Pékin Express phenomenon · destination, because the slowest team runs the risk of elimination, and everyone wants to stay in the running to win prize money that can total as much

week 28

14 July 2011

Luxembourg

100 points for the RTL Group Annual Report

France

No holidays for solidarity on RTL Radio

Germany

Vera Int-Veen on holding-up a mirror to society

Luxembourg

The latest edition of Television – InternationalKey Facts

The Pékin ExpressphenomenonWhy the French viewers are hooked on it

the RTL Group intranetweek 28

Cover: Stéphane Rotenberg, Presenter of Pékin Express

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Breathtaking scenery, introductions to unfamiliar cultures, highly emotional encounters and a competitive element that generates nail-biting suspense: these are the ingredients that characterise Pékin Express. “We were looking for an adventure show for family viewing whose values coincided with those of our channel, namely discovery, escapism and innovation”, says William Lebugle, Programme Manager of the show. “Pékin Express combined all these ingredients and more”, he adds.

Ever since its launch in 2006, the show has offered viewers pure escapism, while offering a total change of scenery to the participants. Today, after six seasons, the audience’s infatuation with this highly innovative programme, unparalleled in its genre, continues to fascinate viewers looking for adventure and powerful emotions.

The latest edition of Pékin Express, entitled Sur la route des grands fauves (On the trail of

the big cats), was shot, for the first time in the programme’s history, in Africa. Prior to that it had avoided the continent, out of safety-related concerns. As it turned out, producing the programme in Africa proved no more problematic than in South America or Asia. “It’s a magical continent, very different from the image conveyed by films or televised news broadcasts”, says the programme’s presenter, Stéphane Rotenberg, recently, clearly still charmed by his experiences there.

The 10 teams of contestants selected to take part in the race of their lives also cherish the wealth of experiences they accumulated there, and most of them agree that they “left Africa with a head bursting with memories”. Indeed, the programme took them from the Egyptian pyramids to small villages along the Nile, from the banks of Lake Victoria in Kenya to the shores of the Indian Ocean, from Maasai villages in Tanzania to the peaks of Kilimanjaro, and from the African savannah to the treasures of Zanzibar. And along

“Discovery, escapism and suspense” For six seasons now, Pékin Express has captivated viewers on M6. Each season, nearly 3 million people tune in enraptured to follow 10 teams of two battling their way across our planet’s most spectacular landscapes. Backstage offers you a glimpse behind the scenes of this utterly unique programme. France - 14 July 2011

The 10 teams with Stéphane Rotenberg in Egypt


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the way they met a tremendous range of people: from Zulu dancers to rugby players and from South African gold mine workers to bathers on the beaches of Cape Town. So the contestants covered a lot of ground, 10,000 km in all in just 45 days of shooting, hitchhiking or on foot, and gaining insights along the way into life in Egypt, Kenya, Tanzania, Lesotho and South Africa.

At each stage of their journey, the contestants have to go and meet the inhabitants of every town or village they pass through and appeal to their generosity to get around and secure accommodation, for their daily budget is just one euro per person. The ultimate objective is to avoid being the last to arrive at the stipulated destination, because the slowest team runs the risk of elimination, and everyone wants to stay in the running to win prize money that can total as much as EUR 100,000.

The choice of places and destinations is made by an editorial team consisting of members of the production company Studio 89 and people from M6. When one season of Pékin Express is being aired, it is not unusual for the team to already be working on the show’s next location. At the preparatory stage it is crucial to research locations as thoroughly as possible with a view to deciding on the route and choosing ‘unmissable’ places that the contestants could nevertheless easily pass by. However, the efforts made by the programme’s team can be undermined by a wide variety of obstacles, especially when it comes to gaining filming authorisations. Accordingly, Pékin Express has occasionally had to steer clear of some sites with legendary reputations because local authorities prohibited shooting there.

