008 and currently owns 70 per cent. Since then the Greek net TV advertising market is estimated to have declined by more than 50 per cent. Despite major cost reductions (minus 45 per cent over the period 2008 to 2011) to compensatefor declining advertising revenue, Alpha TV at the same time succeeded in signifi cantly increasing its audience share in its main target group of viewers aged 15 to 44, from 12.5 per cent in 2008 to 14.6 per cent in 2011.

RTL Group to exit Greek broadcasting marketRTL Group announced that it will sell its 70 per cent majority shareholding in Alpha Media Group to the Greek entrepreneur Dimitris Contominas.Luxembourg - 6 January 2012

Further achievements since 2008:

• Re-positioning Alpha as a family-oriented entertainment and informative channel

• Introducing new programme genres to the Greek TV market such as reality programmes and docu-soaps

• Establishing a new way of scheduling, mainly in daytime and access prime time

• Creating a new way of presenting the news and informative programmes in terms of content, style and slot – almost doubling the audience share of the news from 8 per cent in 2008 to 15.3 per cent in 2011

• Increasing the advertising market share to a solid number three position


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2011 was a good year for M6. Celebrating its 25th anniversary this year, M6 was the only channel to increase its ratings. It obtained a 10.8 per cent audience share – a 0.4 percentage point increase over 2010. M6 was the number three national channel after TF1 and France 2, while the other national channels continued to fall back.

In response to the question about whether the goal is to beat France 2, Nicolas de Tavernost replies: “Our goal is to increase ratings […] We already outperform France 2 in the evening. We’re the number two channel in prime time. So obviously the competition is tough in France but we’re going to try to come up with programmes to raise the fi gures.”

The Groupe M6 CEO is also confi dent of the fact that M6’s number three ranking does not depend in any way on US series. He admits that “we’re proud to have them andthe audience likes them,” but, nonetheless, “our success, unlike for our main competitor,is fi rst due to our programmes. Scènes de ménages, the news, Le Dîner presque parfait – what could be more French? Top Chef, which is coming soon, L’Amour est dans le pré, too! And then, we have one or two evenings where NCIS and Bones bring us a lot of success.” And to the question on the return of Nouvelle Star, the CEO replies: “Nouvelle Star will defi nitely be back on our channels, but we’re going to wait and see what the singing competitions bring; fi rst we’re going to air a dance contest on M6.”

Asked about the reasons for the remarkable ratings of Le 19h45, despite the fact that the news show boasts neither the image or the content of the competition’s major news programmes, Nicolas de Tavernost believes that “it is precisely for this reason that they come to us, becauseLe 19h45 doesn’t have that image.” He goes on to explain that “if there are currently between 4 and 5 million people watching this news show every evening, it’s not merely to please us, it’s because the show is good.” In conclusion, he specifi es that the goal is to have 4.5 to 4.7 million viewers on average next year.

During the interview, Yves Calvi also brought up the “stingy” impression that Nicolas de Tavernost conveys. “Yes, I admit, I hate spending money for nothing,” he says, “but I can tell you that M6 is the only channel that increased its programme costs, it continues to do so, and when the expenses for programmes like Scènes de Ménages, Le Dîner presque parfait or the news are justifi ed, we have the means to grow.”

“Our goal is to increase ratings”Nicolas de Tavernost was a guest on Yves Calvi’s morning show on RTL Radio in France. M6’s performance in 2011 was among the subjects discussed.France - 11 January 2012

Nicolas de Tavernost

Listen to

the entire interview on

RTL.fr


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The three projects submitted on 10 January 2012 include the launch of free-to-air special-interest channels, including a shopping channel Boutique & Co through its Ventadis distance sellinge structure, a family channel 6Ter and a channel focusing on news shows Hexa.

In 2012, Groupe M6 will lobby for its three projects based on its experience, professionalism and history of respect for specifi cations. In a highly competitive environment, the group wants to continue to help enrich free-to-air DTT in France, leveraging its full range of creative, human, technological and requisite fi nancial resources.

