week 35 / 29 August 2013

Belgium

RTL New Mediapresents TV season 2.0

Germany

The launch of ‘Fourscreen Live’ presents this season’s programme line-up

United Kingdom

The strength of linear TV and the importance of great content

Germany

RTL II’s 20th anniversary: CEO Jochen Starke talks to Worldscreen

‘GOOD TV IS A CRAFT’The upcoming TV season on RTL Nederland

week 35 / 29 August 2013

Germany

Bernd Reichart wants Vox to be “louder and edgier”

United Kingdom

55 local versionsof Got Talent

Luxembourg

Participation rates up again for Employee Survey 2013

Germany

A cross-media advertising campaign for Germany’s favourite daily series

‘GOOD TV IS A CRAFT’The upcoming TV season on RTL Nederland

CoverMontage with formats from RTL Nederland channels

PublisherRTL Group

45, Bd Pierre FriedenL-1543 Luxembourg

Editor, Design, ProductionRTL Group

Corporate Communications & Marketing

backstage.rtlgroup.com backstage.rtlgroup.fr backstage.rtlgroup.de

Think before you print

QUICK VIEW

Proximity andinteractivityRTL Belgium

p. 12–13

“The thing that is rareand precious is content”

ITVp. 16–17

‘Everyone loves content’ IP Deutschland /

Mediengruppe RTL Deutschland

p. 9–11

Daily series on the social network

RTL IIp. 18–19

TV Season: 2.0 RTL New Media

p. 14–15

SHORTNEWS

p. 21–22

Taking centre stage in Dutch viewers’ livesRTL Nederlandp.4–8

PEOPLE

p.23

Big Picturep.20

4

The Voice Of Holland jury: Trijntje Oosterhuis, Ilse Delange, Ali B and Marco Borsato (from left to right)

TAKING CENTRE STAGE IN DUTCH VIEWERS’

LIVES The Netherlands – 29 August 2013

RTL Nederland

Matthias Scholten, RTL Nederland‘s Content

Director, was joined bythe respective channels’ programme directors in

presenting the new line-upfor the 2013/14 TV

season in Hilversum. Besides new

seasons of flagship programmes, the line-up

includes a varied bouquetof fresh formats, revamped

time slots and significant development of

established shows.

5

About 250 journalists were in attendance at Hilversum’s Studio 21 to fi nd out what the market leader has lined up for the upcoming TV season. After the guests – among them RTL Nederland’s on-screen stars – had taken their seats, Content Director, Matthias Scholten took the stage. He welcomed everyone and took them through a presentation, with the aim of demonstrating, as he put it, that “TV is the fi rst and only true socialmedium.”

Citing Thinkbox’s Screenlife: TV in Demand study he outlined the six core reasons why people watch TV (follow this link), explaining that despite the increase in VOD platforms and the entry of Netfl ix on the Dutch market, he is confi dent that “live television is here to stay”. He concluded by saying that, “Good TV is not an exact science, but a craft. To be successful you need craftsmanship and resilience. There’s no doubt that RTL has already proven that it is a good craftsman, and a good craftsman knows that it all starts with a good programme, whether it is linear or on-demand. A good format gets people to tune in, to talk about it and engage with it to some extent.” With RTL Nederland being a pacesetter when it comes to viewer engagement, Scholten had no lack of evidence to back this up (see box page 8).

Next on stage was Peter van der Vorst, host of Van Der Vorst Ziet Sterren, a show where he interviews celebrities in their homes. In his capacity as emcee of the Hilversum event, he welcomed the various programme directors, producers, actors and reality TV stars to join him on a red couch on the stage to talk about the new formats. Also for the

occasion, the logo of his hit show was altered to Van Der Vorst Ziet De Sterren Van RTL (Van Der Vorst Visits RTL Stars) and projected on the backdrop.

His fi rst guest was Erland Galjaard, Programme Director at RTL Nederland who, besides talking about the new RTL 4 line-up and underlining the fact that: “RTL 4 has grown substantially in recent years, in terms of viewership as well as variety,” announced the rebranding of the fl agship channel (see box above). A trailer was then screened, which informed attendees that the new season

THE REBRANDING OF RTL 4

The flagship channel RTL 4 unveiled its new logo and on-air design on 26 August 2013. Orange remains the core colour. RTL 4 has for many years now been the most-watched channel in the Netherlands and thus takes centre stage in Dutch viewers’ lives. The four parts of the new logo stand for the pillars of the family channel, namely:

drama/soapinformationinfotainment/coachingentertainment

Programme Director Erland Galjaard comments: “We are looking to the future. With a new logo and designs we are moving into the desired direction, while still taking into account our identity and colour: orange. The new on-air designs can be adapted to external parties in interesting ways. I am also pleased with the fact that the RTL 4 faces can be more prominently involved in the channel’s new design.”