This was precisely what happened in Egypt this season. During shooting in early January 2011, the Egyptian authorities, who were intent on retaining control over events, closely monitored the production teams and, for the first time ever on Pékin Express, forbade the contestants to sleep in locals’ homes. As a result, the entire programme had to be altered, with the contestants spending their evenings with locals before being picked up at around 10 or 11 p.m. and taken to a specially set up camp. “Wherever we go, something always happens. This year we had the spring revolutions in the Arab world; last year we faced the monsoons; and a few years ago there was an uprising in Thailand. So to find out where something will happen next year, your best bet is to check out where Pékin Express will be going!”, jokes Bibiane Godfroid, M6’s Programming Director.

Whilst shooting is going on, safety is paramount, so the production team takes every precaution to guarantee it. Undoubtedly this is one of the main reasons why nearly 30,000 contestants apply to take part in the programme each season. After a pre-selection based on these applications, the casting teams processes several thousand candidates by phone before meeting hundreds of them face to face. A lengthy selection process finally ends up with 10 teams, differing greatly in terms of the types of people comprising them, the individual contestants’ geographical origins and how they are related (blood ties, friends, in a relationship, professional colleagues, and so on). These 10 teams then line up against each other for the season in question. To prepare themselves physically, many participants take up running or go to the fitness studio two months before the start of the programme, and just

The Maasai welcoming the candidates


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before the off, the show’s doctor examines them to see whether they are fit enough to take part.

The team in the field does not make any special preparations. Most of them, especially the cameramen, are used to this type of shooting.

For season after season, M6 has thus kept its promise of escape, as evidenced by the fact that an average audience of 2.8 million viewers tuned in to watch Sur la route des grands fauves. This performance helped to make M6 the second most popular channel with viewers every Wednesday between 20 April and 6 July 2011, when the programme was aired. Compared with the previous season, this meant that Pékin Express gained 100,000 viewers.

The final, which was won by Jean-Pierre and François, friends from the southwest, drew an audience of 3 million, the largest audience of the season. Before each season of Pékin Express, the members of the production team try and forecast the winner, Stéphane Rotenberg revealed. “But we always get it wrong”, he admits.

Jean-Pierre (left) and François, the winners of the sixth season of Pékin Express

Facts & Figures

• So far, the contestants in Pékin Express have covered some 60,000 km, an average of 10,000 km per season

• The countries featured include Russia, Mongolia, China, India, Nepal, Brazil, Bolivia, Peru, Vietnam, Cambodia, Laos, Thailand, Indonesia, Ecuador, Chile, Argentina, Egypt, Kenya, Tanzania, Lesotho and South Africa

• The programme has now run for six seasons. In addition, a special edition entitled Duos de choc (Clashing duos), produced in 2010, saw celebrities compete to win money for the charity of their choice

• Shooting has so far taken place either between the end of October and early December or between January and February, depending on the destination and climatic conditions, for a broadcast starting April, especially for the last three seasons

• All in all, more than 200 people work on the show, including between 120 and 150 in the field, primarily cameramen, doctors, interpreters, logistics managers, sound engineers, and so on

• On average, out of 1,500 hours of rushes, just two per cent of footage ends up being broadcast

• Each episode lasts around two-and-three-quarter hours

• So far, only one team has managed to win the full prize money of EUR 100,000. The lowest total won so far has been EUR 7,000 (this season)

• In October 2010, former contestants from the show set up Solidarité Express, an association composed of more than 50 participants from all seasons of Pékin Express. The aim of this association is to help families from the countries featured in the race. Solidarité Express has already raised EUR10,000


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The LACP panel of judges consisting of PR experts from leading American companies gave the RTL Group Annual Report the highest possible number of points in all categories. The report’s narrative content, creativity and cover, the brevity and precision of statements in its finances section, the letter from the Chief Executive Officer and the comprehensibility and first overall impression completely won over the experts.

Earning full points gave the RTL Group Annual Report three platinum medals and hence the best possible score in the categories “Overall” for media companies, “Most Creative” worldwide and “Most Creative” among companies from Europe, the Middle East and Africa.

Elmar Heggen, RTL Group CFO and Head of the Corporate Centre: “RTL Group’s annual reports have already won numerous prizes in previous years, but the Triple for the 2010 report is a great surprise. I am especially happy that we won in the category that is most important to our business: creativity.”

In all, there were more than 5,000 entries from more than 800 organisations in 25 countries; the ‘LACP Visions Award’ claim to be the world’s largest contest for annual reports.