Groupe M6, which is not in debt, plans to invest heavily to ensure the success of the launch and the sustainability of these three new channels. The group says these new DTT channels will be quality channels in the public interest and will strictly comply with the authorities’ requirements, as is already the case with the group’s other channels (M6, W9, Paris Première and Téva).

The deadline for sending in the applications was 10 January 2012. To date, 31 applications have been received, but according to the CSA, other applications sent by post could still be received in the days ahead, provided the postmark proves they were sent on time. Between 5 and 9 March, the CSA will audition the candidates deemed “admissible,” followed by a fi nal shortlisting of candidates, with the issuance of permits to the broadcasters scheduled for the end of May 2012.

These six new HD channels will bring the total number of DTT channels in France to 25.

Groupe M6 applies to launch three new channelsGroupe M6 has submitted three projects as part of the Higher Audiovisual Council’s (CSA) call for applications for broadcasting six digital terrestrial television (DTT) HD channels, issued on 18 October 2011.France - 12 January 2012


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Like the fl agship programme, “Top Chef de la Pub” is a culinary competition based on a number of eliminatory tests. The fi rst consists of a culinary questionnaire, which is available on a dedicated site, and which participants must answer in order to have a chance to be selected.

A jury, made up of contestants from the show’s previous seasons (Stéphanie Le Quellec, Romain Tischenko and Grégory Cuilleron), will select 20 participants to continue the adventure. These contestants will then have to demon-strate their creativity and technique to the jury during culinary “battles” that will be held in the temporary Top Chef restaurant at L’Alcazar.

The “Top Chef de la Pub” chosen by the jury and Thierry Marx during the fi nale will win a weekend for two at Paris’ new luxury hotel, Mandarin Oriental Paris, as well as dinner at Thierry Marx’s gourmet restaurant Sur-Mesure. Participants ranked in second to fourth place will also win prizes, all associated with cuisine and gastronomy.

The previous season of Top Chef, which was won by Stéphanie Le Quellec, was a remarkable success in 2011 on M6 and on RTL-TVI in Belgium, achieving its highest ratings ever on both channels, all seasons included. The fi nale was watched by 4.2 million French viewers and more than 430,000 Belgian viewers on 4 April 2011, making these two RTL Group channels the most-watched channels that evening.

Advertisers step up to the stoveSeason three of Top Chef gets cooking in a few weeks, and for this occasion, M6 Publicité is holding a grand contest this month for all of its advertising partners and media agencies to select its “Top Chef de la Pub 2012” (2012’s Top Chef of Advertising).France - 4 January 2012

Thierry Marx, Stéphanie Le Quellec and Romain Tischenko(From top to bottom)


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The media award initiated by RTL in 2008 is being given out for the fi fth time this year. Once again, it is aimed at secondary-school students from all over Germany. Candidatesaged between 15 and 20 can draw up concepts for fi lms on integration and migra-tion as individuals, as a group or as part of a school project. There is a separate ‘Commit Award’ category for young journalists as well.

To kick off matters, on Tuesday RTL’s chief editor Peter Kloeppel and Minister of State Maria Böhmer, Germany’s Federal Integration Offi cer visited the Otto Hahn Comprehensive School in Hamburg. Together with 26 students, most of them from immigrant backgrounds, the news anchor and the patron of the ‘Commit Awards’ discussed opportunities and barriers in day-to-day efforts to promote integration. Other topics included the responsibility of the media, and language skills as a prerequisite for successful integration.

Accordingly, ‘Wir verstehen uns!?’ (We understand each other!?) – is the motto of this year’s ‘Commit Awards’. Applicants are expected to explore the importance of language to successful integration and the repercussions that lack of language skills can have for people from immigrant backgrounds. The deadline for all storyboards is 31 March 2012. Due to the strong response generated last year, a 2012 contest with the same focus topic is also being in a separate category for young journalists who are enrolled at a school of journalism, completing an internship or

otherwise studying journalism. Here, applicants are expected to submit fi nished work, and the deadline for entries is 30 April.