To see examples of the brand-new on-air designs, follow this link:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OCwyfsWNrCI

Next >

Matthias Scholten, Content Director of RTL Nederland

6

includes a mix of “old” and new. Hit formats such as The Voice, The Voice Kids, Ik Hou Van Holland, Holland’s Got Talent, Carlo & Irene: Life 4 You, Derek Ogilvie: Eerste Hulp Bij Opvoeden, Ontvoerd, Divorce, Moordvrouw, Eigen Huis En Tuin (20th season) and Goede Tijden, Slechte Tijden are returning for a new season, along with the US series CSI: NY and Bones.

The fourth season of The Voice Of Holland welcomes two new coaches; singer Ilse Delange and rapper Ali B, who join Marco Borsato and Trijntje Oosterhuis in the search for the country’s best singer. The team of presenters remains unchanged: Wendy van Dijk, Martijn Krabbé and Winston Gerschtanowitz. The channel will also be premiering another talent show: in Comedy Kids, Angela Groothuizen and three other judges set out to fi nd the funniest kid in the Netherlands. Meanwhile, The Taste – adapted from an ABC format – invites cooking afi cionados to display their skills.

In entertainment, Wendy van Dijk will host Wie Ben Ik? (Who Am I?) on Saturday evenings. The charades-style game show is making a comeback after a several-year hiatus. In the weekly show Geer & Goor: Effe Geen Cent Te Makken (Geer & Goor: No Dime To Spare At The Moment), ‘Divas’ Gerard Joling and Gordon take a month-long break from their lavish lifestyles to volunteer for a third-age charity, living on the same income as a pensioner. Hilarious situations are in store, as well as some enriching moments for the two. Other reality formats, but with a more serious touch, are Syndroom (Syndream), where Johnny de Mol helps people suffering from Down syndrome fulfi l their

dreams; Echte Penoze (The Real Underworld), featuring poignant portraits and testimonies from reformed criminals; and Verslaafd! (Addiction), which explores drug addiction and its impact on the addict’s family.

RTL 4 is popular for its Dutch productions, and has some novelties lined up in this area as well: Nieuwe Buren (New Neighbours), Verlaten Vrouwen (Abandoned Women, working title), based on true stories taken from newspaper and magazine columns; and De Man Met De Hammer (The Man With The Hammer), starring Martijn Krabbé and his father Jeroen Krabbé, who has enjoyed an international fi lm career having starred in a James Bond movie (The Living Daylights) and in Jumping Jack Flash with Whoopi Goldberg. The journalists at the presentation were treated to a trailer for the 10-episode series screened before Krabbé Jr. and Sr. took a seat on the red couch to talk about the series, Martijn’s acting debut and what it felt like to work together. Humberto Tan was also invited to take a seat on the couch and say a few words about his new show: RTL Late Night, broadcast weekdays live from Amsterdam. Tan and his guests will accompany viewers into the night as they discuss everything from politics to entertainment and sports.

Paul Cormont, Programme Director at RTL 5, was next on the red couch. He summarised the channel’s new season as follows: “RTL 5’s new season is a strong combination of trusted hit shows and new programmes. The popular hit formats have undergone some signifi cant changes, making them rock solid.” What’s also new for RTL 5 is its completely revamped access prime time, where reality shows play a big role. “Reality is one of the channel’s hallmarks,” explained Cormont, “This upcoming season RTL 5 will show a whole new side, especially with formats such as Het Zal Me Een Rotzorg Zijn (I Couldn’t Care Less),” he said, concluding that the new line-up gives him “a lot of confi dence for the upcoming season.”

Next >

Syndroom with Johnny de Mol (in blue shirt)

De Man Met De Hammer cast: Olga Zuidehoek, Michiel Nooter, Jeroen Krabbé and Martijn Krabbé (from left to right)

The So You Think You Can Dance jury: Euvgenia Parakhina, Dan Karaty, Ish and Jan Kooijman (from left to right)

7

The new reality formats are all Dutch productions and include Tattoo Stories; the emergency show 112 Ooggetuige (911 Eyewitness); the forensic programme Plaats Delict: Sporen Naar De Dader (Crime Scene: Evidences Leading To Offenders); the dating show Everybody Loves Joey; the fashion reality series Roy Donders: Stylist Van Het Zuiden (Roy Donders: Stylist From The South); the Intouchable-inspired Het Zal Me Een Rotzorg Zijn (I Couldn’t Care Less) as well as the reality series Even Krap Bij Kas (Strapped For Cash), which shows the day-to-day business of several pawn shops in the Netherlands, and Het Wilde Oosten, where a group of nine teens from the Achterhoek region are sent on holiday, not to Lloret or any other party destination, but to the local farm.