RTL Group’s Annual Report is a joint production between the Corporate Centre and the Finance and Communications Depart-ments of the Profit Centres. The Hamburg-based agency Ringzwei is responsible for the report’s design. RTL Group’s corporate communications department is in charge of the project management.

100 pointsAt the international ‘LACP Vision Awards 2010’, RTL Group’s latest Annual Report went triple platinum after scoring all 100 of 100 possible points.Luxembourg - 12 July 2011

Download the

2010 Annual Report

and/or the mini-brochure

here:

RTLGroup.com

Cover of the Annual Report 2010

One of the pages of the Annual Report 2010


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RTL vous Z is a daily show that provides solid solutions to all those who can’t manage to solve their day-to-day problems. For an hour and a half, the station will go to work to help them get out of the rut they are in by soliciting the help of other listeners, thus creating a true network of mutual support and solidarity. This show is presented by Jean-Michel Zecca, who is a star presenter in Belgium on RTL-TVI. He will be found on that channel at the end of summer in the adventure Septante-et-un and in prime time on a new game show called 60 secondes chrono.

And now that summer has begun, RTL Radio is offering holidays to its listeners once again in RTL Vacances – an opportunity to hit the road for those whose budgets doesn’t allow them to pack their bags. Hosted by Eric Jean-Jean, who is also on the air this summer on Tous les goûts sont permis, Une heure avec and Concert d’un soir, the show invites listeners to play a music quiz and win a family holiday.

RTL vous Z and RTL Vacances can be followed all summer long, Monday through Friday, from 9:30 to 11:00 and from 11:00 to 12:30.

No holidays for solidarity on RTL Radio From 11 July 2011, listeners can count on RTL Radio once again. This summer with RTL vous Z and RTL Vacances, France’s number one radio station will be at its listeners’ service more than ever, proving that mutual support and solidarity are not hollow words. France - 11 July 2011

Eric Jean-Jean Jean-Michel Zecca


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Since 11 July, RTL 4 has brought back its summer programme Ik kom bij je eten, which now airs on the slot regularly occupied by the popular daily soap Goede Tijden, Slechte Tijden – which is on recess for the summer. The RTL 4 stars setting out on the journey include Winston Gerschtanowitz, Nicolette van Dam, Jan Kooijman and Quinty Trustfull. They will join a Dutch celebrity in preparing a dish for a friend or important person in their life, or host a joint

BBQ. Of course this leaves plenty of time for conversation and a look at the celebrity’s

home. Gerschtanowitz, for instance, will visit former pro footballer Giovanni van Bronckhorst, who will surprise his wife with his cooking skills. RTL 4’s BBQ expert Harm-Jan is also part of the team again. Together with Vivian Slingerland, Koert-Jan de Bruin and Rik Brandsteder

he will visit regular Netherlanders who want to thank certain people with a barbecue

courtesy of Ik kom bij je eten.

Ik kom bij je eten is on air weekdays at 20:00 since Monday 11 July until Friday 22 August 2011.

A culinary tour of the NetherlandsIk kom bij je eten returns to RTL 4 this summer. The channel’s stars go on a culinary voyage of discovery, visiting celebrities as well as regular people across the Netherlands.Netherlands - 11 Juillet 2011

Please visit

Ikkombijjeeten.nl


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In her show Mietprellern auf der Spur, Vera Int-Veen visits families who fell for bad tenants and are now left with a trashed rental flat and no rental income. In the interview, Int-Veen explains: “In Germany, it happens 15,000 times a year that people don’t pay the rent and disappear, leaving behind a flat full of trash. For some landlords, this leads to financial ruin.”

Asked about the designated ZDF Director Thomas Bellut’s claim that RTL Television communicates a “questionable picture of human beings,” Int-Veen responded: “I don’t know what came over Mr Bellut. RTL Television also shows the super-rich and people who lead completely normal lives. All of this is Germany. It’s quite acceptable to hold up a mirror to society.”

In all, 4.4 million viewers watched the episode on 4 July 2011 – its market share in the 14 to 49 demographic was 19.5 per cent. On 11 July 2011 at 20:15, RTL Television broadcast the last episode of Mietprellern auf der Spur for the time being.

