"Manipulation is hardly possible"
TV-3 boss Jürg Wildberger focuses on authenticity for "Big Brother
TV 3 boss Jürg Wildberger focuses on authenticity for "Big Brother "Soon there will finally be one in Switzerland: The "Big Brother" house will soon be installed by Endemol B&B in Glattfelden and is expected to bring TV 3 constant ratings.The award for "Big Brother" marks the end of a long poker game. Was it so hard to negotiate the price of the show down to TV 3's possibilities?
Jürg Wildberger: The financial aspect wasn't the point, we had been in agreement on that for a long time. The rope pulling was about the production modalities and the rights. In particular, the Internet, an enormously important platform for "Big Brother," proved to be a tough sell.
But there are clear indications that TV 3 has had to slim down in other places in order to be able to afford "Big Brother": "Lust und Liebe" and "Liebe auf den ersten Blick" are being canceled - two shows that you counted as trend-setting formats just a few weeks ago. Why the change of heart?
Wildberger: The two shows have insufficient marketing potential, and they can hardly be refinanced even in the longer term. Instead, we're launching the strong adventure show "Nur einer kommt durch" on Saturdays at 8pm. And together with "Millionaire" and the Basel pop singer Nubya as the new host of "Cinderella," we guarantee constant ratings.
Thanks to the cooperation with Endemol, the production company Bichsel & Burger (B&B) can now offer all of the approximately 400 Endemol TV formats in Switzerland. Does TV 3 have preferential access rights to them?
Wildberger: There is no exclusive contract with B&B Endemol. These formats are open to all Swiss TV stations. But we do, of course, have the exclusive option for new editions and further developments of "Big Brother" and "Millionaire.
Is there no way around Endemol, e.g. with their own variations of those successful recipes? This would eliminate the expensive rights payments.
Wildberger: We have various producers in Europe who ride the "Robinson" wave and offer copies. But that's not our style. After all, there's an enormous amount of development work behind "Big Brother. And apart from that, Endemol generates most of its income from production. The licensing costs for the idea have only a minimal impact on the total costs.
Authenticity was said to be the top priority on "Big Brother. But in the RTL 2 version, there are many indications that scriptwriters are behind the daily happenings and discussions in the container settlement. How will that play out on TV 3?
Wildberger: Life in the "Big Brother" house has a high degree of momentum that defies manipulation. With the discussion topics and weekly tasks, there is a minimal possibility of intervention from the outside. The selection of the participants is crucial for the dynamics.
Interview: Daniel Schifferle
Jürg Wildberger: The financial aspect wasn't the point, we had been in agreement on that for a long time. The rope pulling was about the production modalities and the rights. In particular, the Internet, an enormously important platform for "Big Brother," proved to be a tough sell.
But there are clear indications that TV 3 has had to slim down in other places in order to be able to afford "Big Brother": "Lust und Liebe" and "Liebe auf den ersten Blick" are being canceled - two shows that you counted as trend-setting formats just a few weeks ago. Why the change of heart?
Wildberger: The two shows have insufficient marketing potential, and they can hardly be refinanced even in the longer term. Instead, we're launching the strong adventure show "Nur einer kommt durch" on Saturdays at 8pm. And together with "Millionaire" and the Basel pop singer Nubya as the new host of "Cinderella," we guarantee constant ratings.
Thanks to the cooperation with Endemol, the production company Bichsel & Burger (B&B) can now offer all of the approximately 400 Endemol TV formats in Switzerland. Does TV 3 have preferential access rights to them?
Wildberger: There is no exclusive contract with B&B Endemol. These formats are open to all Swiss TV stations. But we do, of course, have the exclusive option for new editions and further developments of "Big Brother" and "Millionaire.
Is there no way around Endemol, e.g. with their own variations of those successful recipes? This would eliminate the expensive rights payments.
Wildberger: We have various producers in Europe who ride the "Robinson" wave and offer copies. But that's not our style. After all, there's an enormous amount of development work behind "Big Brother. And apart from that, Endemol generates most of its income from production. The licensing costs for the idea have only a minimal impact on the total costs.
Authenticity was said to be the top priority on "Big Brother. But in the RTL 2 version, there are many indications that scriptwriters are behind the daily happenings and discussions in the container settlement. How will that play out on TV 3?
Wildberger: Life in the "Big Brother" house has a high degree of momentum that defies manipulation. With the discussion topics and weekly tasks, there is a minimal possibility of intervention from the outside. The selection of the participants is crucial for the dynamics.
Interview: Daniel Schifferle
