The elephant marries a dwarf
Endemol Acquires Stake in Bichsel & Burger – TV 3 Is Still Waiting for the «Big Brother» License
Endemol takes a stake in Bichsel & Burger - TV 3 still waiting for "Big Brother" licenseBy Markus Knöpfli The Dutch Endemol Entertainment takes a stake in the TV production company Bichsel & Burger Medien AG (B&B), which produces the millionaire show for TV 3. This increases TV 3's chances of being able to take over Endemol's "Big Brother" format.
Officially, Endemol's entry into the Swiss market has nothing to do with TV 3. But without longer-term prospects in Switzerland, Endemol would hardly have set foot here.
The Zurich-based TV production company B&B is being acquired 50 percent by the Dutch company Endemol Entertainment. B&B has already produced the "Millionaire Show" for TV 3, a format for which Endemol holds the rights in several European countries. With a total of around 400 TV formats, Endemol is Europe's biggest provider in this field (see box).
Endemol will take a seat on the Zurich-based company, which will be renamed B&B Endemol, with two as yet undetermined board members. However, Freddy Burger remains Chairman of the Board of Directors, Hannes Bichsel Board Delegate. B&B Endemol has a share capital of CHF 100,000. Bichsel did not want to disclose any sales figures to WerbeWoche, but B&B was already in the black in its first year, he says. For B&B, the participation of the largest format provider is interesting, "because it gives us access to everything we would like to have at any time.
B&B was founded in 1991 by former SF-DRS head of entertainment Hannes Bichsel and human resources manager Freddy Burger - with a view to launching private TV in Switzerland. Initially, however, B&B, which today employs a total of six permanent staff and numerous freelancers along with the two founders, produced abroad.
"For five years, however, the Swiss market has been so interesting that we only produce for Switzerland," says Bichsel. Clients so far have included SF DRS and TV 3. Next year, B&B Endemol will produce its 1,000th show - to mark its tenth anniversary.
After participation sale of the "Big Brother" license?
Is the stake in B&B now a sign that TV 3 and Endemol have reached a commercial agreement regarding the "Big Brother" format? Or was Endemol's stake in a Swiss production company a prerequisite for the big deal with TV 3? "Neither - nor, the two things have nothing to do with each other," says Endemol, TV 3 and B&B in unison.
Endemol spokesman Thomas Notermans explains that Endemol is already active as a TV producer in 16 countries and is involved with local partners everywhere in order to be able to take into account the respective cultural conditions. In addition, the first contacts between B&B and Endemol were established last year, Bichsel adds.
But one thing is clear: If TV 3 receives the license for "Big Brother" from Endemol, the show will definitely be produced by B&B Endemol, according to Notermans.
And it takes four months for casting and house construction. That makes things pretty darn tight for TV 3, which wants to start "Big Brother" in October. "You're right about that," says Bichsel, who expects a decision by the end of May. And because he believes that "Big Brother" is coming, he has already made initial considerations and preparations. But he doesn't want to say any more details.
TV 3 also seems to be getting nervous. "The matter will be decided quickly," says press spokeswoman Andrea Hemmi confidently. She hopes for a decision in the next few days. Only: she and TV-3 boss Jürg Wildberger have been saying that for weeks. However, neither wants to comment on where the problems lie.
Endemol, on the other hand, is relaxed. "We hope that it will come to a contract with TV 3, but there are still some questions open," says Notermans. "It would be nice if the matter could be cleared up in the next few weeks..."
Endemol: TV and InternetThe company Endemol Entertainment NV, based in Hilversum (NL), operates in 16 countries and produces many of the best-known TV shows on German-language television, such as the "Millionärsshow," "Big Brother" or "Verzeih mir.
In addition to TV, Endemol also operates online businesses. In Holland and Spain, the company has a stake in each of two Internet portals for entertainment and leisure.
Endemol was founded in 1994 by Joop van den Ende and John de Mol, who merged their previously independent production companies. The company has been listed on the Amsterdam stock exchange since 1996. In March 2000, Spain's Telefonica acquired the two share packages of Van den Ende (26 percent) and De Mol (28 percent) for 5.5 billion euros, giving it a majority stake in Endemol.
Endemol is extremely successful: In the 1998/99 financial year, it achieved revenues of 962 million guilders and a net profit of 92 million guilders.
Four TV magazines in French-speaking Switzerland instead of just threeWW18/00: New campaigns, French-speaking Switzerland has a choice of three TV magazines
En effet, vous citez, en pas de page, sous le titre "les romands ont le choix entre trois magazines TV" TéléTemps, Télé Top Matin et TV8 en omettant de mentionner le magazine TVguide distribué à 202140 exemplaires, le samedi, dans les quotidiens 24heures et Tribune de Genève. Le magazine TVguide est, avec 429000 lecteurs, le deuxième magazine TV de Suisse romande. It is also the leader in the economic zones 11 and 12, making it an important player on the Swiss media scene. C'est donc bien quatre magazines TV qui sont auHourd'hui offerts au lectorat romand et, bien entendu, aux annonceurs.