Maria Böhmer says: “RTL Television has my explicit support for taking advantage of its exceptional closeness to young audiences to encourage teens to deal creatively with integration by means of the ‘Commit Awards‘. As its patron, I hope that lots of schools will enter the contest with cooperative project work.”

Peter Kloeppel adds: “The ‘Commit Award’ seeks to encourage young people to take a journalistic look at the issue of integration. By making language the focus topic, we are deliberately picking up on our most recent spot campaign, ‘Sag’s auf Deutsch’ (Say it in German), to help hone young people’s awareness of how important language skills are to successful integration.”

‘Commit Award’ enters a new roundRTL Television is presenting its media award on the topic of integration, open to secondary-school students and young journalists, for the fi fth time. This year, it focuses on language as an issue.Germany - 12 Germany 2012

Maria Böhmer (left) and Peter Kloeppel with pupils of the Otto Hahn school in Hamburg

Details and rules

for participating on

RTLCommit.de


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Vox broadcast the two-part documentary on 3 and 10 December, generating numerous donations. The donations hotline alone was called by 50,235 animal lovers whose calls generated €5 each, raising €251,175 for the cause. In addition, lots of viewers transferred money to the custodial account of the Deutscher Tierschutzbund – and that’s not even counting the funds and extensive in-kind donations that Martin Rütter raised at the Dortmund ‘Hund & Pferd’ (Dog & Horse) tradeshow, the ‘Bavaria Dog’s Day’ in Munich and from noted companies, including €182,000 for the Deutscher Tierschutzbund from thepetshop chain Fressnapf, raised in their annual‘Gib Pfötchen’ campaign, and 2.5 million fi lledpet bowls donated by Pedigree and Whiskas.The end result was a total of €610,275 raised.

The portion of donations not earmarked for a specifi c purpose will be distributed to the projects presented on the show: the animal shelters run by the Deutscher Tierschutzbund, the ‘Lega Pro Animale’ association in Italy, the association against animal abuse and the feral cat aid association, the animal protection centre of Weidefeld, Dunja Rajter’s ‘Tierschutzprojekt Kroatien’ initiative and ‘Vita Assistenzhunde’, an association devoted to training guide dogs for people with disabilities.

Together with his famous helpers, presenters Nina Ruge and Dunja Hayali, actress/singer Dunja Rajter, musician Joey Kelly and Vox animal protection expert Frank Weber, Germany’s best-known animal psychologist and Vox’s own dog expert Martin Rütter is delighted about the high amount of donations generated: “The efforts made by our supporters and the generous donations from Vox viewers are over-whelming. It’s great that the documentaries let us show how multifaceted and important animal protection work is. The monies raised will let us jointly ensure that many animals in need can have a better life.”

€610,275 for animals in needJust in time for Christmas, many important animal projection projects had some extra funds to help them in their work, thanks to the two-part fundraising documentary Martin Rütter hilft on Vox.Germany - 23 December 2011

The two-part documentary touched numerous animal lovers who donated generously

Martin Rütter and presenter Nina Ruge


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Melanie Amaro

Melanie Amaro, judge Nicole Scherzinger and Presenter Steve Jones (from left to right)

Host Steve Jones revealed that after the votes were cast, Amaro had bested runner-up Josh Krajcik and second runner-up Chris Rene. Amaro, 19, who was mentored by Judge Simon Cowell, emerged as America’s choice and capped her coronation on the fi nale by singing Listen. 12.4 million viewers tuned into Fox to watch the fi nale. After an epic battle for America’s vote, Amaro is the fi rst fi nalist to win the coveted The X Factor title, a $5 million recording contract with Sony Music and an iconic Pepsi commercial. The fi nale on 22 December was fi lled with excitement as a plethora of special guest artists performed throughout the broadcast, including Justin Bieber, Stevie Wonder, Drew, Leona Lewis, Pitbull, Ne-Yo, Marcus Canty, 50 Cent and Astro. In addition, Derek Fisher, Steve Blake and Matt Barnes of the Los Angeles Lakers appeared on the show and The X Factor’s Top 12 fi nalists reunited for a special performance.

