North America

American Idol:two–night premiere

FranceFor radio to retain its freedom

The Netherlands

Bert Habets named “Broadcaster of the year 2013”

Spain

“Happy ending” for El tiempo entre costuras

GOING BANANAS How Ich bin ein Star – Holt mich hier raus fascinates viewers, advertisers and critics alike

week 4 / 23 January 2014

North America

American Idol:two–night premiere

FranceFor radio to retains its freedom

The Netherlands

Bert Habets named “Broadcaster of the year 2013”

Spain

“Happy ending” for El Tiempo Entre Costuras

GOING BANANAS How Ich bin ein Star – Holt mich hier raus fascinates viewers, advertisers and critics alike

week 4 / 23 January 2014

CoverSonja Zietlow and Daniel Hartwich,

presenters of Ich bin ein Star – Holt mich hier raus!

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

Bert Habets named “Broadcaster

of the year 2013” RTL Nederland

p. 8

For radio to retain its freedom

Fun Radio / RTL 2

p. 11

“Happy ending” for El tiempo

entre costurasAtresmedia

p. 12–13

American Idol:a two-night premiereFremantleMedia North

Americap. 9–10

SHORTNEWS

p. 15

The fascinationof the jungleRTL Televisionp.4–7

Big Picturep.14

PEOPLE

p. 16–17

4

The presenters of Ich bin ein Star – Holt mich hier raus!, Sonja Zietlow (left) and Daniel Hartwich

“GIVE US THIS DAY

OUR GUILTY PLEASURE”

Germany – 23 January 2014

RTL Television

Gone are the days when people feared

“the demise of Western civilization” was imminent

when Ich bin ein Star – Holt mich hier raus! ran on TV.

Nowadays, not only do viewers love it, it’s popular

with advertisers and the press as well.

5

When Ich bin ein Star – Holt mich hier raus! (I’m a Celebrity – Get Me Out of Here!) fi rst went on air in 2004, a cry of indignation rang out throughout the German press. At the time, Spiegel asked Gerhard Zeiler, then Head of RTL Television and CEO the RTL Group: “Is Western civilization doomed?” But the format – which was popular with viewers from the beginning, with as many as 10 million viewers tuning in at the time – has since arrived in the Arts pages. Shortly before the start of the new season, Bild.de noted: “The ‘jungle camp’ has taken over the arts pages and is the darling of academics.” In 2013, Ich bin ein Star – Holt mich hier raus! was actually nominated for the renowned Grimme Award.

What is it about the show that fascinates viewers, advertisers and critics alike? The online edition of Bild explored the question and concluded, among other things: “The ‘jungle camp’ possesses the coherence of a Greek drama: the time, place and number of people are set, the rules are clear. A real blessing in our interactive, unmanageable and accelerated world in which space and time seem to be disintegrating.” The 19 January edition of Welt am Sonntag complained: “People like to demonise the ‘jungle camp’. Wrongfully so.” And went on to explain: “So what viewers do when they watch the show is a continual checking of conduct and norms. It is an exercise to sharpen one’s moral powers of judgment.”

The big day fi nally arrived on 17 January 2014. The hit show returned for its eighth season with new stars, new trials, lots of surprises, plenty of jungle fun. Eleven new, cheerful public personas set out on the biggest adventure of their lives: TV presenter Mola Adebisi, singer Marco Angelini, singer Gabby de Almeida Rinne, TV presenter Jochen Bendel, actress Corinna Drews, actor Winfried Glatzeder, model Larissa Marolt, Bachelor candidate Melanie Müller, comedienne Tanja Schumann, fashion designer Julian Stoeckel, and German pop singer Michael Wendler, who has already left the jungle, but quickly regretted his decision.

In season eight, the candidates again spend sixteen days in Australia coping with memorable bushtucker trials and the affectionately cynical comments of the presenting duo Sonja Zietlow and Daniel Hartwich – who became – presenterin 2013, succeeding Dirk Bach who died in late 2012. The team harmonises well. Hartwich recalls: “I didn’t properly realise until after the fi rst show that this could have really backfi red for me. If I had screwed up in the fi rst episode, and had everyone against me, it would have been two excruciatingly long weeks in Australia. So I’m very grateful that it went so well.” Sonja Zietlow adds: “At the time, a lot of people wanted to see you choke. Dirk wasn’t there anymore, and many felt that they didn’t want to see Daniel on the show… But you managed to win over the grumblers and it turned out they didn’t think you were so bad after all.”

