tv = “super media” - rtl group...germany rtl interactive launches gamechannel.de netherlands rtl...

France

Groupe M6 publishes its full year results

Germany

RTL Interactive launchesGamechannel.de

Netherlands

RTL Nederland launches Radio 53Z8

Luxembourg

RTL Group prepares forthis year’s Télévie Challenge

17 February 2011

week 07

TV = “Super Media”Research Study: TV will remain dominant global media

the RTL Group intranetweek 07

France

Groupe M6 publishes its full year results

Germany

RTL Interactive launchesGamechannel.de

Netherlands

RTL Nederland launches Radio 53Z8

Luxembourg

RTL Group prepares forthis year’s Télévie Challenge

17 February 2011

week 07

TV = “Super Media”Research Study: TV will remain dominant global media

Cover: Montage showing TV as “super hero”

2


3

Duncan Stewart, Director of Deloitte Research Canada, said at a press conference in France: “The television’s ‘super media’ status strengthens”. Research shows that the vast majority of viewers will remain loyal to linear programming preferring to decide on a channel rather than to look for content. Duncan Stewart is referring to the latest study published by Deloitte which, every year since ten years, is presenting its global predictions for the Technologies, Media & Telecommunications (TMT) sector.

The 2011 Deloitte’s report was presented in Paris on Friday 28 January in a room full of decision-makers, including Groupe M6 Chair-man of the Management Board Nicolas de Tavernost. The French press – from Le Figaro to Correspondance de la presse – reported on the most telling results of the study, with headlines on TV’s “super media” status.

Across all criteria – advertising sales, subscrip-tions, à la carte TV and licence fees – revenues earned by television still lead all media, accord-ing to the study. The forecasts are based on a number of highly positive developments in the sector, specifically the fact that advertising

revenues for the television industry are growing regularly, up from USD 174 billion in 2007 to USD 191 billion globally in 2011.

According to the study, viewer habits are not going to change much, despite the advent of connected televisions that enable viewers to watch the programmes of their choice on the Internet: “Technology has always played a fundamental role in television. Since the first TV broadcast, the technology has shifted from black and white to color, screen size and resolution have grown by a factor of ten, and thousands of new channels have emerged. Yet one thing has remained constant: for most people, television continues to be a passive experience. Viewers value the option to choose, but often do not exercise it. Technological progress is unlikely to shift these ingrained habits any time soon. Technology enables. But it cannot oblige.”

This prognosis is shared by Nicolas de Tavernost, who said he was confident in the dominance of linear content: “According to our empirical estimates, no more than 5 to 10 percent of TV consumption will be catch-up TV,” he said, before noting that this consumption habit mainly affects “live products

TV’s status strengthenedDeloitte Research published a series of impressive figures demonstrating the power of the television industry.Luxembourg - 17 February 2011

Duncan Stewart, Director of Deloitte Research Canada

“Television is – and will likely remain – more than just a piece of

technology or portal to a library of content. For many households,

it is a focal point for family gatherings. For many individuals,

it is the principal topic of water cooler conversations

with friends and colleagues.”

“Younger generations, having grown up searching for content on computers, may bring their

search habits into the living room. But this is not likely to become

mass market behaviorfor many years.”


4

because people have the impression of missing an event but then recovering it”.

To fight piracy, Nicolas de Tavernost cited the example of American groups such as Fox, Paramount and Disney, which “are all com-binations of studio and broadcaster”. That is why, in his opinion, it is important for generalist channels to control all distribu-tion rights: “The fight against direct access to our content will prompt television channels to be increa-singly involved in content creation. There will be no French television industry if there is no integration. We must work upstream on our television programmes and films. This is a trend that we at M6 have anticipated.”

He reiterated M6’s success with Twilight, a series for which the group holds the licence for France via SND, it television rights management and distribution subsidiary. “This is great because it enables us to control the entire chain: each of the Twilight films means one million videos sold in France.” Nicolas de Tavernost also talked in positive terms about interactivity, especially with the advent of the touch tablet, which, he said, “will

become the TV remote control, enabling more ergonomic access and interactive exchanges.”

