Discovery Germany to buy Leonine’s Tele 5

Susanne Aigner

Discovery Germany has agreed to acquire Leonine’s entertainment channel Tele 5.

The deal also is accompanied by an agreement that will see both parties supply one another with programming, allowing Discovery Germany to access Leonine’s fictional content library.

Leonine is the fast-growing German media group, founded last year by Fred Kogel with backing from US private equity firm KKR, and including Tele München Gruppe, Universum Film, i&u TV and W&B Television. In November, the group struck a deal to acquire Wiedemann & Berg TV, the Endemol Shine Group-owned company behind Netflix drama hit Dark, while in March of this year, Leonine launched Cologne-based production outfit Pool Of Brainz, with comedian Oliver Pocher.

Discovery said that it plans on using this acquisition to diversify its offering in the country and pursue new target audience groups through the integration of it with its brand portfolio.

The channel joins Discovery’s German free-TV portfolio of DMAX, TLC, Eurosport and HGTV.

Susanne Aigner, MD of Discovery Germany, said: “I am very pleased with the expansion of our portfolio into another established brand as well as the long-term content partnership with Leonine. TELE 5 with its films and series complements our multi-platform offer of factual entertainment and sports content with a new fictional component. This expansion of our portfolio represents an important step in the continuous development of Discovery Germany”.

Dr. Markus Frerker, COO of Leonine, added : “We are happy that TELE 5, a successful fictional general-entertainment channel, is joining Discovery Germany. Our remaining portfolio in the broadcasting sector is geared to enabling further growth in LEONINE’s core business areas while displaying a strong performance, and as such, the three LEONINE SVOD channels ‘Filmtastic’, ‘Home of Horror’ and ‘Arthouse CNMA’ as well as our minority stake in RTLZWEI are and will remain a central part of our corporate strategy”.