week 45 - RTL Group · provides outcomes that work with the flow of technological change.” Viviane Reding, EU Commissioner for Information Society & Media, said: “The biggest

Germany

UFA Sports founds subsidiary

Belgium

20 years of commercial television in Europe

France

Girondins de Bordeaux advances in the Champions League

United Kingdom

Diversifying revenues with bingo

week 45

5 November 2009

A sharper imageAndre Prahl on the introduction of HDTV in Germany

2

week 45

COVER:Andre Prahl, member of the CBC Management Board

Photo: RTL Television, Stefan Gregorowius

the RTL Group intranetweek 45

3

Germany - 5 November 2009

On 1 November, the HD platform HD+ launchedwith two Mediengruppe RTL Deutschlandchannels: RTL Television and Vox. Viewers with asatellite dish, a digital HD+ receiver and anHD-ready TV set can now receive popular seriesin ultra-sharp resolution, glowing colours andunsurpassed brilliance. They can choosebetween the new HD+ offer in high-definitionpicture quality, digitally unencrypted in familiarPAL-adequate picture quality, or reception of theanalogue satellite signal (PAL standard) as in thepast.

In the Netherlands, too, two TV channels are nowavailable in HD quality. Since 15 October, viewershave been able to receive the two channelsRTL 7 and RTL 8 in high-definition picture qualityvia the UPC cable network. To do so they needan HD set-top box and a HD subscription withUPC. Arno Otto, Managing Director of the DigitalMedia division at RTL Nederland, says: “At RTLNederland, we have two priorities when it comesto the consumer: service and quality. The switchto HD fulfils both criteria.” In the Netherlands,too, parts of the programming will be broadcastin HD for starters, primarily foreign films andseries.

In France, M6 started with HD already a year ago.Twenty-seven transmitters had been put intooperation to cover 40 per cent of themetropolitan population. Since 31 May 2009,new transmitters made it possible for more than60 per cent of the population to accessprogrammes that are broadcast in HD. In thecoverage area, viewers equipped with a DTT-HD

adaptor will find all of the network’s flagshipprogrammes in unparalleled sound and imagequality.

The launch of HDTV in Germany, the Netherlandsand France means that RTL Group now offers thelatest generation of television in three countries,enabling viewers to watch their TV programmesin the best possible quality. On the occasion ofthe HD+ launch in Germany, Backstageinterviewed Andre Prahl, a member of the CBCManagement Board and responsible forMediengruppe RTL Deutschland’s programmedistribution, about the new technology and itsbenefits for viewers.

“A more beautiful TVexperience, long-term”With the launch of HD+ via the Astra satellite,Mediengruppe RTL Deutschland now offers high-definition television as well. Backstagespoke with Andre Prahl about the launch and its benefits for viewers.

A new standard in broadcasting

HDTV (High DefinitionTelevision) is a broadcastingtechnology which differs fromconventional SDTV (StandardDefinition Television) in that ityields a better-quality image: muchhigher resolution and better picturecolour. HDTV enables much greater detailin TV images, and HDTV images appearmuch sharper and more vivid than inconventional TV. HDTV signals are neededin order to make full use of the HD-enabledflat screens already on the market.

Andre Prahl

Visit

RTL-HD.de

Vox-HD.de


What advantages does HD offer comparedwith conventional TV resolution?Thanks to the much higher bit rate, all of theprogramming will have a far better picture qualitythan in the conventional standard resolution.

Will all of the programming be shown in HD,or only parts of it?The HDTV signal will initially be produced using“native” HD material for US series such asHouse, Bones, Monk, and CSI: Crime SceneInvestigation on RTL Television or CSI: NY on Voxas well as blockbusters like The BourneUltimatum (on 15 November on RTL Television).In 2010, formats like RTL Aktuell and sportingevents like Formula 1, boxing and the FootballWorld Cup will be added.

Native means that the format was produced infull HD resolution, this means using recordedusing an HDTV camera. The broadcast native HDcontent will greatly improve the good overallvisual impression of RTL Television and Vox’sentire HD programming yet again. The share ofnative HD content in total production will besteadily expanded over the next few years. Ourgoal is to advance this development in a speedymanner. These elements will very quickly cometo account for a very appreciable part of theprogramming.

