week 36 / 3 September 2015

FROM SPOTXCHANGE TO SPOTX Why the pioneers in programmatic decided to rebrand

United Kingdom/Germany Nico Hofmann appointed Co-CEO of UFA

The Netherlands New season line-up for RTL Nederland

United Kingdom FremantleMedia and Sky Italia extend their partnership for three more years

week 36 / 3 September 2015

FROM SPOTXCHANGE TO SPOTX Why the pioneers in programmatic decided to rebrand

United Kingdom/Germany Nico Hoffmann appointed Co-CEO of UFA

The Netherlands New season line-up for RTL Nederland

United Kingdom FremantleMedia and Sky Italia extend their partnership for three more years

Cover Montage

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

SpotXchange becomes SpotX SpotX p.4–8

Big Picturep.15

New joint leadership team for UFA

FremantleMedia / UFAp.9

SHORTNEWS

p.16

RTL Nederland: Entering the

‘Media-Free’ era RTL Nederland

p.10-11

Gods on screen FremantleMedia

North America p.13

Cementing a long standing relationship FremantleMediap.12

Capital stories FremantleMedia International

p.14

4

“WE ARE TRULY MUCH MORE THAN AN

EXCHANGE”

North America – 3 September 2015

SpotX

On 2 September 2015, SpotXchange

announced its rebranding to SpotX

to build on its heritage as a pioneer of the

programmatic video market.

In the video Mike Shehan explains the rebranding. Click to watch it

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Reflecting the changes in the market and its platform SpotXchange has shortened its name to highlight its evolution from an ad exchange to an integral inventory management platform, developed specifically for premium publishers.

Today, the platform incorporates an ad server, a supply side platform and programmatic infrastructure including both open and private marketplace capabilities to help publishers manage all aspects of their video inventory – in a transparent, brand-safe way.

Publishers are looking for an integrated, one-stop shop for their programmatic sales platform, according to Mike Shehan, Founder and CEO of SpotX. “Their inventory is cross-channel,” Shehan explains, and “it sits across different devices, sales tactics and formats.”

This means that publishers are looking for a one-stop solution to manage their portfolio. SpotX has seen a massive increase in premium inventory sold through automated trading this year, primarily through increased use of private marketplaces, which now comprise over 40 per cent of the impressions managed on its platform. Compared to the first half of 2014, private marketplace usage grew by 112 per cent in the first six months of 2015.

SpotX continued its rapid growth trajectory in 2015, with three new offices opened, 28 per cent global headcount growth in the first 6 months of the year and a 90 per cent increase in revenue year-on-year.

The company represents the needs of premium publishers like TV Insider and LifeZette.

TODAY, SPOTX IS MUCH MORE THAN AN AD EXCHANGE.

Backstage asked Mike Shehan, Founder and CEO of SpotX, about the rebranding and about the future of Programmatic Advertising. He gave also insights in the rebranding process.

Why did you decide to change the name SpotXchange to SpotX?This name change reflects advancements in the rapidly growing digital video market and how our company and platform has evolved with the market. We decided to shorten our name to highlight our company’s evolution from an ad exchange to a holistic inventory management platform, developed specifically for premium publishers and broadcasters around the world.

Mike Shehan, Founder and CEO of SpotX

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Premium publishers and mobile app developers trust SpotX as the independent solution that helps them better understand the buying behavior of today’s leading brands and maximise inventory yield across private marketplace, programmatic direct and open marketplace deals. SpotX’s ad serving, leading programmatic technology, and open and extensible architecture help simplify the complex digital video ecosystem for global publishers. We are truly much more than an exchange and our new name helps capture that broader positioning.

How have your business partners responded to the name change?The response has been very positive. We are fortunate to have strong relationships with our publishers and partners, and they have supported the enhancements to our inventory management platform and ad serving capabilities along the way. Our partners and clients feel this name change ties well to our core competencies.

And, our partners have referred to us as SpotX for years, so this is really no big change from how we refer to ourselves already.

SpotX has continued expanding in recent months, e.g. to Benelux and Germany. Are there major regional differences when it comes to Programmatic Advertising? If so, what are they?We have learned that there can be significant differences with regard to the adoption and usage of programmatic advertising methodologies in different countries and regions around the world. Laws and regulations vary and approaches to buying and selling digital video can be different in each country. The people who know their laws and regulations best are those who live in those regions and who understand the mindset of the various players in the digital video ecosystem. We will continue to open new offices when we feel we can best accommodate and serve the publishers and partners in each region through local experts who understand the unique needs, nuances and the different opportunities in each market. This allows SpotX to tailor our services and make it easier to customise our support to meet each client’s needs and goals.