The Technology, Media & Telecommunications Predictions study cites many other striking figures for the television industry for 2011. Despite competition from other online and offline media, the number of viewers will rise to 3.7 billion, an increase of 40 million. In the United States in 2011, viewing time per

person will be 3 hours and 12 minutes per day, compared to the 33 minutes Americans spend daily

on the Internet. Global TV advertising revenue will rise to USD 191 billion. By way of comparison, social networks – which are set to surpass the one-billion unique members milestone – will account for just one per cent of total advertising spend. Deloitte reiterates that average revenue per user on a social networking site is USD 4, thus valuing the social media advertising market at USD 4 billion in 2011. The study also points out that since TV has not yet penetrated more than half of the world’s population, predictions for its future growth are optimistic.

Nicolas de Tavernost believes that the tablet will become the future TV remote control

“In 2011, mountains of newsprint and terabytes of online chatterwill likely continue to focus on

TV shows, pushing and cajoling people into what to watch.

And the best search algorithm in the world is not going to

change that behavior.At least not in 2011.”

3.7 billion viewersExpected global TV audience in 2011

Nicolas de Tavernost


5

Other trends revealed in Technology, Media & Telecommunications Predictions report

End of the reign of computers: More than half of computer hardwaresold in 2011 will consist of mobile devices, like smartphones, tablets and netbooks.

Boom in apps market: Forecast to rise by 60 per cent, reaching revenues of USD 10 billion according to Deloitte.

Rise in social media sites like Facebook: Social media siteswill enjoy comfortable margins compared to other media because content production costs for social networks are close to zero. Such sites mainly provide an infra structure while users and third-party app publishers provide all the content.

Wer-kennt-wen.de is one of Germany’s leadingsocial network

Users of the M6 app can catch-up with linear TV via M6 Replay


6

In 2010, Groupe M6 proved its strength and its ability to benefit from the advertising rebound – advertising revenues were up 12.5 per cent and thus above 2008 levels – and consolidated its market share at 23.8 per cent. Non-advertising revenues were nearly stable (minus 0.8 per cent), and the Group’s consolidated revenues rose by 6.2 per cent to EUR 1,462.0 million.

Consolidated current operating income (EBITA) came to EUR 242.2 million, a 27.3 per cent increase, and the current operating margin was 16.6 per cent compared to 13.8 per cent in 2009 (+2.8 percentage points).

The net profit for the period reached EUR 157.1 million, a 12.8 per cent rise (+32.7 per cent adjusted for the change in fair value of the Canal+ France asset in 2009).

The recovery in the advertising market starting at the beginning of 2010 gained momentum throughout the year, with M6 channel growing its advertising revenues by 10.7 per cent to above 2008 levels. In a more intensely competi-tive environment, M6 channel posted the best performance of the historical channels for the third year in a row, and proved its ability to take part in major events and propose compelling new programmes. In 2010, the channel’s average audience share across all demo- graphics was 10.4 per cent, and 16.5 per cent in its commercial target audience. Programming costs showed moderate growth of 5.4 per cent to EUR 319.8 million, and M6 FTA segment (M6 channel, advertising agency and produc-tion subsidiaries) improved its current operating margin by 4.7 percentage points to 24.0 per cent.

In 2010, digital channel revenues rose by 14.8 per cent, mainly driven by W9, which achieved a 3.0 per cent average national share across all audiences for the period, and 3.9 per cent of the commercial target audience, and achieved 45 of the top 100 best ratings of DTT channels in 2010. Its performance has made W9 the most invested-in DTT channel (ad spend). The contribution of digital channels to consolidated EBITA increased by 28.6 per cent to EUR 29.2 million, and the current operating margin is 17.3 per cent, up 1.9 percentage points.

Diversification and audiovisual rights were stable in 2010 at minus 0.4 per cent. The segment contribution to consolidated EBITA totalled EUR 52.9 million, up 1.3 per cent.

At 31 December 2010, Group Equity totalled EUR 681.8 million, with a net cash position of EUR 377.5 million.

At the Shareholders General Meeting to be held on 4 May 2011, the Management Board will propose the payment of a dividend per share of EUR 1.00. Dividends will be paid out on 16 May 2011, the ex-date being 11 May 2011.