Meanwhile, real holidays are in store for Barbie and Michael in Samantha & Michael Willen Rust In De Tent (Samantha and Michael Want Some Rest In Their Tent). In the new season, which promises to be even more hilarious, the newlywed young parents, accompanied by family members, go camping on the Spanish coast. The inseparable Britt and Ymke are also back as star reporters in Waar Rook Is… Zijn Britt & Ymke (Where There Is Smoke … There Is Britt & Ymke) with a mission to uncover the truth behind specifi c rumours. Dutch celebrities will use their voices to make their truth be heard. Speaking of celebrities, the participants in the new season of the adventure show Expeditie Robinson are all – for the fi rst time – celebrities. Other returning formats are Holland’s Next Top Model and So You Think You Can Dance, which have, however, been revamped.

The men’s channel RTL 7 “has had a fantastic year, with July its best month ever”, commented Marco Louwerens, Programme Director at RTL 7 in a video message. He added: “This is not only due to its successful programming but also because of its unique and clearly recognisable fl air.” For the upcoming season, the channel’s slogan Meer Voor Mannen (More for men) is truer than ever. Besides fl agship show Voetbal International,

crowd-pulling blockbusters, live sporting events and sports programmes, the channel also boasts weekly Saturday Night Fight Nights featuring the different boxing championships, the mini-series Hatfi elds & McCoys starring Kevin Kostner and Bill Paxton, and Koning Voetbal (King Football), a quiz show testing the knowledge of Dutch footballers and celebrities. Whereas viewers will also be able to test their knowledge with the app especially created for the show. Finally, RTL 7’s Mister Football, Johann Derksen, will host a new talk show centring on his other passion: music.

The last programme director to present a line-up for 2013/14 was Desiree Van Grinsven, who is in charge of the women’s channel RTL 8. In her video appearance she made it clear that: “During the past year I took the time to get more closely acquainted with my target group and to analyse what they think

Next >

Viewers will discover a revamped Holland’s Next Top Model on RTL 5 upcoming season

Emmy and Golden Globe awards winner Hatfi elds & McCoys starts on 3 September on RTL 7

VIDEOLAND – TAKING THE LEAD IN THE ON-DEMAND RACEOn 7 August 2013, RTL Nederland announced that it had acquired a majority stake in Videoland, a pay video-on-demand (VOD) platform owned by The Entertainment Group (TEG), a leading film content provider in the Benelux. The acquisition of the 65-per cent majority stake in Videoland puts RTL Nederland in the forefront of the Dutch VOD landscape. Nevertheless, Videoland will continue to operate independently on the VOD market.

At this point Videoland is only a pay-per-view service. This autumn RTL Nederland will introduce the country’s first all-you-can-watch subscription. This new service, paired with VOD platform RTL XL, enables RTL to offer a service unmatched on the Dutch market.

8

of RTL 8. As a result, the channel has undergone some changes designed to give it more character and visibility.” Theme weeks – where fi lms related to a specifi c theme/person are broadcast during prime time every evening - will continue this season, with themes including: René Zellweger, New York, and Oscar winners. Weekend evenings will be dedicated to crime, with series such as CSI: Miami, Bones or Law & Order, while the US series Will & Grace succeeds Sex And The City in the late evening time slot.

As for children’s channel RTL Telekids, noveltiesinclude the arrival of a new Keet. Multitalented Janouk Kerlderman is replacing Yvonne Coldeweijer as the face of the channel, while increasing viewer fi gures (children aged 3 to 8) contributed to a longer programme window on RTL 8 during weekends.

RTL Nederland’s new programmes can be viewed starting 26 August 2013, when the 2013/2014 season offi cially begins.

RTL Late Night with host Humberto Tan

RTL NEDERLAND – A TRENDSETTER IN THE SOCIAL MEDIA

Thanks to the apps ‘GTST: Wie is Tim?’ (2012) and ‘GTST: Spring Levend’ (2013),fans of the hit soap Goede Tijden, Slechte Tijden can remain connected to and engage with their favourite programme during the summer break. To date, the apps have been downloaded 280,000 (215,000 active users) and more than 500 000 times, respectively

In the quiz show Weet Ik Veel Dutch celebrities test their knowledge on sports, history, music, science, etc. in a bid to win money for charity. The app lets viewers simultaneously answer the same questions as the studio guests – and this for the first time in Dutch television. About 300,000 viewers played along each week. They can play live against each other, their friends and the guests in the studio and win one of the numerous prizes

The Voice Of Holland, So You Think You Can Dance, Holland’s Next Top Modeland Ik Hou Van Holland among other programmes also have an app that keeps viewers connected with their favourite show

Ik Hou Van Holland app

Goede Tijden, Slechte Tijden app

The Voice Of Holland app

Wie Ist Tom? app

9

At the launch of Fourscreen Live – formerly IP Primetime – in Hamburg, IP Deutschland and the Mediengruppe RTL Deutschland channels presented the programme line-up for the upcoming season. Germany – 29 August 2013

For the fi rst time, the programme presentation for IP Deutschland advertisers took place under a new name: ‘Fourscreen Live’, as IP Deutschland proceeds to implement the IP umbrella brand strategy for its biggest event of the year as well. The label refl ects the change in media use habits: television is no longer only watched on the traditional TV set in the living room, but also on PCs, tablets and smartphones.