What are the differences between producingfor regular and for HD channels? The difference lies in the complexity of creatingthe native HD content, this means content that isproduced in full HDTV resolution. The set design,post-production, make-up and lighting requiregreater precision and attention than in standard-resolution television. There is no differencebetween the content of the HTDV and regularversions of a programme. The HDTV signalenables native HD elements of the programmingto reach viewers in full HD resolution; in theconventional signal, they are reduced down tothe standard resolution.

Why do people have to pay for HDTV?The provision of high-definition channels on HD+involves vast technological and financial outlay.To offset the expense of these services, Astra ischarging a flat service fee of EUR 50 a year.

There have been speculations in the pressthat the introduction of HD+ will pave the wayto a general encryption of Mediengruppe RTLDeutschland channels. Is there any truth tothis?Free-TV channels have to use encryption so thatdigitisation can take place in a controllableenvironment. Encryption serves mainly asprotection against piracy and againstunauthorised changes to the signal by thirdparties, that is to control the signal and preserveits integrity. But this is nothing new. The signalsfor our programmes have been encrypted forbroadcast to various digital cable networks or viaDSL for several years now.

What are your hopes and expectations for thenew offer?HD+ opens up the option of offering viewersattractive channels in high definition that are notavailable yet and which would not becomeavailable anytime soon without HD+. We hopethat HD+ and the introduction of HDTV will proveto be a cornerstone for offering viewers an evenmore beautiful TV experience long-term.

Will other channels be added eventually –Super RTL, N-TV and RTL II?We’re starting with our two most-watchedchannels for now. But it is absolutely conceivablethat other Mediengruppe RTL channels willfollow.

4

CSI:NY


UFA Sports goesSlovakiaSports marketing company UFA Sports hassigned an extensive marketing agreement withthe Slovak Football Association and thecountry’s top football league.Germany - 30 October 2009

UFA Sports will be the service provider for theSlovak national football teams and the SlovakCup in terms of all marketing issues involvingmedia and advertising rights. The cooperationwith the country’s top league, which is knownas “Corgon Liga” also covers national andinternational media rights as well as marketinga wide-reaching package of advertising rightswhich include the use of the league name. Theagreement was signed on a long termperspective. Existing contracts andpartnerships (such as those with Kia, Heinekenand others) will continue and be integrated intoUFA Sports’ marketing activities.

“We are convinced that we have found theperfect partner in UFA Sports, and we lookforward to working with them,” stated FrantišekLaurinec, President of the Slovak FootballAssociation. “Our national team just made thequalifying rounds for the World Cup in SouthAfrica – for the first time in the history of Slovakfootball! This is the ideal basis for joining forceswith UFA Sports.”

Arndt Jaworski, who will lead the five-memberteam of UFA Sports Slovakia, is equallyconfident and pleased about the newendeavor: “Our goal is to have a lasting impactby increasing the attractiveness of Slovakfootball as a communication platform forbusinesses and TV channels,” explains ArndtJaworski. “I am convinced that our experienceand expertise can greatly improve the revenuesituation for the SFA and the league. I welcomethis new challenge.”

Jaworski held senior management positionswith the sports licensing company Sportfiveuntil 2006. He then joined the Board of theGerman football club 1. FC Kaiserslautern,where his main responsibilities includedmarketing, legal issues and organisation. Mostrecently Arndt Jaworski has worked asfreelance management consultant for nationaland international partners.

The new founded subsidiary UFA SportsSlovakia is based in Bratislava and startedoperations on 1 November 2009.

5

Arndt Jaworski, Managing Director of UFA Sports Slovakia


Celebrating 20 years ofcommercial TVOn the occasion of the annual conference of theAssociation of Commercial Television in Europe(ACT), commercial broadcasters from all overEurope met on 4 November in Brussels in theResidence Palace. They celebrated 20 years ofcommercial TV in Europe, delivering creative,informative and entertaining content.Belgium - 5 November 2009

Philippe Delusinne, CEO of RTL Belgium andACT President since June 2009, gave theattendants an insight into latest TVdevelopments and commented: “It is theattractiveness of TV and enduring interest ofpeople in it which ensure that TV – sometimescombined with other platforms – will remain thekey medium for reaching out to massaudiences. Television will not only survive, it willthrive. But our ability to do so remains linked toEuropean regulation. For commercial televisionto flourish in the future, a regulatory rethink isneeded, which allows for moving away fromprescriptive micro-management and insteadprovides outcomes that work with the flow oftechnological change.”