Groupe M6 announces full-year results for 2010Fuelled by the rise in the group’s advertising revenues, both turnover and EBITA increased. The operating margin, also on the rise, reached 16.6 per cent.France - 16 February 2011


7

“Groupe M6 is actually posting record results, higher than anything since the creation of M6 24 years ago,” said Nicolas de Tavernost in an interview with the financial daily Les Echos on Wednesday 16 February.

“In 2009 we withstood the crisis thanks to our diversification business. In 2010 we made headway thanks to advertising,” said Nicolas de Tavernost, who mentioned that his group’s model is built on two engines, which are advertising and diversification. And if, in 2010, the TV advertising market saw a nice improvement, Groupe M6 “is doing even better than the market.”

For Nicolas de Tavernost, if free general-interest television sees good days ahead, it is because this medium is the only one giving advertisers what they are looking for, that is, direct access to a wide audience. “Only TV advertising enables big brands to penetrate markets rapidly. Adver-tisers know this and we are happy to note that in 2010, in France, TV advertising made swifter overall progress than Internet advertising.” For the Chairman of the Management Board of Groupe M6, the recovery of the TV advertising market in 2010 is therefore not an “economic but a structural trend.”

In order to count, however, one has to be big. For Nicolas de Tavernost, “M6 will remain sustainably above an audience share of 10 per cent and the second most popular French channel among viewers under 50,” emphasising that “free general interest television is not an outmoded model. M6 is still on a dynamic growth trajectory. Moreover, the channel will invest in its programme schedule with the objective of remodelling lunchtime.”

While M6’s little sister, the DTT channel W9, is number one in the target group of housewives under 50 with an audience share of 4.5 per cent, Nicolas de Tavernost mentioned that he hopes to launch a new general-interest DTT channel at the end of November, but still lacks the appropriate legal framework.

“Historical results” Nicolas de Tavernost spoke to the press about Groupe M6’s strong performance in 2010. Germany - 17 February 2011

Nicolas de Tavernost


8

Gamechannel.de, a games platform producedby RTL Interactive, is now in open beta, meaning that all gaming fans can access it. The new portal caters to all kinds of gam-ers, from hard-core to casual, and offers them several high-quality browser games including Pirate Galaxy, Nemexia, Devil Fight 2 and My Free Farm at launch. By completing a one-time free registration process, users can set up a profile and design an individual avatar for the site. Gamers also have the option of using several social gaming and community features. In the weeks ahead, through the end of the beta phase, RTL Interactive will add more games and features to the site. The Gamechannel.de portfolio includes high-quality games from all the relevant genres, such as strategy, action, business and sports simulators.

Michael Heise, Head of Online and Teletext at RTL Interactive, says: “Our purpose with Gamechannel is to enrich the market for browser games with new social gaming fea-tures. Online gaming, especially the free-to-play browser games sector, is an important growth market. The new portal ideally complements RTLspiele.de, which clearly caters to occasional gamers.”

The social gaming and community features allow members to network with other players, see what games they are active in, and track their successes. They can also chat with them and send messages. One very special feature is that gamers can play their way into a global list of Gamechannel high scores across all of the games on the portal. A specially developed global system ranks them based on experience, skill and activity across all games.

The Gamechannel browser games deliver a long-term gaming experience in a ‘persistent world’, meaning that events in the game continue to happen even when gamers aren’t active. The games work entirely in the Web browser without the need for additional downloads or software installations. RTL Interactive developed, produced and designed the portal itself. The games were integrated in cooperation with partners including Bigpoint, Upjers, Innogames and Splitscreen Studios.

Expanding online gaming activities Gamechannel.de, RTL Interactive’s new browser games portal, has entered the open beta phase. What’s special about it? Social Gaming Features.Germany - 17 February 2011

check out

Gamechannel.de

Gamechannel.de


9

“I’ll just come right out and say it: in our 12-hour programme, quantity inevitably leads to quality,” declares Vox’s Managing Director Frank Hoffmann. “Because of course the length alone already gives us the chance to get even deeper into the research.” The innovative new format was developed in partnership with DCTP and Spiegel TV and will make its debut on Vox on 30 April 2011, from 12:00 to 24:00. In the 12-hour documentary Ein Tag schreibt Geschichte – One Day In History – 30 April 1945, Spiegel TV author Michael Kloft delivers many new findings about the events of that day. Previously unpublished excerpts from the questioning of Hitler’s personal secretary Traudl Junge, locked up in the US National Archives in Washington for the past 65 years, will be shown for the first time. “This excerpt is so interesting because Traudl Junge gives a detailed account of the events surrounding Hitler’s suicide for the very first time. Her own memoirs of it weren’t written until a year later,” explains Kloft. Contemporary witness Herman Rothman, now 86, also makes his first statement for German cameras. He found one of the three originals of Hitler’s political and private last will and testament.