In addition to the challenges of the Outback, the celebrities will again have to submit to the whims of the audience. Each day, viewers phone in to vote for who should complete the daily jungle trials during the fi rst week. Each day of the second week, the celebrity who receives the fewest calls leaves the camp. After a week, some of the candidates already suffer from cabin fever. The viewers have voted for Larissa Marolt to do the bushtucker trial every day so far, and her results have caused some commotion in the camp.

Next >

The actor Winfried Glatzeder in a bushtucker trial

Singer Gabby de Almeida Rinne during the ‘treasure hunt’

6

Do the presenters pity the more or less famous candidates? “No: 99 per cent of the candidates leave the camp in better shape than when they moved in: thinner, more beautiful, and more popular,” says Zietlow. For the team, two weeks of live programming from Australia represent a special challenge. Despite the nine-hour time difference,the production stays in the German time rhythm. The show has to be prepared overnight – this is when clips are produced and presenter texts are written. When the show airs in Germany, at 22:15, it’s early morning in Australia: 7:15. Zietlow says: “I get up at night, when it’s dark. And you have to sleep during the day. It’s not easy, but I know that it’s only temporary and I always look forward to the show.”

Viewers clearly appreciate their efforts. Ich bin ein Star – Holt mich hier raus! regularly scores top ratings. The season opener on 17 January was watched by 7.66 million viewers, with viewership peaking at more than 8 million on 22 January.

Viewers aren’t the only ones who love the show. More and more advertisers are interested in Ich bin ein Star – Holt mich hier raus! In Werben & Verkaufen, a trade magazine for the media industry, Julian Weiss, Head of Marketing at IP Germany, declares: “The interest from advertisers across all industries is huge. Never before has the jungle been as highly sought after as this year.” Germany will not only talk about the Outback, he said, “but also about our clients’ products.”

And the press? On the day after the season opener, the critics were quick to voice their thoughts: On Spiegel.de, author Anja Rützel dissected the pros and cons of the Outback show and compares the behaviour of Larissa Marholt with the legendary “Non.”-“Si.”-“Ooooh” dialogue immortalised by French comedian Louis de Funès. “Yet another example for the intertextual links to other great works of pop culture that the ‘jungle camp’ keeps coming up with.” The media newswire DWDL.de wrote: “The premier episode indicated that there’s a lot of potential in it this time around. For the authors of the show – and ultimately for us viewers. In this spirit: Give us this day our guilty pleasure – and please do lead us into temptation.”

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The Bachelor candidate Melanie Müller in a bushtucker trial

All video clips of the highlights from the ‘Jungle Camp’ may be accessed exclusively at RTL.de and Clipfish.de. The full-length episodes can be watched at RTLNow.defollowing the broadcast. In addition, comprehensive information, pictures, and exclusive background stories on the show and the candidates are available at RTL.de.

The first six episodes of Ich bin ein Star – Holt mich hier raus! generated a total of 8.5 million video views so far up 21 per cent year-on-year.

7

Model Larissa Marolt...

...and fashion designer Julian Stoeckel

A ratings juggernaut

The fifth season in January 2011 was a record-breaker. With a total of 8.93 million viewers (market share: 34.3 per cent), Ich bin ein Star – Holt mich hier raus! set the current ratings record. At its peak, the season attracted as many as 9.9 million viewers, when Peer Kusmagk was crowned the Jungle King of 2011.

In 2013, season seven attracted an average 37.0 per cent of the 14- to 59 -year-old viewer market. On average, 7.48 million viewers over the age of three watched the highly successful jungle show, for a 29.2 per cent share of total audience.

During the first five days of broadcast, Ich bin ein Star – Holt mich hier raus! has caused a buzz on social networks. According to the Social TV Buzz analysis by Mediacom Deutschland, more than 156,000 tweets have been posted containing the hashtag #ibes, making it one of the most tweeted about TV shows in the German TV landscape. The study states that no other TV show on German Television has generated so many Tweets in such a short period of time before.

17 January 2014

35.5%

18 January 2014

37.3%

19 January 2014

35.5%

20 January 2014

42.6%

21 January 2014

42.5%

22 January 2014

45.0%

Audience share among viewers aged 14 to 59

Season Eight in ratings

8

The Dutch Broadcast Magazine honours Bert Habets, CEO of RTL Nederland, not only for the ongoing and evolving success of RTL Nederland as a broadcasting company, but above all for its strategic moves over the past year – especially with respect to video on demand.The Netherlands – 20 January 2014

On 16 January 2014, the title “Broadcaster of the year” was awarded for the 23rd time under the watchful eyes of several hundred media professionals attending the ceremony at Studio 21 in the media park in Hilversum. “This is a huge honor. If you see the whole list of people of repute in the industry then I obviously feel very privileged to be part of this illustrious group,” Bert Habets said. Among the previous broadcasters of the year are personalities such as legendary format creator John de Mol, Erland Galjaard, Programme Director at RTL Nederland, Matthijs van Nieuwkerk, celebrated presenter of the blockbuster Show De Wereld Draait Door and Paul de Leeuw, media jack-of-all-trades.