‘All of this is Germany’In a short interview with the news magazine Der Spiegel, TV presenter Vera Int-Veen talks about her show Mietprellern auf der Spur (Tracking Down Fugitive Tenants Who Didn’t Pay The Rent) and why it’s acceptable to hold up a mirror to society.Germany - 11 July 2011

Vera Int-Veen

Vera Int-Veen in Mietprellern auf der Spur


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Un Dîner presque parfait is not taking a holiday this summer. For the first time in the show’s history, 24 contestants have been selected and are competing to represent 12 cities in France in a special weekly show. What is special about this competition, hosted by Stéphane Rotenberg, is that the contestants are not competing singly, but in teams of two.

The 12 teams, made up of former winners on the show who do not know one another, will be challenged for several weeks in a variety of new culinary tests and with one objective in mind: to win the title of the best team in France on Dîner presque parfait and the sum of € 10,000. To start, the teams will be invited to each other’s homes. At the end of these dinners, one team will be eliminated. The eight two-person teams that qualify will have the chance to represent their city before a prestigious jury.

The teams of amateur champions are judged throughout the competition by Cyril Lignac and two Michelin star chefs, Georges Blanc and Jean-François Piège. Finalist teams will have the privilege of preparing their “truly perfect menu” and cooking for the “association des grandes tables du monde”, composed of internationally renowned chefs who have collectively accumu-lated 48 stars.

Un Dîner presque parfait, one of M6’s flagship programmes, has drawn an average of al-most 1.8 million viewers every day at 17:45 this year. This corresponds to a 14.8 per cent total audience share and a 25.7 per cent share of housewives under 50, making M6 the number one channel every day in this time slot. The audience peak in 2011 of the show launched on 11 February 2008, was 2.5 million viewers for the broadcast on 7 January 2011.

The best team of Un Dîner presque parfaitSince 12 July 2011, M6 has a dinner date with Un Dîner presque parfait, a contest unlike any other where conviviality, talent, competitiveness and suspense are dished up together.France - 12 July 2011

The jury: Cyril Lignac, Georges Blanc and Jean-François Piège (from left to right)


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With European viewers watching an average of eight more minutes of television (228 minutes) and a 7.6 per cent increase in advertising spend in 2010 in Europe (compared to 4.1 per cent for all media), television is the “king” media for viewers and advertisers. In comparison to 2009, daily viewing time has increased in 29 countries out of the 37 covered by the survey. Among the most remarkable increases: UK: up 17 minutes (242 minutes); Germany: up 11 minutes (223 minutes); France: up 7 minutes (212 minutes). On a more global level, the US continue to have one of the highest viewing time levels in the world with 283 minutes, but now rank fourth after three European countries: Serbia (316 minutes), Macedonia (293 minutes) and Hungary (284 minutes).

The transition to the digital era has now reached its final stage. 72 per cent of Europe-ans watch digital television, regardless of the mode of reception. In 2010, more than half of all European homes were equipped with a flat screen and nearly 45 per cent of homes had a high-definition TV. High-speed internet is a reality in Europe, with more than 55 per cent of homes having a broadband connection, a precondition for the optimal use of new services on the new screens such as catch-up TV.

Whether watched live or taped, on a traditional screen, on a mobile device or on the Internet, TV content is beating audience share records and driving most of the growth. It is no surprise – especially in a World Cup year – that live TV and sport continue to dominate the top 20 most-watched programmes.

Entertainment shows are another driving force in audience growth, for the first time ahead of fiction. Talent shows are particularly popular, with local adaptations and interactivity with the Internet bringing in more and more viewers. First place is held by Got Talent, a franchise devel-oped by FremantleMedia and the world’s most exported format. Launched in 11 new countries in 2010, it has outstripped network performance every time it has been broadcast.

Television remains the best-measured medium and will continue to innovate in ratings technol-ogy for new modes of television consumption. One example is the widespread use of ratings for time-shifted viewing. While in 2009, only 11 European countries had ratings for time-shifted viewing, four new countries have now been added (France, Czech Republic, Ireland and Sweden). The initial analyses showed that the recorded programmes – including advertising – are still being consumed within 24 hours after broadcast. Fiction and sitcoms are the most consumed programmes.