Every hour on the hour, a roughly 10-minute parallel reconstruction of major events that took place at that time on 30 April 1945 will be aired. Afterwards, these are put into context by means of elaborately researched documentaries, featuring interviews with contemporary witnesses and experts. The compiled material is used to deliver the necessary background information on the political and overall societal situation at the time. Hoffmann says: “This concept, unique in the world of television, and Spiegel TV author Michael Kloft give us the ideal ingredients to take viewers by the hand and tell them, not a story, but history itself.”

Another 12-hour documentary is planned for the tenth anniversary of the events of 11 September 2001 – another day that went down in history.

A new documentary conceptVox introduces the new programme concept Ein Tag schreibt Geschichte – One Day In History this week: the events of a single day are retold over a period of 12 hours.Germany - 17 February 2011

Herman Rothman’s book on Hitler’s testament

Frank Hoffmann, Michael Kloft and Alexander Kluge explaining the concept at a press conference


10

France’s Secretary of State for Youth Jeannette Bougrab had announcements to make to young people, so she chose Fun Radio, taking part on the programme Karel-Libre antenne, broadcast live on Tuesday 15 February. “By coming on Fun Radio, we break a certain number of taboos and rules, saying that if we want to speak to young people as the Minister of Youth, we go on a young radio station. We feel like we are transgressing, but it should be normal,” she said.

It was with good grace – she allowed herself to be called Jeannette – that the minister answered questions from listeners, even the most ec-centric ones. She was asked who “the sexiest bloke in the government” is, but the conversation also turned more serious, dealing with political as well as economic issues, with unemployment being a big topic of concern for young people. Jeannette Bougrab made a statement on the air that was repeated in an AFP dispatch: “If I am here this evening, it is because I want to announce something, the day to celebrate youth, which will be a way of dispelling the clichés about youth.” The objective is to “highlight the involvement of young people and to pay tribute to youth,” she added.

Fun Radio draws almost 4 million listeners to its station each day; 900,000 unique visitors go to its website every month and its official Facebook pages have more than 1 million fans.

“Call me Jeannette”To reach her target, a minister speaks on Fun Radio.France - 15 February 2011

Jeannette Bougrab, France’s Secretary of State for Youth

Jeannette Bougrab with the team of Karel-Libre antenne


11

RTL Nederland has further expanded its fam-ily of radio stations: Its new member is a digital radio named 53Z8 (53Zacht – 53Soft). It was launched on Ruud de Wild’s show on sister Radio 538 on Valentine’s Day, just in time to offer listeners the right blend of love and sensual songs – its trademark.

Listeners were spoilt with romantic and sometimes saucy hits such as Je t’aime from Jane Birkin and Serge Gainsbourg, Get It On Tonight by Montell Jordan or Marvin Gaye’s iconic Sexual Healing among others. Be-sides the programmed playlist, listeners were able to request their favourite song and dedicate it to their loved one.

Love and sensualityRadio 538 launched a new digital radio station named 53Z8, specialised in love songs.Netherlands- 15 February 201153Z8 logo

Listen to 53Z8 radio on

www.53Z8.nl


12

This year again, with the joyful spirits and good humour that characterise the Télévie Challenge, which is also a festive event, the group joins RTL Belgium and RTL Lëtzebuerg in their efforts to raise as much money as they can. Télévie hands over the entire sum collected to cancer and leukaemia research. The event is set for Friday 1 April, from noon to 20:00, in the company’s physical fitness room.