The team in Denver also celebrates the rebranding

The APAC team is ready

Next >

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How do you see Programmatic Advertising developing going forward? What are your plans for the immediate future?During the past few years, the market has had the tendency to look at programmatic and direct sales channels as competitors. But especially over the last year, there has been a call from publishers for an integrated platform that allows them to manage both their programmatic direct sales and traditional direct sales channels holistically to ensure full yield optimisation across screens and video inventory types. We expect this trend to continue as more publishers leverage programmatic advertising, but not as a competitor to their direct sales efforts, but rather, as a part of a comprehensive inventory monetisation strategy. One that incorporates a combination of programmatic direct, private marketplaces and open marketplace strategies to ensure the highest yield for each publisher or broadcaster.

We’re also excited to be a part of the RTL Digital Hub and lend our video monetisation expertise wherever we can. We are proud to be a part of RTL Group’s growth and we look forward to helping keep RTL Group at the forefront of the convergence of TV and digital video.

The timeline shows how SpotX has developed since start

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ABOUT SPOTX

SpotX is a video inventory management platform for premium publishers and broadcasters, helping them manage all of their demand sources from one place, and monetise content across all screens. The SpotX platform offers publishers unprecedented transparency and insight, creating a safe, controlled environment that allows them to connect with advertisers, and achieve the highest revenue possible.

Premium publishers and mobile app developers trust SpotX as the independent solution that helps them better understand the buying behavior of today’s leading brands and maximise inventory yield across private marketplace, programmatic direct and open marketplace deals. SpotX’s ad serving, leading programmatic technology, and open and extensible architecture help simplify the complex digital video ecosystem for global publishers.

Headquartered in Denver, Colorado, SpotX also has offices in New York, San Francisco, London, Sydney, Amsterdam, Hamburg, Belfast and Singapore. In July 2014, RTL Group acquired a 65 per cent stake in SpotX, which was founded by CEO Mike Shehan and CFO and COO, Steven Swoboda, in 2007.

For updates, please follow SpotX @SpotXchange or visit www.spotxchange.com.

HOW DOES IT WORK?

SpotX offers higher efficiencies through automation and auction-based sales…

...and delivers a range of innovative programmatic capabilities to publishers

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On 1 September 2015, FremantleMedia announced the appointment of Nico Hofmann to Co-CEO, UFA Group, the German production arm of FremantleMedia, alongside Wolf Bauer with immediate effect. United Kingdom / Germany – 1 September 2015

Reporting into Cécile Frot-Coutaz, CEO FremantleMedia, he will have a place alongside Wolf Bauer on the FremantleMedia Operating Board. The move is part of a two year transition which will see Hofmann take over as sole CEO in September 2017 allowing Bauer to step back to focus on producing.

The two will share overall management responsibilities with dedicated responsibilities for certain operations and units. They will have joint responsibility for the holding company and will both play a key role within the FremantleMedia global network working closely with the global production, licensing and sales operations.

Cécile Frot-Coutaz, CEO FremantleMedia, comments: “After 25 years of leading UFA to its outstanding market position, Wolf proposed to me a succession plan which made sense for both Wolf and the business and I happily accepted. Nico is one of Europe’s most successful and respected drama producers with fantastic leadership skills and strong relationships in the German market. He is perfectly placed to take up this position, working with Wolf, to lead UFA into a new era. I’d like to thank Wolf for his continued commitment to the company and I’m really pleased that he will continue his long association with UFA when he embarks on the next phase of his career.”

Wolf Bauer says: “The time is right for me to begin the process of co-heading UFA and to prepare for handing over reins at UFA. Nico is an exceptionally talented producer and under his leadership Teamworx/UFA Fiction has become the European market leader in drama event TV. I can’t think of anyone better to hand over the baton to and I’m really excited to be working with him during this transition period.”

Nico Hofmann adds: “I’m thrilled to be given this opportunity to co-lead UFA with one of the most experienced and highly regarded executives in the business. I feel honoured to join Wolf as Co-CEO having enjoyed a long standing working relationship with him. I’m really excited about what we will achieve together in the future.”