Online auditions for Season Two of The X Factor were open until 31 December 2011. More audition information will be announced by FremantleMedia North America shortly. The X Factor is produced by FremantleMedia North America and Syco Television. Cecile Frot-Coutaz, Richard Holloway and Andrew Llinares serve as executive producers for FremantleMedia North America. Rob Wade and Siobhan Greene are executive producers for Syco Television.

Melanie Amaro wins biggest prize in TV historyThe fi rst season of FremantleMedia North America’s The X Factor came to a spectacular conclusion just before the holiday season.North America - 2 January 2012


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This year the stakes are higher than ever as the prize for the winner will no longer be £100,000. Britain’s Got Talent is upping the ante by offering £500,000 cash – £250,000 of which will be out of Simon’s own pocket. The winner will also perform at the Royal Variety Performance in 2012.

Simon Cowell says: “I miss Britain and I miss the British public and I miss judging them. I want to fi nd the next generation of talent in 2012. Different and new acts, younger and better talent. You want someone who can be a star all over the world and by coming back in 2012, it’s the year of the Olympics, it’s a big year for Britain, we are going to be in the world’s spotlight and I want this show to be back in the world spotlight. This year I really felt that I’ve got to put my money where my mouth is, so I’m personally putting up £250,000, so that’s £500,000 cash to the winner, so that’s a big incentive.”

Joining Simon on the panel will be actor and comedian David Walliams and singer, songwriter and dancer Alesha Dixon alongside returning judge Amanda Holden. David Walliams is a comedian, writer and actor, known for his partnership with Matt Lucas on the TV sketch show Little Britain and its predecessor Rock Profi le. More recently he and Lucas wrote and starred in Come Fly with Me. David Walliams says: “I am so thrilled to be the new Cheryl Cole.”

Alesha Dixon is a singer-songwriter, dancer and model. In 2007, she became a contestant in Strictly Come Dancing which she went on to win. Two years later, in 2009, she joined the judging panel of the show. After three seasons as a judge she decided to quit Strictly Come Dancing at the end of 2011. She says: “I am delighted to be joining the judging panel of Britain’s Got Talent for 2012, it’s a fantastic show and I am very excited to be working with Simon, David and Amanda on the search for a new star.”

Amanda Holden says: “I’m really excited to be back on Britain’s Got Talent, it’s so much fun and I can’t wait to see what talent the UK has on offer this year. Having Simon back will be great – I’ve missed my work husband being on the panel and keeping him in check every now and again.”

Additionally, Britain’s Got Talent will also be holding its fi rst ever open audition in partnership with Virgin Media on Sunday22 January at London’s Oval, to welcome new and exciting acts from across the UK the chance to show off their talent.

Returning to Britain’s Got TalentSimon Cowell will return to Britain’s Got Talent when it arrives back on screens for a sixth season in Spring 2012.United Kingdom - 4 January 2012

Simon Cowell


16

The campaign has a clear message:the medium radio is powerful

Formed in March 2009 by four major groups of private radio stations, including RTL Radio in France, Lagardère active, NRJ Group andNext Radio TV, the Bureau de la Radio is an organisation whose objective is to promote the radio medium to the general public, public authorities and the different players in the advertising industry.

With this new ad campaign, the Bureau de la Radio, under the guidance of former IP France director Michel Cacouault, hopes “to reach advertisers directly, over the air, to promote radio by highlighting the medium’s various strong points.”

Both mobile and multitasking, radio is also the medium that has the fastest impact on the consumers who, “in 54 per cent of these cases, has been reached by at least one radio message just two hours before the act of purchasing.” According to the campaign, for 60 per cent of the French, radio is also the most credible news medium and the top morning medium for 54 per cent of individuals age 13 and up, who essentially listen between the hours of 6:00 and 9:00.

The campaign consists of a series of eight ads broadcast by each station at the rate of one per day, over a two-week period.