Taking part in the RTL Group Télévie Challenge requires stamina – indeed, it’s essential, as participants must pedal non-stop on spinning bikes or sweat it out on the rowing machines. It’s worth the effort: since its launch, the RTL Group Télévie Challenge has raised more than EUR 250,000. In fact, every kilometre clocked is generously converted by the company into hard cash. In 2010, athletic co-workers gave it all they had and clocked the equivalent of 8,944 kilometres. At EUR 5 per kilometre, this works out to EUR 44,720, which RTL Group then rounded up to EUR 52,000.

Such is the challenge that RTL Group now sets for itself for the year 2011 and it is the reason for which the company, through its Chief Finan-cial Officer and Head of the Corporate Centre, Elmar Heggen, appeals to the good will of the

entire staff to begin forming teams. “As captain, your job will be to motivate your colleagues and friends to come and join your team. Once your team is in place, you need to organise turns so that your spinning bike is used during the whole Télévie Challenge event,” said Elmar Heggen in an e-mail address to all Corporate Centre staff on Thursday 10 February 2011. Something new this year that is sure to motivate: the counter will not start at zero, because the kilometres clocked by 42 courageous co-workers during last Berlin marathon will be added to it.

Can we do even better this year?The 7th edition of the Télévie Challenge: RTL Group is in full preparation for its great sporting event to show solidarity.Germany - 8 February 2011

Poster of Télévie Challenge 2011

The RTL Group Télévie Challenge raised EUR 52,000 in 2010


13

By bestowing this high honour on 14 February, Grand Duke Henri paid tribute to the singer’s longstanding ties to the Grand Duchy, her outstanding collaboration with Radio Luxemburg and of course her immense successes representing the country at the “Grand Prix Eurovision de la Chanson”. Vicky Leandros entered the contest for Luxembourg twice: in 1967, she sang L’amour est bleu and came in fourth. Five years later she won the Grand Prix with Après toi.

François Biltgen, Minister for Communications and Media, presented the award to the singer at a festive ceremony at the Luxembourghish embassy in Berlin. Biltgen referred to Leandros as a “Grande Dame of chanson”, a worldwide star who has sold 55 million albums and releases in more than 50 countries. She is perceived as a native in many of these countries, having celebrated great success with songs in French and German, as well as in Greek, English, Dutch, Spanish and Japanese. “RTL, too, is represented in many countries and is perceived as part of the country in each case,” commented Biltgen.

In her short thank-you speech, Vicky Leandros emphasised her close collaboration with Radio Luxemburg, which she said was always an enrichment, both from a musical and a personal standpoint. She added that the station was “the cradle of modern music” at the time – “...and I was accordingly proud to be entering the Grand Prix for Europe’s biggest radio station.”

“The cradle of modern music“Vicky Leandros was named a Commander of the Order of Merit of the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg. The German-Greek singer was first discovered by Radio Luxemburg over 40 years ago.Luxembourg - 15 February 2011

Vicky Leandros

Captivating audiences

On 13 February, 8.06 million

viewers watched Part one of the

moving two-part Teamworx drama

‘Schicksalsjahre’ on ZDF – for a total

audience share of 20.9 per cent. This

meant ‘Schicksalsjahre’ was the most-

watched show of the day, ahead even of

the popular ‘Tatort’ on ARD. The second

part of the film was broadcast one

day after, with 8.44 million

tuning in.


15

Cooperation agreedFundación Antena 3 and Fundación Universidad Computense de Madrid signed a five-year cooperation agreement to develop a training programme for people with disabilities.Spain - 14 February 2011

Daisies for totsTo mark the beginning of spring, the children’s and family channel Super RTL is partnering with the Verband Deutscher Garten Center (Association of German Garden Centres) to mount the ‘Pflanzen mit Timmy’ (Planting with Timmy) promotion.Germany - 14 February 2011

At your serviceOn Friday 11 February, France’s number one radio station dedicated a day on the air to the subject of retirement pensions. France - 11 February 2011

Good start for Das Lied in mirFollowing its nationwide box-office release on 10 February 2011, the Teamworx arthouse production Das Lied in mir averaged nearly 500 visitors per copy.Germany - 15 February 2011

Responsible programmingCapital Terre deciphered the impact of our consumption on the planet in the throwaway era. The magazine show was presented by journalist Guy Lagache, who led the on-the-ground investigation.France - 16 February 2011

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

tv = “super media” - rtl group...germany rtl interactive launches gamechannel.de netherlands rtl...

Documents