Viviane Reding, EU Commissioner forInformation Society & Media, said: “Thebiggest challenge for the next EuropeanCommission will be to work effectively toaccelerate the recovery from the worldeconomic downturn. Information andcommunication technologies, including media,will play a crucial role in this process as asource of productivity, innovation and growth.”

Broadcasters present at the ACT Conferenceconfirmed that commercial broadcasters areconstantly adapting their business models,diversifying revenues via multimedia activitiesand launches of new channels and servicessuch as Catch-up TV, mobile TV, IPTV, HDTVand 3D-TV. Pekka Karhuvaara, CEO MTVMedia Finland, said: “TV is not dying, as BillGates said. In fact, TV is having babies.”

Ross Biggam, ACT Director General,concluded: “As we move from the world of‘broadcasting’ to one of ‘multiplatformdistribution of audiovisual content’, two thingswill remain certain. That the viewer’s controlover what to watch, and when and where towatch it, will only continue to increase. And forthat, the decisive factor in our business is whatit always has been: the programmes.”

6

Philippe Delusinne


Further growth with HabboRTL II announces a new extension to its online offering in cooperation with Habbo.Germany - 3 November 2009

RTL2.de will integrate Habbo in its My Pokitowebsite. Teenagers can log in to the HabboHotel directly from there to access all of thecommunity’s offerings. RTL II will present itselfto young users of the Habbo world with abranded TV studio that runs programme-related promotions. In addition, a partnerbutton on the Habbo.de startpage takes usersdirectly to the My Pokito website hosted byRTL2.de.

“The many different options for interaction onHabbo gives our young viewers and users anideal community platform. The online world isfrequented by a very attractive demographicand thus offers the ideal setting for ourproducts and formats,” says Daniela Geißler,Head of Special Marketing at RTL II.

“We deliberately chose RTL II as ourcooperation partner, because not only is therean overlap in the target audience, but thechannel also delivers entertainment with a highfun factor,” says Bernhard Falch, CEO ofSulake Germany.

Habbo Communities currently exist in 31countries on six continents. As of today, inGermany alone there are over six millionregistered users, and the site gets 920,000visitors a month. Over 90 per cent of its usersare between 12 and 18 years old.

7

Habbo Hotel on RTL2.de


Blue-and-Whites defeatBayern 2:0 FC Girondins de Bordeaux, which is owned byGroupe M6, qualified for the Champions LeagueRound of 16 by defeating Bayern Munich.France - 4 November 2009

After the game, the team’s delighted coachLaurent Blanc took questions from LeMonde.fr:“I think we let the Bavarians have the ball toomuch. But overall I feel we mounted a gooddefence, kept our ranks closed in the back andgave the Bavarians only few real opportunities.I think our victory this evening here in Munichwas an outstanding performance, and clearlyshows that we belong in the Round of 16.” Thewebsite of the sports paper L’Equipe quotesBlanc as saying that he is proud of his playersand confident about the future. “If anyone hadsuggested to me that we would have qualifiedfor the Round of 16 after just the fourth game, Iwould have declared them mad. But this showsthe progress we’re making. (…) Qualifying afterjust four games is a remarkable achievement.”

Nicolas de Tavernost, Chairmanof the Management Board ofGroupe M6 and a majorityshareholder of Girondins desBordeaux, also praised theplayers: “Congratulations aredue to the players; this was nomean feat. They have madegreat strides in recent years,and have proven theirprofessionalism and their skill.This is no coincidence, but theresult of very hard work,” theAFP newswire quotes deTavernost as saying.

Yoann Gourcuff, a key Bordeaux player, shotthe first goal in the 37th minute. StrikerMarouane Chamakh followed it up with thesecond for a 2:0 in the 89th minute. So not onlywas this Bayern’s second encounter with theteam from Bordeaux, it was also their seconddefeat at Girondins’ hands. On LeMonde.fr,Bayern defender Philipp Lahm is quoted assaying: “It needs to be said that the team wasunder considerable pressure. Our plan was towin today’s Champions League match. But alloptions are still open and we will give our all inthe next two matches. Though that may seemhard to believe in the wake of this match, afterlosing to Bordeaux 2:0.”