After Matthias Dang, Managing Director of IP Deutschland gave a brief welcoming address to the 450 guests at Schuppen 52 in Hamburg’s port, Anke Schäferkordt, Co-CEO of RTL Group and Head of Mediengruppe RTL Deutschland, spoke

about the company’s strategy. Her central theme was the signifi cant individualisation of the medium of television.At the same time she explained the increasing fragmentation with illustrative graphics and looked to the future citing the example of the United States. “In Germany, too, non-linear TV consumption and fragmentation will increase,” said Schäferkordt. “But that’s precisely where we see an opportunity rather than a risk.” In particular, programmes with high reach would become more important in times of increasing fragmentation, said Schäferkordt, adding: “Television is the only medium that will reliably continue to achieve high reach.”

Matthias Dang then went on to talk about new developments in marketing. With regard to the currency convergence announced last year, he presented an initial evaluation of the audience structure of Wer wird Millionär? (Who Wants To Be A Millionaire?). It clearly shows that non-linear viewers are signifi cantly younger than the audience of the programme on linear television. “The convergence currency allows advertisers to identify net reach across the entire video campaign, regardless of the device it was played on.” He also invited all

‘EVERYONE LOVES CONTENT’ IP Deutschland / Mediengruppe RTL Deutschland

Matthias Dang, Managing Director of IP Deutschland and Frank Hoffmann, Managing Director of RTL Television

Next >

10

protagonists to participate in the currency convergence project: “We are not an exclusive club; every provider of video can participate,” said Dang. He then presented several new offerings in the portfolio, such as the ‘Branded Red Button’ for Smart TV, which allows advertisers to route viewers to a specially created microsite at the push of a button during a TV commercial. “IP Deutschland offers everything under one roof,” said Dang and then summed up by saying: “Individualisation is changing our business. At the same time programmes with high reach are increasing in value. Innovation makes the difference here. And in the end the overarching insight is that ‘everyone loves content’, because that is precisely what counts.”

For Frank Hoffmann, Managing Director of RTL Television, developing the Sunday afternoon line-up is a major focus of the upcoming TV season. “Here, reach is especially high compared to other days,” says Hoffmann. In addition, an anniversary show is planned in January 2014 to mark the channel’s 30th anniversary – presented by Thomas Gottschalk. For more information on the RTL Television programme line-up, see the Backstage Weekly Newsletter Week 28.

Bernd Reichart, Managing Director of Vox, was able to present an exciting surprise to the audience: the German music star Xavier Naidoo will make a new music show exclusively for Vox. In Die Besten Sänger, the best-known German musicians will gather for several days at an exclusive location bringing along stories, anecdotes and personal experiences – and above all their most popular songs: “The special thing is that we don’t just perform our own songs,” says Naidoo, “but sing the others’ songs and mega-hits. Unbelievable, huh?” In addition, well-known Vox faces like Daniela Katzenberger, Steffen Henssler, Martin Rütter and docu-soap celebrity Detlef return to the screen. Vox also attaches particular importance to its Saturday evening documentaries, with topics such as the JFK assassination, Karl Lagerfeld, Queen, Robbie Williams and Siegfried and Roy sched-uled for next season. The mini-series The Bible, which has scored excellent ratings for Antena 3 in Spain and RTL Televizija in Croatia, is also in the programme line-up. The channel intends to use the current

Bernd Reichart, Managing Director of Vox

Next >

11

momentum in the daytime line-up – for example with Shopping Queen – to develop elaborate, experimental formats, Reichart announced.

Claude Schmit, Managing Director of Super RTL and the longest-serving channel boss in the German media landscape, presented Super RTL’s strategy. The channel plans to break free of children’s programming during prime time, and appeal more to a female audience, said Schmit. He also declared that the proportion of Disney productions currently on air would gradually be reduced in connection with the imminent launch of The Disney Channel. Super RTL is particularly proud of the output deal with DreamWorks. Moreover, the market leader in children’s television is increasingly relying on home-grown productions with a focus on popular-science magazine shows.