In its press release, the magazine explained the decision with the establishment of NLziet, a joint online video platform of RTL Nederland, SBS and the Dutch public broadcaster that was initiated by Bert Habets. The magazine also states: “2013 was another excellent year for RTL Nederland. RTL 4 again broke numerous records, without losing the view for necessary innovation. Thus, the company launched RTL Late Night successfully in a more-than-competitive talk show market.”

Guillaume de Posch, Co-CEO of RTL Group: “Meer dan verdiend! On behalf of the whole RTL Group family, I’d like to congratulate Bert Habets for this distinguished award! No one deserves this title more than him in the Dutch market. Bert has turned RTL Nederland from a TV broadcaster into an all-media power house with a very strong foothold in the VOD non linear TV segment. Today, RTL Nederland is a strong pillar in our international footprint and – thanks to Bert’s clear vision and strong leadership – a trailblazer for the digital media world.”

The current issue of Broadcast Magazine features an extensive interview with Bert Habets and features the manager on its cover. The magazine is available on newsstands as of 20 January. You can read the full interview on the magazine’s website.

BERT HABETS NAMED “BROADCASTER OF THE YEAR 2013”

RTL Nederland

RTL Group congratulates Bert Habets

Bert Habets, CEO of RTL Nederland

9

American Idol returned to US screens for its thirteenth season. With a new look, a refreshed jury and a surprise contestant round called “Hollywood or Home,” the show made a promising return.North America – 17 January 2014

The FremantleMedia North America-produced reality singing competition pulled out all the stops with impressive auditions in Boston and Austin. The fi rst episode of the programme’s thirteenth season on 15 January attracted 15.2 million viewers, representing an audience share of 13 per cent in the target group of 18- to 49-year-olds (the season twelve fi nale attracted 14 million viewers). The show’s premiere gave Fox it’s highest-rated night withentertainment programming this season – both in the target group and among total viewers.

Searching for the new Idol across the US Host Ryan Seacrest and the new judging panel, made up of Jennifer Lopez, Keith Urban and Harry Connik, Jr., along with house mentor and Idol veteran Randy Jackson, will travel across the US. They’re searching for those who have the potential to transform from an everyday singer into a successful recording artist and join the ranks of famous Idol alumni, such as Kelly Clarkson, Fantasia, Carrie Underwood, Jordin Sparks, Scotty McCreery and Phillip Phillips. Ford Motor Company and Coca-Cola returned assponsors of the series.

Visual changes and new “Hollywood or Home” roundSeason thirteen of American Idol brings a few visual production changes. For example, utilising a split screen Instagram-typetechnique for when contestants tell their story.

AMERICAN IDOL: A TWO-NIGHT PREMIERE FremantleMedia North America

Host Ryan Seacrest and judges Keith Urban, Jennifer Lopez and Harry Connick Jr. (from left to right) took their seats at the auditions in Austin, Texas

10

The renowned Hollywood Reporter comments on the return of the entertainment juggernaut saying that “from the fi rst frame of the season-13 premiere, it already feels like a very different show,” and that the “impressive auditions” and refreshed jury resulted in a “different vibe.”

In addition to the new judges, fans can also look forward to a brand new surprise round called “Hollywood or Home”, in which contestants who think they’re Hollywood-bound, learn that they must compete to demonstrate how committed they are to making it through the next round. In this intense round, the judges will decide if these hopefuls really are committed and talented enough to become America’s next singing superstar. Those who don’t make the cut must head straight home. There is also a new rule of auditioning with instruments.

A former Idol mentor of season nine and season twelve, judge Harry Connick Jr. comments on what to expect from the new season: “It’s a new show now. It has different producers, different directors, a different panel and different contestants. It has a new look. It has a new feel, and it’s a new day for this great show.”

