Fremantle taking Germany RTL shows global

FremantleMedia International is taking hundreds of hours of programming from Mediengruppe RTL Deutschland, a stablemate within the RTL Group, to the global market.

FremantleMedia’s sales arm has closed a deal to represent RTL Deutschland’s library of finished programming, plus rights to future commissions and show formats.

These previously went out through Germany-based distributor Global Screen.

The new agreement means RTL Deutschland programming stretching back to 2000, including all seasons of Alarm für Cobra 11 – Die Autobahnpolizei (Alarm for Cobra 11 – The Highway Police), which comprises 300 episodes and counting.

Der Lehrer (The Teacher), about a German science and PE teacher who uses unconventional methods to motivate problematic school kids, is also included.

Commercial broadcaster RTL Deutschland has recently made significant increases in the hours of original shows it is airing, and these will hit the global market via FMI.

RTL Deutschland’s Luxembourg-based parent RTL also owns FMI parent FremantleMedia, with Bertelsmann owning the entire group.

“Today’s announcement further strengthens the relationship between FMI and Germany’s number one broadcaster, Mediengruppe RTL Deutschland,” said Jens Richter, FMI CEO (above left).

“Their recent commitment to, and investment in, scripted content has produced some great shows that we look forward to taking out to the market.”

“First of all, I would like to say a big thank you to our long-term international distribution partner Global Screen for our trustful and successful collaboration, but now I am equally delighted that we are bundling our international programme distribution activities within RTL Group’s FremantleMedia International,” said RTL Deutschland COO of programming affairs Jörg Graf (right).

“In relation to Mediengruppe RTL Deutschland’s strategy of producing more original content, the shift to FMI, one of the largest distribution companies, is the next logical step. With a worldwide network, FMI can exploit our content potential to its maximum and we can create more synergies within RTL Group.”