Benoît Flach,Director Publimag Lausanne
Officially, Endemol's entry into the Swiss market has nothing to do with TV 3. But without longer-term prospects in Switzerland, Endemol would hardly have set foot here.
The Zurich-based TV production company B&B is being acquired 50 percent by the Dutch company Endemol Entertainment. B&B has already produced the "Millionaire Show" for TV 3, a format for which Endemol holds the rights in several European countries. With a total of around 400 TV formats, Endemol is Europe's biggest provider in this field (see box).
Endemol will take a seat on the Zurich-based company, which will be renamed B&B Endemol, with two as yet undetermined board members. However, Freddy Burger remains Chairman of the Board of Directors, Hannes Bichsel Board Delegate. B&B Endemol has a share capital of CHF 100,000. Bichsel did not want to disclose any sales figures to WerbeWoche, but B&B was already in the black in its first year, he says. For B&B, the participation of the largest format provider is interesting, "because it gives us access to everything we would like to have at any time.
B&B was founded in 1991 by former SF-DRS head of entertainment Hannes Bichsel and human resources manager Freddy Burger - with a view to launching private TV in Switzerland. Initially, however, B&B, which today employs a total of six permanent staff and numerous freelancers along with the two founders, produced abroad.
"For five years, however, the Swiss market has been so interesting that we only produce for Switzerland," says Bichsel. Clients so far have included SF DRS and TV 3. Next year, B&B Endemol will produce its 1,000th show - to mark its tenth anniversary.
After participation sale of the "Big Brother" license?
Is the stake in B&B now a sign that TV 3 and Endemol have reached a commercial agreement regarding the "Big Brother" format? Or was Endemol's stake in a Swiss production company a prerequisite for the big deal with TV 3? "Neither - nor, the two things have nothing to do with each other," says Endemol, TV 3 and B&B in unison.
Endemol spokesman Thomas Notermans explains that Endemol is already active as a TV producer in 16 countries and is involved with local partners everywhere in order to be able to take into account the respective cultural conditions. In addition, the first contacts between B&B and Endemol were established last year, Bichsel adds.
But one thing is clear: If TV 3 receives the license for "Big Brother" from Endemol, the show will definitely be produced by B&B Endemol, according to Notermans.
And it takes four months for casting and house construction. That makes things pretty darn tight for TV 3, which wants to start "Big Brother" in October. "You're right about that," says Bichsel, who expects a decision by the end of May. And because he believes that "Big Brother" is coming, he has already made initial considerations and preparations. But he doesn't want to say any more details.
TV 3 also seems to be getting nervous. "The matter will be decided quickly," says press spokeswoman Andrea Hemmi confidently. She hopes for a decision in the next few days. Only: she and TV-3 boss Jürg Wildberger have been saying that for weeks. However, neither wants to comment on where the problems lie.
Endemol, on the other hand, is relaxed. "We hope that it will come to a contract with TV 3, but there are still some questions open," says Notermans. "It would be nice if the matter could be cleared up in the next few weeks..."
Endemol: TV and InternetThe company Endemol Entertainment NV, based in Hilversum (NL), operates in 16 countries and produces many of the best-known TV shows on German-language television, such as the "Millionärsshow," "Big Brother" or "Verzeih mir.
In addition to TV, Endemol also operates online businesses. In Holland and Spain, the company has a stake in each of two Internet portals for entertainment and leisure.
Endemol was founded in 1994 by Joop van den Ende and John de Mol, who merged their previously independent production companies. The company has been listed on the Amsterdam stock exchange since 1996. In March 2000, Spain's Telefonica acquired the two share packages of Van den Ende (26 percent) and De Mol (28 percent) for 5.5 billion euros, giving it a majority stake in Endemol.
Endemol is extremely successful: In the 1998/99 financial year, it achieved revenues of 962 million guilders and a net profit of 92 million guilders.
Four TV magazines in French-speaking Switzerland instead of just threeWW18/00: New campaigns, French-speaking Switzerland has a choice of three TV magazines
En effet, vous citez, en pas de page, sous le titre "les romands ont le choix entre trois magazines TV" TéléTemps, Télé Top Matin et TV8 en omettant de mentionner le magazine TVguide distribué à 202140 exemplaires, le samedi, dans les quotidiens 24heures et Tribune de Genève. Le magazine TVguide est, avec 429000 lecteurs, le deuxième magazine TV de Suisse romande. It is also the leader in the economic zones 11 and 12, making it an important player on the Swiss media scene. C'est donc bien quatre magazines TV qui sont auHourd'hui offerts au lectorat romand et, bien entendu, aux annonceurs.
Benoît Flach,Director Publimag Lausanne