Jesse Roach, a successful auditionee in Austin

11

Fun Radio and RTL 2 in France joined seven other private music radio stations and issued a joint press release to encourage thecomplete review of quotas for French-language music imposed by law since 1994. France – 22 January 2014

“Radio stations want to fi nally be free to programme the music they choose,” declared Fun Radio, RTL 2, RFM, Chérie FM, Rire & Chansons, NRJ, Nostalgie, Virgin Radio and Ouï FM. The stationsare facing a new environment of massive and unregulatedcompetition offering free and unlimited digital services free of any quotas, a drop in French-language production and the emergence of a new, non-francophone ‘made in France’ scenethat is tremendously popular with the public. All the stations are asking the Conseil Supérieur de l’Audiovisuel (CSA) and the French government “not to give in to the attempts by SNEP to place their programming under trusteeship, with yet more restrictions on the music that is played on radio.”

This initiative actually follows the publication of a report, L’exposition des musiques actuelles par les radios musicales privées (Exposure of current music on private music radio stations) by the CSA and the plan of action envisioned by the regulator to soften rules regarding diversity and French-language music production on the radio. This reassessment has been widely criticised by the SNEP, which has underlined the lack of musical diversity on the radio.

The music radio stations are calling on professionals and the publicto mobilise around this campaign via Facebook and Twitter. It will be broadcast starting this week on Fun Radio, RTL 2, RFM, Chérie FM,Rire & Chansons, NRJ, Nostalgie, Virgin Radio and Ouï FM, which together account for 85 per cent of music radio listening.

FOR RADIO TO RETAIN ITS FREEDOMFun Radio / RTL2

12

Antena 3 broadcast the season fi nale of El tiempo entre costuras, its popular drama series based on the international best seller of the same name. The fi nal episode was watched by over 5,530,000 viewers, scoring 25.2 per cent of the commercial target group. Spain – 22 January 2014

El tiempo entre costuras (The time in between) is a scripteddrama series produced by Boomerang TV and Antena 3. Premieringon 21 October 2013, it attracted over 5 million viewers and 26.1 per cent of the commercial target group (viewers aged 16 to 54) – the biggest debut for an Antena 3 fi ctional series in 12 years. Based on the 2009 novel by Spanish author María Dueñas, El tiempo entre costuras chronicles the life of Sira Quiroga, a young dressmaker who leaves Madrid before the start of the Spanish Civil War. A twist of fate forces her to establish a coutureshop in Tetouan, capital of the Spanish Protectorate in Morocco.The series follows her from her humble beginnings in Madrid through her various love affairs, to her practice as a successful seamstress in Morocco, to her involvement as a spy during the Second World War.

From a production point of view, El tiempo entre costuras pulled out all the stops in recreating the historical atmosphere of the novel. Some fi gures to illustrate the series’ magnitude: 135 actors and over 2,500 extras participated in the seven-month long fi lming process, which took the production over 100 locations in Spain, Morocco and Portugal. The costumes also took centre stage, with over 400

“HAPPY ENDING” FOR EL TIEMPO ENTRE COSTURAS Atresmedia

El tiempo entre costuras © Pipo Fernández

Poster of El tiempo entre costuras

Next >

13

custom-made suits and dresses specially created for the series,as well as around 1,500 other garments that where rented from various fashion houses in Madrid, London and Rome. 254 sets were constructed around authentic spaces from the 30s and 40s, achieving a realistic visual representation of the era.

A red-carpet grand fi naleThe 11th and fi nal episode of El tiempo entre costuras was also screened inside the Callao City Lights complex in Madrid. 200 fans of the series were able to attend the event thanks to an online ticket giveaway contest. All the protagonists from the series were present, alongside invited Spanish journalists and celebrities.

RTL Group owns a 20.5 per cent stake in Atresmedia.

Seven days of special programming

In the lead-up to the finale, Antena 3 joined forces with therest of Atresmedia’s TV channels (La Sexta, Nova, Nitro and La Sexta 3) in dedicating a whole week to the hit series El tiempo entre costuras.

The many special programmes included:Live coverage of the red-carpet finale on the prime-time edition of Antena 3 NoticiasEl Hormiguero 3.0, one of Spain’s most popular talk shows, invited the main actors to participate in the different segments of the programmeOn the day of the finale, Atresmedia TV channel Nova broadcast a marathon of the previous 10 episodes of the seriesAntena 3’s game show programmes Atrapa un millón and Ahora caigo both had their hosts and contestants dress up as characters inspired by El tiempo entre costuras, as well as basing their different programme sections on trivia related to the series

El tiempo entre costuras © Pipo Fernández

Shooting of El tiempo entre costuras © Pipo Fernández

Coproduced and distributed by Société Nouvelle de Distribution (SND), the fi lm distribution and audiovisual rights subsidiary of

Groupe M6, Yves Saint Laurent, the fi rst biopic about the famous French fashion designer, has already drawn more than 500,000

spectators in its fi rst week playing in cinemas.