An effective and powerful advertising mediumSince 4 January, RTL Radio and the other member stations of the Bureau de la Radio are conducting an advertising campaign and airing a series of ads to promote the radio medium.France - 10 January 2012


17

The Fondation Hôpitaux de Paris-Hôpitaux de France, chaired by Bernadette Chirac, organises the Pièces Jaunes campaign every year to collect donations that fi nanceprojects aimed at improving the lives of hospitalised children and teens.

Since the inception of the campaign in 1990, RTL Radio has leveraged its position as France’s number one radio station to inform and raise awareness of the Foundation’s work among as many listeners as possible in its news broad-casts and entertainment programmes. A few hours before the offi cial launch of this year’s on 5 January, Bernadette Chirac talked about her involvement on the air with Stéphane Bern and his team of columnists on the cultural and enter-tainment programme A la bonne heure.

Thanks to the Pièces Jaunes campaign, the Fondation Hôpitaux de Paris-Hôpitaux de France has helped nursing and medical teams realise close to 6,650 projects for hospitalised children and teens in 433 cities, 1,593 wards and 615 institutions. In 2011 the Pièces Jaunes campaign generated €3.5 million and funded 255 projects.

Supporting the Pièces Jaunes campaignRTL Radio is once again partnering with the Pièces Jaunes campaign, presided over by Bernadette Chirac.France - 4 January 2012

Bernadette Chirac

An optimistic

start to the New Year

For the second consecutive year,

Antena 3 has produced a spot starring the

channel’s top stars to ring in the TV year

2012. Like last year’s, the new one is a

musical.


19

Launching digital textN-TV has launched a new service called ‘N-TV Digitaltext’. Based on HbbTV (Hybrid broadcast broadband TV), it offers viewers the latest news from politics, business, the stock market, sport, panorama and entertainment.Germany - 23 December 2011

The M6 application enters a new television eraGroupe M6 joined Microsoft for the launch of the M6 application on Xbox 360. This partnership in innovation marks a new stage in the defi nition of the television of the future.France - 23 December 2011

The world of football on a tabletAfter investing in the I-Phone, RTL Net launched its RTL Football I-Pad application.France - 3 January 2012

Hit compilations of 2011RTL Spécial Marketing, an RTL Radio subsidiary, consolidated its position as a major player in the music compilation sales sector by selling 430,000 albums in 2011.France - 6 January 2012


20

Deutschland sucht den Superstar returns with good ratingsOn 7 January, the popular talent show Deutschland sucht den Superstar (Idols) started into its ninth season. 6.17 million viewers were there to witness it, for a 31 per cent market share among 14- to 49-year-olds.Germany - 9 January 2012

Releasing its reference cloudFollowing the launch of its new website in September, BCE unveiled a references cloud page.Luxembourg - 9 January 2012

Toggo app a hitThe free app Toggo, Super RTL’s umbrella brand for children aged 6 to 13, is available on mobile devices since November and has been downloaded more than 100,000 times to date.Germany - 12 January 2012


21

People

FremantleMedia announces management changes United Kingdom - 11 january 2012

Tony Cohen, CEO of FremantleMedia, has announced the appointment of Rob Clark to the newly created position of Director, Global Entertainment Development. Trish Kinane will become President, Worldwide Entertainment.

Effective immediately, Rob Clark will report to Tony Cohen and will join the FremantleMedia Operating Board. Clark will be responsible for international format development in the FremantleMedia network, working with entertainment creatives, territory CEOs and Heads of Development. He will set the global entertainment format development agenda and direction for all FremantleMedia companies, as well as manage all global format acquisi-tions. Rob will also work closely with FME to maximise the ancillary and brand potential of all entertainment formats.

Tony Cohen says: “Rob has been vital to our success in developing, producing and rolling out hit entertainment programming worldwide as well as collaborating with partners to acquire and produce top quality formats.”