N-TV is focusing on a target group of males who are interested in business and news during the day, but will also watch a documentary about Hells Angels in the evening, says Hans Demmel, Managing Director of N-TV. In the autumn the news channel is launching the new N-TV Premium Lounge, which serves up news about luxury and lifestyle topics both on the air and online. In prime time, along side fi rst-class licensed documentaries from Discovery, A&E, National Geographic, or Spiegel TV, N-TV has more and more of its own productions, covering topics such as, the former GDR or motorsport legends. A special highlight is the documentary series The Untold Story of the United States by Oscar-winner Oliver Stone, which will air in autumn.

Oliver Schablitzki provided an insight into the RTL Nitro programme line-up. The channel is now neck and neck with third- and fourth-generation channels, said Schablitzki. In the upcoming season it plans to further consolidate its position as the “most versatile offer for men,” with series and documentaries such as Chicago Fire, Breaking Bad and Derren Brown: The Experiments.

The evening ended with a relaxed evening get-together in Hamburg’s port, against a breathtaking backdrop of container ships and cranes. From the quay, participants could glimpse views of the Elbphilharmonie Concert Hall and the steeple of Hamburg’s Michel church as they networked with advertisers and business partners.

Marc Schröder, Claude Schmit, Matthias Dang, Anke Schäferkordt, Frank Hoffmann, Oliver Schablitzki, Hans Demmel and Bernd Reichart (from left to right)

12

At its end-of-summer press conference,RTL Belgium unveiled the new programmeschedules for RTL-TVI, Club RTL and Plug RTL. The overriding theme was that ofproximity: for the fi rst time, 150 viewers were invited to take part in this interactive event. Belgium – 23 August 2013

Along with the journalists, the audience had an exclusive opportunity to learn about what is new in the 2013/14 season and even to ask questions of management. At the heart of its community, the family of Belgian channels did not forget about the viewers who were absent, and who were able to follow the event live on the internet and comment on social networks.

“This link, this proximity, this state of living in harmony with the audience, is all part of RTL’s DNA,” explained RTL Belgium’s CEO Philippe Delusinne. “It’s this steadfast effort that […] allows us to draw an unrivalled audience each year. Today, technology allows us to go even further in interacting with our audience. Never before have viewers been able to immerse themselves so deeply in their favourite channel.”

RTL-TVI: a new interactive gameFlagship channel RTL-TVI offers a new and totally interactive game show called What Do I Know, in which three celebrities measure themselves against students and the audience. The channel also offers a new culinary programme: Chef des Chefs – which marks the return of Sandrine Corman to Belgian television – along with 100 per cent Belgian entertainment such as Retour au pensionnat à la campagne – which will allow 24 teenagersto go back to the 1950s; Les reines du shopping – where a contestant has to give herself a makeover based on a certain theme and with a limited budget; Belgium’s Got Talent (Season 2) and L’Amour est dans le pré (Season 5). In association with M6, RTL-TVI will air the new seasons of Top Chef and Le meilleur pâtissier.

Viewers will also fi nd special events devoted to Patrick Bruel, Adamo and Princess Diana (16 years after her death), along with new fi lms in the ‘big premiere’ category such as Black Swan, The Help and Rio. New series include Mistresses, Chicago Fire and Touch.

PROXIMITY AND INTERACTIVITY RTL Belgium

Philippe Delusinne ©RTL Belgium

Les reines du shopping ©Marianne Rosenstiehl/M6

Violetta ©RTL Belgium

Next >

13

Elections 2014 – an important time for newsAs the ultimate standard in news (the televised news broadcast at 19:00: 42.8 per cent audience share in Season 2012/13), RTL-TVI will continue to shift its programming to allow viewers to follow major news events. “We’ll try to meet the expectations of viewers and give them all the news they need to know, at 13:00 and at 19:00,” says RTL Belgium’s Editorial Director Laurent Haulotte. The channel’s seven magazine programmes (Tout s’explique, Reporters, Indices…) will continue to supplement the channel’s news programming. One of the essential events this season will be the 2014 federal legislative elections, which will certainly be the subject of a special-coverage operation.

Club RTL: European football’s most prestigious competitionsAbout three evenings a week will be dedicated to football with the Champions League, Europa League and the end of the qualifying campaign of the Diables Rouges national team. Special emphasis will be placed on the events’ most dramatic moments.

The fi ction genre will be enhanced with surefi re winners (CSI, Criminal Minds) and new blockbuster fi lms on Monday nights (the Pirates of the Caribbean trilogy, The Mummy, Ghost Rider). The channel will also offer a new series, Violetta, which follows a young Hispanic teenager. On Kidz RTL every morning, the littlest ones will be delighted to rediscover their favourite characters.

Plug RTL: already 10 years old!Plug RTL, which, during the fi rst half of 2013 has already achieveda 5 per cent market share between 17:00 and 23:00 with viewers between the age of 15 and 35, will celebrate 10 years on the air in February.