NEW JOINT LEADERSHIP TEAM FOR UFA FremantleMedia / UFA

Cécile Frot-Coutaz

Wolf Bauer

Nico Hofmann

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RTL NEDERLAND: ENTERING THE ‘MEDIA-FREE’ ERA

RTL Nederland

On 25 August 2015, RTL Nederland held its new season conference at Hilversum’s Studio 21. Guests in attendance were presented the family of channels’ new season line-up, which includes nothing less than 30 new programmes. The Netherlands – 28 August 2015

Today more than ever RTL Nederland is more than aware of modern TV’s constant evolution. The ways of consuming content are changing and multiplying rapidly, and no longer limited to the TV screen but to a series of devices. “This is what some call the “cross-linear”, “non-linear” period or also the “media-free” period,” comments Matthias Scholten, the company’s Content Director. For the 2014/2015 season, RTL Nederland has fully embraced this and has pledged to satisfy consumers’ demanding media needs.

RTL 4The novelties for RTL 4 this new season are: Dance Dance Dance, Professor Nicolai & Dr Beckand, Carlo’s TV Cafe, Zwarte Tulp, You’re Back in The Room, Real Men, Collectief Geheugen, Extreem Jaloers, The Voice of Holland, Playback Je Gek, Beste Kijkers, Diagnose Gezocht and Nooit Meer Naar Huis.

Dance Dance Dance, is the channel’s new Saturday evening entertainment format, presented by Chantal Janzen and Jandino Asporaat. Combining augmented reality and video mapping, the participants attempt to recreate the choreographies of cult films. Jaw-dropping performances are in store. Also very promising is the new season of The Voice of Holland, which includes a new jury: Trijntje Oosterhuis and Ilse DeLange are being replaced by singer-songwriter and record producer Anouk and singer-songwriter Miss Montreal. Singing, or some sort of it, is also the center of Playback Je Gek (Playback you fool), a hilarious lip sync competition.

The fun factor is also what characterises new quiz show Professor Nicolai & Dr Beckand, where couples try its luck in winning a holiday by answering a series of questions. To confirm the answers are correct, both presenters do the craziest experiments, such as dynamiting cars or letting pianos fall from cranes, all for the sake of… science. A dream holiday is also what Gordon surprises participants with who for different reasons have struggeled in their lives in Nooit Meer Naar Huis (Not returning home anymore). You’re Back in The Room is a hypnosis show and in Real Men, the presenter tries to introduce the archetypical football fan and TV-only-with-a beer-bloke to healthy eating.

Dance Dance Dance on RTL 4

Wendy van Dijk and one of the doctors intervening in Diagnose Gezocht

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As no subject is taboo for RTL 4, this season two new help formats will explore the subject of jealousy in a love (Extreem Jaloers) and how families cope with their child’s undiagnosed disease (Diagnose Gezocht – Seeking diagnosis). As far as dramas are concerned, after a successful first season of Zwarte Tulp on Videoland, the hit series will make its debut on RTL 4. While Goede Tijden, Slechte Tijden as well as talk shows RTL Night, RTL Boulevard and Koffietijd are returning for a new season.

RTL 5The channel known for its boldness and adventurous spirit, offers next to its hit formats such as Expeditie Robinson, Holland’s Next Top Model, Roy Ronders, Bluf and Sex Academy as series of new Dutch productions. These are Jandino Talkshow, Krijg De Kleren, Wie Is De Sjaak?, Van Je Vrienden Moet Je Het Hebben, Congolese Bruiloft, Blind Naar De Top, Andy&Melisa: Een Huwelijk In De Steigers.

RTL 5’s access prime welcomes daily show Wie Is De Sjaak? (Who is the Jacob?), where participants are asked by the presenters travelling by bus all over the country, to do the funniest and craziest challenges to earn 250 euros. Broadcast weekly, shopping show Krijg de Klere presented by Gordon, sees 100 shopaholics fight for a 10,000 euro prize. In addition the channel can count on its trademark reality series, to entertain its young viewers group, this will certainly be the case with new season novelties Andy&Melisa: Een Huwelijk In De Steigers (Andy&Melisa: Wedding in the scaffoldings) and Congolese Bruiloft (Congolese wedding).

RTL 7The channel whose slogan is “More For Men” has the following in store for 2014/2015: action, humour, reality and above all sports. New shows are Voetbal Inside which is a revamped version of hit football show Voetbal International, Nog Meer Voor Mannen (Even more for men) and talk show Derksen&. Audience hits, The UEFA Europa League, automobile show RTL Autovisie, as well the Rugby and Darts are of course all back.