The biggest change compared with last year is that the printed study now only consists of the magazine section containing articles on the vari-ous research results. The usual country facts, figures and tables are now found on an enclosed CD-ROM. The Television – International Key Facts study may be ordered directly from Carine Jean-Jean .

Good news for televisionIP Network published the latest edition of its study Television – International Key Facts. In addition to comprehensive data, the 2011 edition tells how television continues to innovate and reach mass audiences.Luxembourg - 13 July 2011

Presidential elections

coming upon Tuesday 12 July 2011, Socialist

Party primary candidate, Martine

Aubry was the guest on RTL

Radio’s political morning

show, ‘L’invité de RTL’.


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‘Die Katze’ (The Cat) unveils her fashion collectionDaniela Katzenberger is designing her first fashion collection in collaboration with RTL Interactive and Henry K. Textilhandel GmbH.Germany - 8 July 2011

The truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truthFrom Sunday, 10 July 2011, La vraie histoire de…, the latest weekly summer newsmagazine show on M6, is taking viewers in the footsteps of some of the most fascinating public personalities of our time. France - 8 July 2011

Good audiencesOn 6 July 2011 RTL-TVI registered very good audience scores, with four of its programmes ranked as the most watched that day. Belgium - 8 July 2011

Exploring the oceansIn September Die Oktonauten (The Octonauts), an educational animated series for children 5 to 7 years old, makes its debut on Super RTL. The Cologne-based family channel has also acquired the licensing and merchandising rights to the colourful cartoon series.Germany - 11 July 2011


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Offering its listeners Laura Pausini For the filming of Laura Pausini’s latest music video on July 26 2011 in Amsterdam, Bel RTL gives its listeners a chance to appear as an extra and meet the recording artist.Belgium - 14 July 2011

Mystery arrives on Antena 3 Antena 3 and Globomedia team up again to produce a new mystery series starring Spanish actress Belén Rueda in the main role.Spain - 14 July 2011

Holdings defend top positionsRTL Radio Deutschland’s radio holdings are still on track according to the results of the recent “Media Analyse” survey (MA 2011 Radio II) and are growing ahead of the overall market.Germany - 13 July 2011

Solving security issueOn 3 July, it was announced that the Dutch dating platform Pepper.nl was hacked by the anonymous hacker group Antisec. This resulted in the leakage of 53,500 e-mail addresses, usernames and coded passwords. Backstage reports how RTL Nederland handled the incident.Netherlands - 13 July 2011


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People

Ian HoggUnited Kingdom - 12 July 2011

Ian Hogg, currently CEO of FremantleMedia Australia, has been promoted to the position of CEO of FremantleMedia Asia Pacific with immediate effect. He replaces Patrick Schult who wants to pursue new interests.

From now on, Ian Hogg will be responsible for the overall management and business performance of all of FremantleMedia’s production operations in Australia and Asia, and will continue to be based in FremantleMedia’s Sydney office.

Simon Spalding, Regional CEO, Europe and Asia Pacific, FremantleMedia, says: “We are very pleased that Ian will be extending his successful leadership of FremantleMedia Australia to take on responsibility for our thriving Asian businesses. We see enormous potential for the Asia Pacific region and Ian brings a unique combination of experience and expertise that combines knowledge of both the region and our company”.

Ian Hogg, CEO, Asia Pacific, FremantleMedia adds: “I’m very much looking forward to working closely with our great teams in all of

our Asia Pacific offices and helping to grow FremantleMedia’s market leading business. I have a deep affinity for the Asian region and the rich cultural diversity of its people and the territories within it. It is an incredibly dynamic part of the world with a very strong appetite for innovative television programming, and I am very excited to be re-engaging with it”.