Starting in September, the channel will exclusively air Touche pas à mon poste – the French programme presented by Cyril Hanouna on DTT, the reality-television show Allo Nabilla featuring the eponymous star who appeared last season on Les Anges dela télé-réalité, Les marseillais à Miami, Hollywood Girls and the American version of X-Factor (Season 2). La Nouvelle Star (Season 9) has carved out a coveted spot on Wednesday evenings in prime time.

RTL Belgium’s Director of Television Stéphane Rosenblatt concluded the conference, saying: “Watching a television programme is most of all about content, but also an opportunity for viewers to get involved with one another and to interact. […] We intend to rise to new levels in terms of delivering the most in our programmes.”

Sandrine Corman (left), host of the new culinary show Chef des Chefs

Touche pas à mon poste ©RTL Belgium

Bernd Reichart

FOOTBALL EVENINGS ON THE SECOND SCREEN

The second screen is coming this season to enhance the traditional football matches. Viewers will be able to choose their camera angle, re-watch goals, consult particular statistics and chat with other viewers.

14

The new 2013/14 season at RTL Belgium is synonymous with interactivity. RTL New Media recently presented the latest second screen features on offer: ‘Connect’, based on audio synchronisation,and another designed for football fans. Belgium – 28 August 2013

‘Connect’: programme enrichment in real time“Watching a television programme is most of all about content, but also an opportunity for viewers to get involved with one another and to interact,” underlined Stéphane Rosenblatt, Director of Television at RTL Belgium at the end-of-summer conference. With ‘Connect’ – a fi rst on the Belgian market – RTL New Media moves to a new level. This feature makes it possible to instantly add additional content to programmes on the air. Examples include surveys, information about the content of a programme, games and synchronised advertising.

According to Jean-Jacques Deleeuw, Director of RTL New Media, “Enriching programme content in real time will provide a new television experience to viewers who are fi rst and second-screen enthusiasts.” Today, 75 per cent of people with tablets and smartphones watch television with their devices on their knees.

TV SEASON: 2.0 RTL New Media

Jean-Jacques Deleeuw, Director of RTL New Media

‘Connect’ gives the viewer access to additional information surrounding a programme, such as surveys

Next >

15

The best of interactive footballStarting on 17 September, RTL Media will offer Club RTL viewers of Champions’ League and Europa League matches a new feature on the channel’s second-screen application, combining the best of the images with social media in an interactive fashion.

Starting at the kick-off, using their tablets or smartphones, viewers will be able to re-watch videos of the match’s highlights in multi-camera mode (for home matches only) as well as the best messages associated with each sequence that come from the social networks. In automated fashion, the videos will be enriched in real time with comments from professionals in the football world as well as the bloggers who are most popular with viewers. In return, viewers willalso be able to share information on Facebook and Twitter.

“This revolutionary feature that combines instant video “re-viewing” and pertinent monitoring of social networks is at the heart of our strategy for complementarity between the second screen, social TV and the fi rst screen,” explains Jean-Jacques Deleeuw. “These screens and multiple preservations are mutually reinforcing.”

The new football feature on Club RTL second screen app combines the best of images and social media

WHAT IS AUDIO SYNCHRONISATION?

This audio recognition technology called ‘Fingerprinting’ consists of ‘sampling’ a piece of audiovisual content that has been viewed or heard and then comparing it with a programme database. If this ‘sample’ turns out to belong to a database, a specific action linked to the sample takes place.

16

In an article on theguardian.com, Peter Fincham, ITV’s Director of Television, responds to Kevin Spacey’s MacTaggart lecture given at the Guardian Edinburgh TV Festival 2013. Spacey called for TV executives to embrace online viewing; Fincham underlines the strength of linear TV and the importance of great content.United Kingdom – 28 August 2013

Figures released the day after the MacTaggart lecture revealed that content viewed on iPads, smartphones and laptops still only accounts for an average of three and a half minutes of viewing a day compared to the four hours viewers spend consuming linear TV every day. Ninety per cent of TV viewing is still on a TV set.

The most talked-about show on British TV this year is the murder mystery drama Broadchurch (with which ITV was crowned channel of the year at this year’s festival). The series consists of eight one-hour installments, aired Monday nights on ITV. This broadcast model differs notably from Kevin Spacey’s approach to House of Cards, as Fincham explains, “In a way Broadchurch was very against modern trends and, if you like, House of Cards, Netfl ix and bingeing on something.”