8

Yoann Gourcuff and Nicolas de Tavernost

Laurent Blanc


Audiences love theevening newsWith 3 million viewers and a 13 per centaudience share of viewers age 4 and up,Tuesday evening’s Le 19.45 achieved its bestrating for a weeknight since its launch.France - 5 November 2009

With this new record, Le 19.45 is showing astrong increase as compared to its averageaudience of 2.4 million viewers since the showwas launched. One year ago, in the months ofSeptember and October 2008, the programme6 Minutes (M6’s former all-image evening news)drew an average of 2.1 million viewers.

Invited by “Buzz Média Orange-Le Figaro”,Vincent Régnier, Groupe M6's Head of news,explained the reasons for this success: “Thepriority of our news is to ask the questionspeople are asking, hence the coverage of‘society topics’. It also has to be spectacular,so that people want to watch it. Now that thenews has stabilised, the aim is to find a perfectmix between providing a service and explainingcurrent events. The news also has to have anelement of surprise and astonish people.”

Le 19.45 confirmed its position on Tuesdayevening as the second most-watched eveningnews show by viewers under 50 with anaudience share of 20.1 per cent of that targetgroup.

9

Tuesday’s evening news was presented by David Jacquot


“Strictness and discipline”That’s the motto at the Valgrange boarding school where intrigue and mysteryabound. L’Internat, the new French series on M6, is an adaptation of the hit series El Internado on Antena 3.France - 30 October 2009

“Le Valgrange” is an educational establishmentset in a dense, isolated forest. Youngelementary and secondary level pupils come tolive in this mysterious place where the uniformis a requirement. In everyone’s eyes, theschool’s headmaster Victor Durier hassucceeded in turning this former orphanageinto a model of private education in the region.While everything seems to be ready towelcome the pupils for a studious year, “LeValgrange” conceals dark secrets that will soonupset the lives of its residents.

A multitude of renowned French actors’ namesappear in the credits of this new blockbusterseries on M6. It will be shown in the first part ofthe evening starting on Thursday 19 November.Guillaume Cramoisan plays the school’sheadmaster Victor Durier and Valérie Kapriskyplays Elsa Lendorff, the director of studies aswell as the headmaster’s companion. LaureMarsac plays Marie, the charwoman whoarrives on the first day of school carrying aheavy secret. Another grande dame of Frenchcinema, Bernadette Lafont, plays the school’s

bursar Hélène Massart. Speaking about hercharacter, she says: “Hélène is the bursar atthe school, she has been there for years andremains very attached to Valgrange, which shehas known since it was an orphanage. Thedirectors and I call her the boarding school’s‘soldier’, and I think of her as being the soul ofthe place. She knows everyone and eachperson’s history. Of course, she has her ownhistory, her own secret and a dark side. It’s trulya creative pleasure to develop such acharacter.”

L’Internat was adapted from the Spanish seriesEl Internado, which is produced by Globomediaand airs in prime time (22:00 in Spain) onAntena 3. It was first broadcast on 24 May2007 and has become a huge success. Sincethen, 40 75-minute episodes have beenbroadcast and now the Spanish are in their fifthseason, which started on 12 May 2009. M6 hasshot ten 52-minute episodes and the entireseries will be released as a 3 DVD box setavailable at M6 Vidéo at the end of 2009.

10

The cast of L’Internat


A new online magazinefor teenagersThe online version of Fan 2 for teenagers takesits inspiration from the best of the printmagazine.France - 4 November 2009

News about their favourite stars, photos,videos, community forums, beauty and fashionhints – all the know-how of Fan 2 magazine isnow available in this new portal developed bythe Eeple company. A true news and adviceportal for adolescent girls, Fan2.fr takes itsinspiration from the best of the print magazineto offer teenagers a site that’s truly designedwith them in mind.

With the “Only Girls” section, the portal offersbeauty, fashion, health, psychology and loveadvice as well as the magazine’s top shoppingtips. This column gets down to answering allthe important questions asked by teenage girlsand guides them through this pivotal period oftransition into adulthood. The “VIP Section”(Carré VIP) allows Fan2.fr internet users to takeadvantage of special privileges such asinvitations to attend the M6 and W9 flagshipprogrammes Nouvelle Star and X Factor or getseats to the Twilight press conference with thefilm crew in attendance.