Ian Hogg began his career at Network Ten in Brisbane in 1984 in programming. In 1990 he became Director of Programming at TV3 in New Zealand. Three years later, Hogg returned to Australia to join the production company RA Becker as Head of Television and in 1996 he was appointed to the Board as Group General Manager and Executive Director. In 2001, Hogg moved to Singapore to join the sports marketing and rights management company World Sport Television as CEO and in 2003 he founded Theatre Red which became a leading television production company in Asia. He sold the company in 2008 and returned to Australia where he consulted to the Prime Media Group across its television and online asset, and acted as Managing Director, Asia Pacific of MGM Worldwide Television.

Ian Hogg


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People

Marc-Olivier FogielFrance - 12 July 2011

Marc-Olivier Fogiel joins M6 at the end of summer to present a new news programme.

Alongside its Sunday newsmagazine shows based on reporting and investigation, M6 will launch a new magazine show at the end of summer. Airing every Sunday at midday, the show will feature interviews with personalities who have marked the news that week.

Strengthened by his talent and long experience as an interviewer, Marc-Olivier Fogiel joins the channel to take charge of this new news programme, whose name has not yet been determined.

A journalist as well as a host and producer of television and radio programmes, Marc-Olivier Fogiel started his career in 1985 at RTL Radio. He began as a telephone operator for live game shows at the station and was a freelancer in the editorial department. He then worked as a part-time presenter, announcing the results of horse races. Following this he served as a production assistant, host and producer for a variety of television channels and radio stations, including TF1, Canal +, France 3, M6, France Inter and Europe 1.

In 1999, with Canal + founder Nicolas Plisson, Marc-Olivier Fogiel, now 42, formed his own production company. PAF Productions, and its press company PAF Presse, produce programmes, reports, magazine shows and entertainment for different channels.

Marc-Olivier Fogiel


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Talkback Thames appoints BAFTA-nominated Comedy Producer and Executive Jon Rolph as Head of Scripted Comedy.

Jon will have overall responsibility for driving the scripted comedy business forward including finding, developing and nurturing new writing talent. He will report to Sara Geater, CEO Talkback Thames. Jon joins the company from the BBC where he held the post of Executive Editor, Comedy Commissioning.

Sara Geater, CEO Talkback Thames said: “Jon has an impressive track record and strong relationships with talent and broadcasters. I’m thrilled he will be joining us. His appointment is part of our strategy to grow the business through increased investment in development and creative talent.”

Jon Rolph added: “Over the years Talkback Thames has grown some of the all-time great scripted comedies, and I hope there are many more yet to emerge and flower. I’m looking forward to doing my bit planting, tending and if necessary fertilising new comedy seedlings from all over the UK and for every broadcaster.”

Jon began his career as a stand-up comedian and comedy promoter. He joined BBC Radio Light Entertainment in 1995, where he produced, directed and edited shows including The News Quiz, Children’s Hour with Armstrong and Miller, The Write Stuff (co-deviser) and The Joy of Sketch. He has over 15 years experience of producing, directing, writing and script editing television and radio comedy across almost every national terrestrial BBC and commercial network, from BBC One to Channel 5, and Radio 2 to Radio 5 Live.

Luc Gilson joins the team of television news presenters on RTL-TVI as of 1 September 2011. He will be the new face of the 13:00 news programme from Monday to Friday.

Luc Gilson’s arrival on the 13:00 news show follows on the heels of Gregory Willocq’s appointment to Editor-in-Chief.

Stéphane Rosenblatt, Director of RTL Belgium’s television channels and Laurent Haulotte, Director of the Editorial Department, comment on Luc Gilson’s career, which has taken a new turn: “Luc Gilson returns to the Editorial Department with enthusiasm to take up a new challenge and to join our team of presenters. We’re certain that, with the entire Editorial Department, this team will help maintain RTL-TVI’s leading position in the news domain.”

Luc joined RTL Belgium more than 20 years ago. Passionate about news, he has proven his versatility on both RTL-TVI and Bel RTL, in the Editorial Department as well as in presenting and producing the magazine show Tout s’explique for 11 years.

People

Jon RolphUnited Kingdom - 8 July 2011

People

Luc GilsonBelgium - 14 July 2011

Luc Gilson

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Documents

Pékin Express phenomenon · destination, because the slowest team runs the risk of elimination, and everyone wants to stay in the running to win prize money that can total as much