While Spacey embraces online viewing, Fincham puts Broadchurch forward as representing traditional TV viewing: “It reminded us of the deferred pleasure that we had to wait until Monday night. It became a talking point because we waited until Monday night. I think there is pleasure in that.” Although Fincham is “an absolute believer in binge viewing and watching TV in the way you want to,” he nevertheless recognizes the place of linear television in today’s viewing trends. “But I also am a very strong believer in the value of the linear schedule,

the social value.” Traditional TV channels still account for the vast majority of viewing because watching linear TV brings people together and provokes discussion: as Fincham puts it: “That’s what makes it watercooler television.”

“THE THING THAT IS RARE ANDPRECIOUS IS CONTENT.”

ITV

Peter Fincham, ITV’s Director of Television

17

Peter Fincham agrees with the foundation of Spacey’s MacTaggart lecture, namely that, “audiences are demanding all of us to raise our game. To be more innovative and challenging.” Video-On-Demand (VOD) platforms such as BBC iPlayer are part of this innovation and are incredibly popular among viewers but the attraction of linear TV on increasingly bigger screens in the centre of the household “isn’t suddenly going to disappear”, as Danny Cohen, Director of Television at BBC, explains.

Tess Alps, Executive Chair of the television industry marketing body Thinkbox, which published the latest viewing fi gures, believes that linear TV and online viewing are often too rigidly pitted against one another. “I think your average viewer is not at all conscious of technology when they have got their Sky HD box and download Downton Abbey from the ITV Player. In their heads, they don’t think ‘I’m using the internet to download TV’. They do it instinctively. We have got to stop thinking of the internet as an enemy. There is lots of technology out there to get stuff to people. The thing that is rare and precious is content.”

LINEAR TV VIEWING: THE THINKBOX FACTS

The average viewer watched 3 hours, 58 minutes of linear TV a day on a TV set during January-June, compared to 4 hours, 1 minute during the same period in 2012

12 minutes more linear TV a day during the first half of the year than ten years ago

The average viewer spent 3 minutes, 30 seconds a day watching content via devices such as tablets, smartphones and laptops (or just over 3 half-hour TV shows a month).

18

On the occasion of his channel’s 20th anniversary, RTL II CEO Jochen Starke spoke with the media magazine Worldscreen about programme planning, social networks and the second screen. Germany – 23 August 2013

Jochen Starke began by putting RTL II’s market position in context within the German television landscape: “The German commercial TV market is dominated by two large broadcasting groups, in which RTL II has been operating independently for 20 years. I like to compare us to a speedboat, nimbly and swiftly manoeuvring between all parties and sometimes out in front of the big ships. We have always been very innovative and risk-taking when selecting our programme — and sometimes we are even downright cheeky.” The programming has changed considerably over the years, away from children’s programmes and American sitcoms towards self-produced formats like Berlin – Tag und Nacht and Die Geissens. Programmes for children are available on the new online channel rtl2anime.de, which went live in April and has been very well received by the audience.

RTL II is particularly active in the online domain. Starke explains: “We’ve been able to lure many young viewers from online media back to TV with our two daily soaps. The formats generate around 700,000 daily video views on our catch-up service, whilst simultaneously achieving outstanding TV ratings. A survey of Berlin – Tag & Nacht viewers showed that 65 per cent watch the show exclusively on television, another 25 per cent watch it mostly on television and only occasionally go online, while only about 10 per cent watch it exclusively online.” He adds: “Our enormously popular access prime time soaps prove that online can even strengthen TV viewing if you have an intelligent strategy to link the two media. Whenever we plan a new format, we make social media an integral part of our creative thinking right from the outset. You can’t start airing a show and then afterwards start to worry about how to integrate it in the social media.”

Starke is happy with the broadcaster’s development: “RTL II was the only TV station that registered substantial growth in audience share in 2012— a year that was dominated by major sporting events like the EURO [football tournament] and the Summer Olympics. The good news is that this upward trend shows no signs of letting up.” The channel owes its success fi rst and foremost to its values. “RTL II is a brand, a brand where people know what to expect and with which they feel at home.”

DAILY SERIES ON THE SOCIAL NETRTL II

Jochen Starke, CEO of RTL II

Next >

19

Besides its many commissioned, “own” productions, RTL II has also enjoyed great success with event-scale line-ups of Game of Thrones and The Walking Dead. “Since we experience strong competition from DVD, Blu-Ray and VOD channels when it comes to watching series, we decided to turn to event programming.” RTL II airs entire seasons in a single weekend, an approach pioneered by the channel.

Finally, Starke ventures an outlook on the future and explains that people are looking for orientation. “You can only survive in a changing market if you have a strong, clear-cut identity. A channel with a strong brand is invaluable. We are very proud to have a large number of equally strong format brands that help people clearly identify with RTL II. That’s how we will remain successful and continue to be a household name in Germany, Austria and Switzerland in the future.”