RTL 8There isn’t much change in store for the women’s channel. Given their success, Theme weeks are maintained and in addition there will be Crime Weekends, where viewers can watch series such as NCIS, CSI, and more all over their weekend.

RTL ZLaunching on 7 September, new channel RTL Z whose slogan is “Business, not as usual”, will be focusing on Business, Finance, Tech and Lifestyle. Programmes include talk show Van Liempt Live, daily programme Z Talks which will aim to show inspiring TED talks and innovation themed show Toekomst Makers (Future makers), among others. More on RTL Z in the Backstage weekly newsletter to be published on 10 September.

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From left: Krijg De Kleren with lifestyle expert Maik de Boer, Gordon and hair

and make-up artist Mari van de Ven

Journalist Paul van Liempt host of talk show Van Liempt Live

Click for more detailed information on RTL Nederland’s new season and

read the RTL Bulletin 2015/2016

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Sky Italia will remain the home of the X Factor and Italia’s Got Talent after it signed a three year contract extension to its current deal with FremantleMedia. United Kingdom – 1 September 2015

The pay-TV platform will continue to broadcast two of Italy’s most successful formats and flagship shows of Sky’s entertainment offer until 2018. This new deal with FremantleMedia means Sky will broadcast three more X Factor’s editions, in addition to the much anticipated new season which is premiering on 10 September on Sky Uno HD, including two new editions of Italia’s Got Talent, on top of next season which has been already confirmed and is due to start in March 2016.

Andrea Zappia, CEO Sky Italia, comments: “Sky continues to deliver an unrivalled choice of quality unscripted entertainment in Italy, with world-leading formats such as X Factor and Italia’s Got Talent. This new deal with FremantleMedia allows us to guarantee that Sky’s subscribers receive unequalled access to brand new editions with many enhanced features for two of Italy’s favourite shows. We strongly believe these exciting new editions will be well received by fans from both shows but will also broaden the appeal to attract new audiences and fans. At Sky researching what’s new and what’s best is at the very core of everything we do to ensure that we are continually pushing boundaries for our clients, and importantly, the increasingly demanding pay-tv audience who demand and expect the very best.”

Cécile Frot-Coutaz, CEO FremantleMedia, says: “This deal cements our long standing relationship with Sky Italia. We have a thriving creative partnership with Sky and a shared ambition to make our shows bigger and better and to find new ways of engaging audiences. We look forward to bringing viewers world-class entertainment shows for a further three years”.

CEMENTING A LONG STANDING RELATIONSHIP FremantleMedia

The judges of X Factor

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In June 2015, Starz gave FremantleMedia North America (FMNA) the green light to produce a TV adaptation of Neil Gaiman’s fantasy novel American Gods. Gaiman was interviewed by the US magazine Fangoria about the production. North America – 2 September 2015

FremantleMedia North America’s Craig Cegielski and Stefanie Berk will executive produce the series along with Bryan Fuller, Michael Green and Neil Gaiman. Speaking about the choice of Bryan Fuller, Gaiman told Fangoria: “Last year… I flew out to Toronto and had a pretty nice meeting with Bryan in a hotel lobby that was frequently interrupted by fans… We had a really good conversation and he explained to me how he wanted to do American Gods, and why he wanted to do it. So I crept away and talked to the people at FremantleMedia and it became very obvious that he was going to be our person.”

Despite the fact that American Gods was written over a decade ago it now resonates with audiences more than ever. Gaiman explained: “The weirdest thing about American Gods is that when I wrote it, it was very out there; it was much too strange to go on television or any part of the media, but that was 15 years ago. What’s wonderful is we now live in a world in which things like American Gods are beginning to make sense, and we’re sliding deeper and deeper into the world it describes.”

The relationship between the two main characters Shadow and Wednesday plays a central role in the long-awaited TV adaptation. Talking about the TV adaptation, Gaiman said: “One of the reasons television works so well is because you want to spend time with the people. As Media says in American Gods, we’re willing to sacrifice time on the altar, and being with people you like and care about, you’re always going to wonder what happens next and you’ll keep watching.” “Times are definitely changing, and the world is changing, and that’s one part of what American Gods is about: what stays the same, and what changes. It feels like, on television, anything is possible, and in some ways that correlates with how people experiencing it, such as the idea that TV is something you consume in big chunks,” he added.