Rob Clark is a highly experienced producer, programme creator and writer across Primetime, Entertainment, Reality and Comedy genres. He has extensive experience in the UK television industry having previously been Head of Entertainment for Scottish Media Group and Princess Productions as well as Executive and Senior Producer for London Weekend Television, Carlton, HatTrick and Celador. During his career, Rob has worked on many iconic and leading series including Don’t Try This At Home, Surprise Surprise, Popstars, Man O Man, The Likely Lads, Wheel of Fortune, Big Talent Show, Supermarket Sweep, Blind Date, and Beadles About. He also co-wrote and created the sitcom Barbara.

Trish Kinane, who has been Acting President, Worldwide Entertainment sincelast year, will now become President of Worldwide Entertainment, effective immediately. Trish will continue to report to Gary Carter, COO of FremantleMedia. Kinane will continueto lead and manage Worldwide Entertainment,overseeing the global roll-out of all FremantleMedia’s developed and acquired non-scripted formats, working to safeguard their integrity, guarantee production quality, and manage commercial and talent relationships arising from them. She will also be responsible for the department’s efforts to secure the fl ow of ideas through the organization and for promoting and enhancing best practice production and collaboration within FremantleMedia’s international production network. Previously, she was Joint Managing Director of the production company Action Time.

Rob Clark

Trish Kinane


22

People

FremantleMedia UK appoints Boundless Managing DirectorUnited Kingdom - 5 January 2012

Sara Geater, CEO FremantleMedia UK, announced that Patrick Holland has been appointed as the Managing Director of Boundless, the new super Factual Label which combines the Factual Features, Factual Entertainment and Specialist Factual departments.

Patrick will lead the team including Hannah Brownhill, Head of Development and will report into FremantleMedia UK CEO, Sara Geater. He starts with immediate effect.

Patrick Holland, Managing Director, Boundless says: “I am really excited to be asked to lead Boundless – it has to be one of the best jobs in factual television. As the home of The Apprentice and Grand Designs, the label already produces some of the industry’s strongest titles. It’s a tremendous opportunity to build on the success of these brands, and develop fresh titles across the factual genres. I am really looking forward to working with Sara and the great team at Boundless, to make the label even more successful.”

Sara Geater, CEO FremantleMedia UK, comments: “Patrick is one of the industry’s leading factual creatives. He is passionate about programming making and production and has a wide range of experience across factual from serious documentaries to popular factual. He has a true creative entrepreneurial spirit and has strong relationships with talent. I’m confi dent he will be a fantastic leader for Boundless.”

Patrick Holland joins Boundless from Ricochet where he was Director of Factual Programmes. During his time there he oversaw the factual slate, from documentariesincluding Born to Be Different to features series such as Cowboy Builders. He also had a key role as the creativeliaison between the companies in the Shed group and Warner Brothers. As executive producer his credits include Space Shuttle; The Final Mission (BBC2 Specialist Factual), Michel Roux’s Service (BBC2 Documentaries), Trawler Wars (Discovery), My Weird and Wonderful Family (Cutting Edge) and Nicola Roberts; The Truth about Tanning (BBC3).

Boundless was formed in January 2012 combining the former Talkback Thames’ Factual Features, Factual Entertainment and Special Factual departments.


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People

Diana PattiselannoThe Netherlands - 9 january 2012

On 1 January 2012, RTL Nederland appointed Diana Pattiselanno as the new Director of RTL Productions, RTL Nederland’sproduction arm.

Pattiselanno takes over the day to daymanagement of the Entertainment, Sport and Short Form Lab departments, which were set up in 2010. RTL Productions develops various programmes for RTL Nederland’s channels, including Topchef, The Ultimate Dance Battle, De Babyfl uisteraarand John van den Heuvel’s new programme,Rechtgezet. Short Form Lab is in charge of producing online videos such as De Zomer van Britt & Ymke. In her new role, Pattiselanno reports to Matthias Scholten, Content Director at RTL Nederland.

Matthias Scholten says: “Diana has the TV business in her blood. She has vast experience and knows every facet of the business. She also has a great deal of energy and drive. I am very pleased that she is rising into this position as a young executive from within our company.”