The cast of the enormously popular access prime time daily series Berlin – Tag und Nacht

La Meilleure Boulangerie de France travels throughout France to fi nd the best bakery in each region, and ultimately of the country. Renowned bakers Gontran Cherrier (holding the baguette) and Bruno Cormerais serve as the show’s jury.

La Meilleure Boulangerie de France started off with good ratings and on its second day of broadcast was already followed by 1.3 million viewers, which

corresponds to an audience share of 23.3 per cent among housewives under 50. This is the best performance in this time slot since October 2012.

M6’s newdelectable programme

21

Trendsetter Sizz provides women with the chance to renew their wardrobesSizz

Sizz, RTL Nederland’s mobile phone brand targeted at women, recently launched the Digital Fashion Bag, an online platform that lets women swap pieces of clothing they no longer wear.The Netherlands – 23 August 2013

Good morning, RTL Television!RTL Television

RTL Televison’s morning programming has been restructured with effect from 26 August 2013. Instead of the Punkt 6 and Punkt 9 newscasts, there will be a two-and-a-half-hour news magazine: Guten Morgen Deutschland. Germany – 26 August 2013

Belgium’s French-language radio market in April – June 2013Bel RTL / Radio Contact

According to the radio audience results in French-speaking Belgium published by the CIM for the period of April to June 2013, Bel RTL – with an excellent season’s end – confi rmed its number one status, ahead of a solid performance by Radio Contact. Belgium – 26 August 2013

Channel 5 returnes to home-grown drama with Evidence FremantleMedia

Evidence, a new crime drama developed by FremantleMedia’s Worldwide Drama division and produced by the FremantleMedia UK (FMUK) label Newman Street, will debut on Channel 5 in 2014.United Kingdom – 27 August 2013

SHORT NEWS 1/2

22

Top ratings for RTL Nitro RTL Nitro

On Friday 23 August, RTL Nitro scored new record ratings: for the fi rst time since it went on the air, the channel attracted a daily market share of 2.0 per cent in the target group of 14- to 59-year-old male viewers – mainly thanks to Breaking Bad.Germany – 27 August 2013

New 66 minutes is a hitM6

The launch of the new formula for the Sunday news magazine programme 66 minutes scored excellent ratings on 25 August 2013. France – 27 August 2013

Two new fi lm projects for UFA Fiction UFA Fiction

UFA Fiction has announced two new fi lm projects: Die Schleckerfrauen (The Schlecker Women) and Der Informant (The Informant). Germany – 28 August 2013

Knorr is Vox’s fi rst ‘Branded Red Button’ customer Vox

From TV commercial directly to microsite: The Branded Red Button makes it possible without switching media. IP Deutschland’s Smart TV offering has won a fi rst customer: from September, the Knorr brand will advertise on Vox and Vox Digitaltext. The managing media agency is Mindshare in Frankfurt am Main. Germany – 29 August 2013

SHORT NEWS 2/2

23

PEOPLE

NEW RECRUITS FORON REFAIT LE MONDE

RTL RadioFrance – 29 August 2013

For the 2013/14 season, the team of On refait le monde on RTL Radio in France has been enriched with a few more personalities who have the gift of the gab. Some of these new voices being heard since 26 August include those of Laurence Parisot and Pierre Berge.

Marc-Olivier Fogiel, leading On refait le monde in its second season, has beefed up his polemists. He welcomes Laurence Parisot, former president of the political party Medef, Pierre Bergé, a businessman and president of Sidaction, Mourard Boudjellal, president of the Toulonnais Rugby Club, and François Lenglet, an economic journalist who also joins RTL Matin.

Last year’s arrivals included Andrey Pulvar, Raymond Domenech, Pierre Lescure, Jean-Claude Dassier and Charles Beigbeder. Together, they will debate and compare their ideas regarding topics in the news. Last season, during the period of September 2012 to June 2013, the programme united an average of 1,541,000 listeners age 13 and up.

On refait le monde, Monday to Friday from 18:00 to 20:00 (RTL Soir), on RTL Radio.

Marc-Olivier Fogiel (center) and his columnists

More about Backstage

DAILY NEWS FROM ACROSS THE GROUP – DIRECTLY IN YOUR INBOX

In addition to the weekly newsletter we offer to registered users a daily newsletter available in three languages.

BACKSTAGE IS AVAILABLE IN THREE LANGUAGES

You can read Backstage in your preferred language – in English, German or French.

‘AT RTL GROUP, WE CARE’

RTL Group is committed to effectively combine business success with socially responsible actions towards local communities and to protect the environment. Visit the Corporate Responsibility news section on Backstage (CR news) and fi nd out how RTL Group aims to improve the societies in which we operate.

backstage.rtlgroup.com backstage.rtlgroup.fr backstage.rtlgroup.de

For more information, don’t hesitate to contact the editorial team:Backstage@rtlgroup.com