GODS ON SCREEN FremantleMedia North America

ABOUT THE AMERICAN GODS

The 2001 novel has been translated into over 30 languages and earned numerous accolades including Hugo, Nebula and Bram Stoker awards for Best Novel. The plot posits a war brewing between old and new gods: the traditional gods of biblical and mythological roots from around the world are steadily losing believers to an upstart pantheon of gods reflecting society’s modern love of money, technology, media, celebrity and drugs. Its protagonist, ‘Shadow Moon’, is an ex-con who becomes bodyguard and travelling partner to Mr Wednesday, a conman but in reality one of the older gods, on a cross-country mission to gather his forces in preparation to battle the new deities.

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FremantleMedia International (FMI) has completed a deal with leading drama producers Kudos which will see the distributor take the global distribution rights (excluding UK and Eire) to the new drama series Capital. United Kingdom – 3 September 2015

A witty, vivid and sharply observant drama, Capital is based on the critically-acclaimed bestselling novel by John Lanchester, the series has been adapted by award-winning screenwriter Peter Bowker for BBC One in the United Kingdom. Capital is interlaced with stories that reveal lives filled with love and loss, fear and greed, fortune and envy and most recognisable of all, family and home. Sarah Doole, Director Global Drama, FremantleMedia, says: “We couldn’t be more thrilled to be working with Kudos on Capital. With such compelling and unforgettable characters, we’re delighted to be adding this provoking title to our catalogue.” Executive Producer for Kudos Derek Wax says: “Capital may be set in London, but all of life is here and its themes are universally recognisable. BAFTA winning script writer, Pete Bowker’s adaptation of John Lanchester novel allows a series of truly international stories to unfold on one street, and we look forward to sharing this unique drama with audiences around the world.” Set on a single street in South London, Capital is a compelling portrayal of the interconnected lives of a diverse group of Londoners. But all is not as it seems. Targeted by a mysterious hate campaign, each of the residents of Pepys Road receives an anonymous postcard through their front doors bearing the menacing message: “We Want What You Have”. Who is behind the campaign and what do they want? The diverse dwellers of Pepys Road include investment banker Roger (Toby Jones) who is eagerly anticipating his £1 million bonus, his spendthrift wife Arabella (Rachael Stirling), Polish builder Bogdan (Radoslaw Kaim) who works on the houses in the street, Quentina the Zimbabwean refugee with a PhD who works as a traffic warden (Wunmi Mosaku), local newsagent Ahmed (Adeel Akhtar) and the elderly Petunia (Gemma Jones), who has lived her entire life on Pepys Road, and is now contemplating death in the house in which she was born.

CAPITAL STORIES FremantleMedia International

Set on a single street in South London, Capital is a compelling portrayal of the interconnected lives

of a diverse group of Londoners

Sarah Doole: “With such compelling and unforgettable characters, we’re delighted

to be adding this provoking title to our catalogue”

New season, new slogan…For the 2015/2016 season M6 wants to show viewers how important they are. Over the years by watching M6’s programmes and turning these into hits and cult formats, they have contributed to the channel’s success. M6 wants this special relationship to continue, thus the new tagline reads: “Let’s continue to grow together”

Watch the trailer

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Revamp for RTL Radio’s Le Grand Jury RTL Radio In its latest season, the politics programme Le Grand Jury (The great jury) is moving to a new time slot, accompanied by new partners, to become Le Grand Jury RTL – Le Figaro – LCI. The changes came into effect on 30 August 2015. France – 28 August 2015

Urban jungle guide RTL Deutschland Top 10 Berlin, Berlin’s biggest online restaurant and venue guide, is now also available as a free app in German and English, making it quick and easy for users to find the right location for any occasion.Top 10 Berlin is compiled by RTL Radio Center Berlin. Germany – 28 August 2015

A digital music co-publishing venture Divimove Multi-channel network Divimove and music publisher Sony/ ATV Germany have jointly launched Divimove Music Publishing. The company will focus on collaborations with music artists, rights and licenses; and in providing composition and production support. Germany – 31 August 2015

Always ‘Not Guilty’ Vox The premiere of the US hit TV show How to Get Away with Murder kicked off on 2 September on Vox with a double episode. The series focuses on lawyer and professor Annalise Keating, who does everything she can to get her clients acquitted in court – even if they are guilty. Germany – 2 September 2015

A piece of German entrepreneurship is filmed RTL Television On 31 August, the production of Die Turnschuhgiganten started. The film tells the story of the Dassler brothers, who once disunited their company and founded the brands Adidas and Puma. RTL Television will broadcast the film in 2016. Germany – 3 September 2015

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