Pattiselanno began her career in 2001 as a producer at 625 TV Productions. She went on to work as head of production at companies including Eyeworks and Endemol. In 2007, she joined RTL Productions, where she worked as production manager for shows including Dames In De Dop, Topchef, De Babyfl uisteraar and the broadcasts from Radio 538’s Koninginnedag on RTL 5. She has served as Business Manager at RTL Productions since 2008.

Further to Diana Pattiselanno’s appointment as Director RTL Productions, Diana Volberda has been named Head of Entertainment, after having worked as a freelance on various RTL Productions formats including 10 Jar Jonger In 10 Dagen, Dames In De Dop and Baby’s Wil Is Wet. Volberda’s other clients included Eyeworks and Endemol. She will report to Diana Pattiselanno in her new role.

Diana Pattiselanno


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People

Julia ReuterGermany - 5 january 2012

Julia Reuter, 39, is RTL II’s new Commercial Manager. In this role, she supervises the Controlling, Finance and Accounting, IT and Services and Technology departments.

Reuter, a graduate in business management, is also responsible for strategic corporate management and structural and workfl ow organisation upon assuming her new position with effect from 1 January 2012. She has worked in RTL II’s Controlling department since January 2000. In 2005, she was put in charge of the department and in January 2011, was additionally appointed deputy commercial manager at RTL II. She reports directly to RTL II Managing Director Jochen Starke.

“Julia Reuter’s imaginative and dedicated work has contributed signifi cantly to the company’s success in recent years, above and beyond classic fi nancial controlling,” says Starke. “She brings plenty of experience to her new role. I am delighted that she is taking on the position and that we will continue to work together on the RTL II management team to develop the company in a positive direction and ready it for the future.”

Nicole Glatzmaier, 37, previously head of sales management at El Cartel Media, has joined RTL II with effect from 1 January 2012 as head of fi nancial controlling. She will also continue to be in charge of sales controlling. Glatzmaier has been with El Cartel Media since the company was founded in 2003, and was in charge of pricing until September 2005, after which she was appointed to head the sales management department.

Julia Reuter


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People

Kathleen VoigtGermany - 10 january 2012

Kathleen Voigt (32) has taken over the position of Head of Community Management & Public Relations of the social network Wer-kennt-wen.de with effect from 1 January 2012, reporting directly to the company’s Managing Director, Eva-Maria Bauch.

“I am very pleased that we were able to recruit an experienced communications expert of Kathleen Voigt’s calibre,” says Bauch. “She will help us actively advance Wer-kennt-wen.de’s positioning as one of Germany’s largest social networks, and further sharpen its regional focus.”

Kathleen Voigt joins Wer-kennt-wen.de from the telecommunications company Versatel, where she served as press offi cer in charge of external and in-house communications and built up the company’s social media activities and online community management. A media scientist by training, Voigt began her career as a banker at Deutsche Bank AG, after which she spent many years working as a journalist for various media publications.

Kathleen Voigt


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People

Claude Robert, Télé-Luxembourg’s emblematic fi gure, has diedLuxembourg - 6 january 2012

Claude Robert, a fi gurehead of Télé-Luxembourg and the presenter of L’Ecole Buissonière for 25 years, died on 2 January at the age of 95.

After working with Radio Luxembourg for seven years, Claude Robert joined Télé-Luxembourg at its inception in 1955, where he was a host and producer of several programmes until his retirement in 1980. His best-known programme was undeniably L’Ecole Buissonière, which he presented live from the Villa Louvigny, and from which other children’s shows for the channel were subsequently inspired, including Citron Grenadine, La Bande à Grobo and Chocolat Show. His pronounced taste for travel also led him to create the programmes Les sentiers du monde and Aventures des hommes.

In the Télé-Luxembourg studios, Claude Robert witnessed the debut of many hosts, including Georges Lang, Jean-Luc Bertrand and Marylène Bergmann, who are now famous not only in the Grand Duchy but in France and Belgium as well.

Marylène Bergmann and Claude Robert

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A great year - RTL Group · also popular with viewers, as were Expeditie Robinson, So You Think You...

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