WS_1012_ONE-ON-ONE-RTL_1005_ONE-ON-ONE 9/20/12 7:16 PM Page 3
one on one he RTL Group is Europe’s largest broadcaster. Its success has been based on keeping pace with changing viewing habits and advances in technology. When the audience started showing signs of fragmenting, the group pioneered the concept of a family of channels, a bouquet of services targeting different demographic segments grouped around a flagship station. This model was first created in Germany with RTL Television as the flagship, then replicated in France around M6, in the Netherlands around RTL 4, and in Belgium around RTL-TVI. The RTL Group also has broadcast operations in Hungary and Croatia, and stakes in Grupo Antena 3 in Spain and in National Media Group in Russia. As technology started providing viewers with multiple ways of enjoying programming beyond the TV screen, the group responded proactively by offering catch-up TV services, which have become extremely popular, particularly in Germany and France. The group is also launching digital channels to complement the linear and nonlinear offerings in several territories. FremantleMedia is the RTL Group’s content powerhouse. Producing some 9,200 hours of programming a year, including the mega-hit formats Idols, Got Talent and The X Factor, FremantleMedia is a leading international production entity capable of competing with the Hollywood majors. When Gerhard Zeiler stepped down as CEO earlier this year, the RTL Board appointed two CEOs to replace him,
Anke Schäferkordt and Guillaume de Posch. Schäferkordt had been heading up the RTL Group’s revenue driver, the German businesses of Mediengruppe RTL Deutschland, which includes RTL Television, Vox, RTL II, Super RTL, N-TV and a bouquet of digital channels. She joined the RTL Group in 1991, working at RTL Television, then moved to Vox, where she became CEO, and eventually she took responsibility for all the German operations. As coCEO, Schäferkordt will continue to manage the German TV business of Mediengruppe RTL Deutschland. De Posch started his career in media at Compagnie Luxembourgeoise de Télé diffusion (CLT) in 1993 (it merged with Pearson Television in 2000 to become the RTL Group). De Posch then worked at the French pay-TV company TPS before he joined ProSiebenSat.1 Media in August 2003, first as COO and then as chairman of the executive board and CEO. After leaving ProSiebenSat.1 in 2008, de Posch acted as a consultant to European and U.S. broadcasters. He was appointed COO of the RTL Group on January 1 of this year and then co-CEO in April. As co-CEO, he is responsible for the group’s broadcasting operations outside Germany and for FremantleMedia. Once competitors (when de Posch was at ProSiebenSat.1 and Schäferkordt headed up Mediengruppe RTL Deutschland), today the two are working in concert to shape the future of the RTL Group and position it to succeed in the digital age.
Guillaume de Posch & Anke Schäferkordt RTL Group
10/12
World Screen
227