Ringier TV conquers the Wild East
Private TV Expanding eastward with purchased reality show.
Ringier in five countries of the former Eastern Bloc thanks to
Successful results through perseverance in a difficult environment. This
forms the basis for Ringier TV's foray into new markets.
Specifically, we would like to
the responsible parties in the Romanian capital Bucharest,
where the publishing house already successfully publishes eleven print titles and
is one of the largest publishing houses in the Carpathian region. "The
Expansion opportunities in Switzerland are limited," says
Management Board member Fibo Deutsch, responsible for the
strategic interests of Ringier Television. So what could be more obvious?
than to increase production in the East? Admittedly, due to
government regulations, it can be difficult to make television yourself,
let alone operate its own transmitter, but individual
Launching programs is always possible, says Deutsch.
According to Marc Görtz, Managing Director of Ringier-TV,
the project for the production of a reality format.
"We bought the license for an existing format, incidentally also
for Switzerland," says Görtz. However, he does not yet want to reveal
what kind of program it is. A first season is planned with
twelve programs next spring, a second one the following year.
Autumn. Ringier will not operate under its own name in Romania, but under
will operate as a new company under the name "Zana Media", together with Faro TV
("Joya rennt") will realize the production and distribute it via Prima TV, the
fourth-largest broadcaster in Romania. "Nobody here has
waited for us," says Görtz, which is why they tried from the very beginning to
to link its own print media with the program cross-media. "We
want to set up the entire production with local people," says Görtz.
The reason for this is the low-cost production conditions.
Will the Czech Republic be next?
With this project, Ringier is, so to speak, knocking on Prima TV's door.
Coincidentally, the production that Ringier wants to realize was listed on
the wish list of Prima TV. The channel is also on the move from
Fourth place to third place in the national comparison. The Swedish
Last March, SBS-Broadcasting sold its block of shares in Prima TV
to 86 percent. It appoints the station's former head
Entertainment
TV 3 and program developer of SF DRS Christoph Bürge as CEO.
However, Görtz also mentions talks with larger broadcasters, such as
"Antenna 1" by media czar Dan Voiculescu, the president of the
conservative party.
The project is initially intended as a pilot, which - should it be completed in
be successful within six months - in other Ringier countries
will be exported. The next country to be considered would probably be the Czech Republic.
question, although the market there is already highly competitive, estimates Görtz.
Hungary, on the other hand, is difficult because, apart from state television, there are only
two private stations and Slovenia is too small a market,
Görtz explains further considerations.
As for the broadcast of the reality format in question in Switzerland
the decision is to be made in the next six weeks.
On the one hand, the focus is on Swiss television, on the other hand
but also to the new channel, which is expected to be launched in the coming
February - Elevator TV.
René Worni