An essential link to the magazine, this newplayer on the digital scene is sure to become astandard news site for teenagers. Fan 2magazine is the standard in print foradolescents with one and a half million readers.For more than 10 years, Fan 2 magazine hasbeen building true complicity with its femalereaders by always remaining close to theirconcerns. The magazine positions itself as “thefriend of the stars” with collector-editioncontent for fans and lots of the latest news onthe lives of their favourite stars.

Fan 2 is a star magazine presented by KarineFerry broadcast saturdays on M6. The printededition is published by M6 Editions.

11

Fan2.fr, first online magazine for teenagers


Diversifying revenues with the FreeBingo showFive broadens its revenues beyond traditional TV advertising with the launch of a new bingo programme streamed on the web.United Kingdom - 2 November 2009

The hour-long programme, The FreeBingoShow, aims to drive awareness of and traffic toa suite of online gaming services operated byFive. The FreeBingo Show airs each weekdaymorning at 11:00. Viewers can play for cashprizes but as the name implies, registration andthe games themselves are free for adults overthe age of 18. It is presented by CharlieMcArdle and produced by Two Way Media Ltd.It is promoted daily on Five’s main TV channeland the website Five.tv.

Jonathan Lewis, Five’s Head of Digital Media,said: “The business model that underpinscommercial TV is changing and broadcastersmust diversify their revenue streams. Gamingactivities such as Five’s online bingo andcasino services are just one such example ofhow broadcasters can broaden their revenuebase beyond traditional sources.”

The recent changes to the rules onteleshopping have also opened up newopportunities for broadcasters to furtherdiversify revenues. In a separate agreement,last month Five became the first UK nationalterrestrial broadcaster to take advantage ofOfcom rules that allow terrestrial broadcastersto air up to six hours of teleshopping, includingTV gaming, in a 24-hour period. The liberalisedrules allow Five to carry NetPlay TV’sinteractive TV casino product,SuperCasino.com, in its overnight teleshoppingwindow.

12

The free bingo game at Five.tv


Awards in OctoberRTL Television and Super RTL have won threeEyes & Ears Awards 2009 each.Germany - 2 November 2009

This year, three works by RTL Creation wonInternational Eyes & Ears Awards for Innovation& Effectiveness. The sweeping anniversarycampaign 25 Years of RTL won the award for‘Best Campaign Promoting a Broadcaster’. Thepromo campaign for Die Patin (The Godmother)took first place in the category ‘Best On-AirPromotion Campaign for FictionalProgramming’. And finally, the Nokia 6210Navigator promo won for ‘Best SpecialAdvertising Format’. Six other creations fromRTL Television were also nominated.

The children’s and family channel Super RTLended up winning three awards. The craftsmagazine Kibama came in first in the category‘Best Programme-Related Design Package’;Super RTL’s Hollywood Clique label prevailedin ‘Best Programme Label Design’; and theKinder helfen Kindern (Children Help Children)campaign won first prize for ‘Best Social Spot’.

Mediengruppe RTL Germany won the‘Decathlon’ special award bestowed oncompanies that garnered ten or morenominations. Apart from the variousRTL Television and Super RTL creations,N-TV’s news design had also been nominated.

In the lead-up to the 750th episode of the vetdocumentary Menschen, Tiere & Doktoren,(People, Pets & Vets) which airs on 4 December2009 at 17:00, the programme won the GermanVeterinarians Council Media Award 2009 ‘forhigh-quality journalism’. The judges felt that thevet documentary paints “a realistic andcontemporary picture of the veterinaryprofession.”

In addition, the film Niko, ein Rentier hebt ab(The Way To The Stars), which is distributed byUniversum Film, was one of three filmsnominated for the European Film Award 2009 inthe new category ‘European Film AcademyAnimated Film’. The exciting story aboutfriendship, family and the miraculous power ofthe magic of Christmas was filmed withGerman support and was co-produced withUniversum Film. The European Film Award ispresented on 12 December 2009 in Bochum,Germany. Niko, ein Rentier hebt ab opens inGerman movie theatres on 5 November 2009.

