News

18 December 2009

ENDEMOL LAUNCHES JOINT VENTURE FOR DRAMA PROGRAMS IN GERMANY WITH MAX WIEDEMANN AND QUIRIN BERG

Endemol, a world leader in entertainment programming, today announced that it is launching a new TV drama production company in Germany in partnership with Quirin Berg and Max Wiedemann.

Wiedemann & Berg Television will operate from Munich and Cologne and will open for business on January, 1^st 2010.

The joint venture will produce all TV drama output for both partners and will be managed by Quirin Berg and Max Wiedemann.

Wiedemann & Berg Television's portfolio of TV drama will be distributed globally by Endemol Worldwide Distribution.

Endemol Germany is one of the largest production companies in Germany, producing over 5,000 hours of television in 2009. 

Berg and Wiedermann's credits include "The Lives of Others", which won the Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film in 2007, and the latest German box office comedy hit "Men in the City".

Outside of the new joint venture Endemol Germany will continue to operate as a leading producer of non-fiction programming, with credits including Big Brother for RTL2, Who Wants To Be A Millionaire for RTL, Million Show for ORF, All You Need Is Love for Sat.1 and Missing for RTL.

Also operating separately from the joint venture will be Wiedemann & Berg Film, focusing on theatrical movie production.

Quirin Berg comments: "We live for ideas that inspire us and others. I am fascinated by the potential of an international network in which ideas are generated, shared and developed on a global scale. That is the vision which Endemol stands for and they are unrivalled in this position. We are looking forward to a hugely successful partnership on all fiction formats, from TV movies to telenovelas. "

Max Wiedemann adds: "This joint venture creates a new platform that combines the strengths of both partners and further broadens the activities of both businesses. It will significantly enhance our ability to offer new concepts and meet future challenges through innovative production, financing and distribution models. "

Marcus Wolter, Managing Director of Endemol Germany comments: "Quirin Berg and Max Wiedemann are among the most progressive and talented fiction producers in Germany. We are very excited to be partnering with them on this joint venture, which is uniquely positioned to be a major new creative force in this genre. "

Endemol Group CEO Ynon Kreiz: "Drama is a key strategic growth area for Endemol and this joint venture represents a significant step forward in one of the world's largest and most important TV markets.  The launch of this new company with such accomplished creative talent who are at the top of their game will broaden our local offering in Germany and further grow our portfolio of hit drama formats that we offer to broadcasters around the world."