SND brings Yves Saint Laurent to life

15

RTL Nachtjournal: 20 years – 5,125 programmes RTL Television

The news at midnight, which had long been a norm in the US, premiered in Germany on 3 January 1994, and the 20th anniversary of RTL Nachtjournal was celebrated. Germany – 17 January 2014

RTL.lu: a new version of the website RTL Lëtzebuerg

After redesigning the Radio and TV sections last October, RTL New Media – RTL Lëtzebuerg’s digital entity – has just put a new and improved version of Luxembourg’s number one news website online. Luxembourg – 21 January 2014

Which belle will get the rose?RTL Television

He’s handsome, humorous, charming, single – and highly sought after: Der Bachelor. From 22 January 2014, RTL Television airs a new season of the show – with a new bachelor and new contestants to woo him. Germany – 22 January 2014

Viewership on the rise with Való VilágRTL II

On 12 January 2014, the Hungarian channel RTL II launched season six of the reality show Való Világ in prime time. The premiere attracted 15.6 per cent of viewers aged 18 to 49, making it the most-watched TV programme in its time slot. Hungary – 23 January 2014

SHORT NEWS 1/1

16

Willem Zijlstra Georgette Schlick

PEOPLE

GEORGETTE SCHLICK

WILLEMZIJLSTRA

Blue Circle / Four One MediaThe Netherlands – 20 January 2014

Georgette Schlick adds: “FremantleMedia has a formidable reputation for the range and quality of its entertainment output. I’m delighted to be joining the business at this very exciting time, and look forward to making a contribution to its future growth.”

Zijlstra was Head of Drama at Endemol until 2006, when he started the production company Four One Media, responsible for successful Dutch TV programmes such as S1ngle, The Intern and Levenslied. In 2009, Zijlstra arrived at Blue Circle, producing some of Netherlands top entertainment shows, such as The X Factor, Holland’s Got Talent, RTL Boulevard, RTL Late Night, Boer Zoekt Vrouw (The Farmer Wants a Wife) and Heel Holland Bakt (The Great Bake Off).

Schlick has plenty of experience in the business and media sectors. She was CEO of SBS Broadcasting, as well as Holland’s largest television magazine, Veronica Magazine.

Looking to increase its drama and entertainment output in the Netherlands, FremantleMedia has appointed Willem Zijlstra as CEO of Four One Media, while Georgette Schlick will take his place as new CEO of Blue Circle. Schlick will work closely with Blue Circle Creative Director Raul Ter Linden.

Cécile Frot-Coutaz, CEO FremantleMedia, comments on the appointments: “In the last few years, our drama and entertainment productions have enjoyed success in this highly competitive market. However, we’ve now reached the stage where we need to split the responsibilities for both genres if we are to grow further. By taking more of a label approach to our drama and entertainment output in this market, Willem and Georgette can capitalise on the opportunities available to us and really focus on our commitment to expand our scripted business while continuing to build on our own world class entertainment operation.”

Willem Zijlstra elaborates: “Given my long track record in drama, and FremantleMedia’s ambition to expand its focus in this area, it makes absolute sense for me to take on this more targeted role. I’m thrilled to be able to focus my attention on developing a series of new and original shows for Dutch audiences, which have the potential to travel around the world.”

17

PEOPLE

IN MOURNING FOR MANFRED BLESKIN

N-TVGermany – 23 January 2014

On 21 January 2014, longstanding N-TV presenter andjournalist Manfred Bleskin died at the age of 64. He had worked for the news channel for more than 20 years.

Manfred Bleskin had worked for the news channel N-TV since 1993. Among other things, he hosted the news and the talk show Schlagzeile des Tages (Headline of the Day). As a reporter, he covered territories from the North Sea and Sahara to the Persian Gulf and Pacifi c Ocean. In October 2008, Bleskin moved from Cologne to the main studio in Berlin where he presented his daily column Zwischenruf (Interjection) on topical political issues for N-TV.de, as well as his review of the week, Bleskins Woche.

Hans Demmel, Managing Director of N-TV: “Manfred Bleskin was a journalist through and through, whose incisive commentary and passion were formative for the channel. On a personal level I was always impressed by his depth of expertise, his collegiality, and also by his distinctive charm. We are all deeply saddened by this sudden loss and will remember Manfred with great affection. Our sympathy goes out to his family at this diffi cult time.”

Manfred Bleskin

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