13

The programme won the German veterinarians Council Media Award 2009

The movie is nominated for the European Film Award


New documentary series Der StraßenchorOn Sunday 1 November, the new digital channel ZDF Neo aired the first of eightweekly instalments of the UFA Entertainment produced series Der Straßenchor(The Street Choir). Germany - 30 October 2009

A new flat courtesy of Bel RTLThe Belgian station Bel RTL had announced a contest with a flat worth EUR 150,000as the grand prize. Now the winner has now been picked.Belgium - 2 November 2009

Number one radio websiteWith 2,344,000 unique visitors in September 2009 and 550,000 more unique visitorsthan the number two general-audience radio station, RTL.fr is France’s number oneradio website.France - 2 November 2009

Golden October Mediengruppe RTL Deutschland channels attracted 36.0 per cent of the 14- to 49-year-old viewer market in October. RTL Television had an excellent audienceshare of 18.4 per cent – the best monthly audience share since January 2004.Germany - 3 November 2009

14

ENTERTAINMENT

M6 and W9 very pleased with audience figuresIn October 2009, in an increasingly competitive world, M6 posted a total monthlyaudience share of 11.2 per percent, maintaining the high level obtained in October2008. W9 remains the leader among the DTT channels.France - 3 November 2009


15

Best October in nine yearsRTL Nederland had its best October since 2000 this year. The family of channelsattracted an average 31.9 per cent of the 20- to 49-year-old viewer market, whichputs it ahead of the SBS group and the public-service broadcasters (27.5 per centeach). Netherlands - 4 November 2009

Love is the recipeLast Sunday evening on RTL-TVI viewers chose the romantic docu-soap L’amour estdans le pré as their main course. The second episode drew 494.000 viewers for atotal audience share of 26 per cent – the highest audience rating of the evening inthe french-speaking Belgium.Belgium - 3 November 2009

October also a month to celebrate in Belgium The RTL Belgium family registered its best month of October since the arrival of thenew audiometry system in 1997. In the time slot 17:00 to 23:00 the family ofchannels registered a total audience shared of 36.5 per cent – 1.7 percentage pointsmore than in October 2008.Belgium - 4 November 2009

The big hit of the autumn seasonThe second season of Csillag születik (A Star Is Born) has been a tremendoussuccess on RTL Klub since it premiered at the beginning of October, and viewerinterest has remained high ever since. Hungary - 4 November 2009


People

Nicolas Thorin at M6 Web France - 30 October 2009

Groupe M6 announced the arrival of NicolasThorin as director of Internet advertisingservices for M6 Web.

Nicolas Thorin, 38, started his professionalcareer at Ziff Davis Publishing before joiningYahoo! France in 2002 and putting together thepartnerships and special operations unit in2004.

He joined CBS Interactive in 2007 where hewas the editor of the lifestyle and entertainmentgroup until 2009, and then carried out anumber of mandates as a consultant, notablyat Young and Rubicam, for their clientParamount Pictures.

16

People

Wessel van Diepen is back at Radio 538 Netherlands - 5 November 2009

Over 3 years ago, Wessel van Diepen badefarewell to his job as moderator of theprogramme 538 Dance Department. Now, he’sback.

Van Diepen will stand in for Dennis Ruyer, thecurrent moderator of the dance show, on 7November and 14 November,, enabling him togo on holidays. “I am confident that Wessel willonly present the best dance tunes in the weeksahead. MeanwhiIe, I’ll be scaling the Himalayanpeaks and thinking of him.”

Wessel van Diepen co-founded Radio 538 in1992, and moderated programmes such as VanDiepen Draait Dor, Van Diepen’s DanceDepartment (now 538 Dance Department) andthe Nederlandse Top 40. Wessel van Diepenleft Radio 538 in October 2006. 538 DanceDepartment airs Saturdays between 20:00 and4:00. In addition, a new podcast is posted fordownload every Wednesday at Radio538.nl.

Wessel van Diepen

http://backstage.rtlgroup.frhttp://backstage.rtlgroup.comhttp://backstage.rtlgroup.de

PublisherRTL Group

45, Bd Pierre Frieden

L-1543 Luxembourg

Editor, Design, Production

RTL Group

Corporate Communications and Marketing

Documents

week 45 - RTL Group · provides outcomes that work with the flow of technological change.” Viviane Reding, EU Commissioner for Information Society & Media, said: “The biggest