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ProSiebenSat.1 Media SE

ProSiebenSat.1 Media SE

Over the years, ProSiebenSat.1 Media has developed into one of Europe's leading media companies. The company's history began in 1984 with the founding of Sat.1, Germany's first private TV station. Five years later, ProSieben went on air. Both stations revolutionised the German television market with innovative formats and programmes.

On 1 January 1984 at 9.58 a.m., PKS (Programmgesellschaft für Kabel- und Satellitenfunk) went on air as part of the Ludwigshafen cable pilot project. This laid the foundation for the start of private television in Germany. The programme began with a welcome address by Jürgen Doetz, the station's managing director at the time: "Ladies and gentlemen, at this moment you are witnessing the launch of the first private television broadcaster in the Federal Republic of Germany." In fact, PKS was not the first German private television broadcaster, but "only" the first to be founded in Germany. In 1954, Telesaar went on air in Saarland, which was not yet part of Germany at the time. Nevertheless, it marked the start of private television in Germany. At the beginning of 1985, the channel was given a new name: SAT.1. The new name emphasised the fact that it was the first programme to be transmitted via satellite.

Eureka Television GmbH was founded in 1986. It operated the channel Eureka TV, the forerunner of ProSieben. The programme, planned as a mixture of information and teleshopping, suffers from a lack of viewers. Gerhard Ackermans looks for new co-shareholders: Thomas Kirch, the son of Leo Kirch, acquires 49 percent of Eureka TV on 13 October 1988. Dr Georg Kofler becomes managing director. ProSieben Television GmbH began broadcasting in 1989 with nine hours of programming. ProSieben had 70 employees at the start and can be received by 2.44 million cable households. On 1 October 1990, ProSieben became the first German station to broadcast around the clock.

A new era in television broadcasting began on 8 December 1989: ProSieben and Sat.1 are broadcast with RTL plus for the first time via the Astra 1A satellite. The stations can now be received throughout Western and Central Europe with little technical effort. The presence of attractive private programmes contributes significantly to the commercial success of the Astra satellites. In addition to reception via cable TV, direct satellite reception represents an attractive increase in programme diversity. In the new federal states in particular, direct satellite reception quickly becomes one of the strongest pillars of programme distribution.

1990s: The growth and consolidation of the broadcasting landscape led to the founding of ProSieben Media AG in 1995. Sat.1 and ProSieben established themselves as leading entertainment providers. The merger of the two companies in 2000 created ProSiebenSat.1 Media AG. This merger laid the foundation for the future expansion and diversification of the company.

2000s: The company expanded continuously and extended its portfolio. In 2003, ProSiebenSat.1 Media AG was floated on the stock exchange, which provided additional financial resources for expansion. In the same year, N24 GmbH was founded, specialising in news and information programmes. The station family was expanded through the acquisition of further TV stations such as Kabel Eins and the founding of Sixx.

The 2010s were characterised by the digital transformation. ProSiebenSat.1 invested heavily in digital media and expanded its online and streaming offering. The launch of the video-on-demand platform maxdome in 2006 and the acquisition of myvideo.de were important steps in this development. In 2013, the company acquired the e-commerce platform Stylight, which marked its entry into digital commerce. In 2010, ProSiebenSat.1 sold its channel N24. The purchase agreement was signed between the private broadcasting group and the newly founded N24 Media GmbH. Its management includes the former editor-in-chief of the news magazine Der Spiegel, Stefan Aust. The Axel Springer media group later acquired 100 per cent of N24 Media GmbH and planned to merge N24 with the Welt Group in order to establish the leading multimedia news company for quality journalism in German-speaking countries. This took place in 2014 and the previous company was dissolved. WeltN24 GmbH has been the sole operator of N24 since 1 January 2015.

In 2016, ProSiebenSat.1 was transformed into a European stock corporation (SE) in order to promote international expansion. In the same year, ProSiebenSat.1 PULS 4 GmbH launched in Austria and took over the stations ATV and ATV2, which strengthened its market presence in Austria. The company has been listed on the MDAX since 2018, having previously been relegated from the DAX.

While Silvio Berlusconi returned to politics at the age of 82 and entered the European Parliament for "Forza Italia", his son Pier Silvio Berlusconi bought into ProSiebenSat1 Media with the family media holding company in 2019. The Milan-based media giant Mediaset initially held 9.6 per cent of the shares in the German TV station, but increasingly increased this stake in the following years. Silvio Berlusconi was Mediaset's main shareholder at the time.

The launch of the streaming platform Joyn in 2019 was another milestone. Joyn offers users access to a wide range of TV and streaming content and quickly positioned itself as one of the leading streaming services in Germany. The partnership with Discovery, Inc. and the acquisition of sports rights such as the NBA and NHL contributed to the attractiveness of the offering.

2020s: In 2022, Bert Habets took over the position of CEO and ushered in a new era focused on the further digitalisation and expansion of the streaming offering. The corporate strategy focuses on growth through innovative media and advertising strategies and the development of new business models.

In 2023, Renáta Kellnerová acquired a 9.01% stake (including financial instruments) in ProSiebenSat.1 Media, making her the media company's second-largest shareholder. She currently holds 11.6 per cent of the shares via her holding company PPF, but only has a 98.9 per cent stake in the holding company itself.

Today, the company operates the free TV channels ProSieben, Sat.1, Kabel Eins, Sixx, ProSieben Maxx, Sat.1 Gold and Kabel Eins Doku as well as the three German pay TV channels ProSieben Fun, Sat.1 emotions and Kabel Eins Classics. In addition to its linear TV offerings, ProSiebenSat.1 Media SE has a strong position in the digital entertainment sector, supported by a diversified structure comprising TV stations, digital platforms and production companies.

Key facts

Business Form

private

Legal Form

European Company / Societas Europaea (SE)

Business Sectors

Media; Classifieds; Price comparison websites; Trade & ventures; Investments in start-ups

Ownership

Individual Owner

The Berlusconi family

13.29%

Renáta Kellernová

In February 2023, Renáta Kellnerová acquired a 9.01% stake (including financial instruments) in ProSiebenSat.1 Media, making her the media company's second-largest shareholder. She currently holds 11.5 per cent of the shares via her holding company PPF. She is the widow of Czech billionaire and entrepreneur Petr Kellner and founder of the PPF Group, who died in a helicopter crash in March 2021. According to its own information, the PPF Group operates several television and online media companies in Central and South Eastern Europe, such as Central European Media with a large number of television channels. It sees itself as an active investor in the telecommunications, media and technology sectors. Kellnerová is considered the richest woman in the Czech Republic.

11.5%
Media Outlets
TV
Kabel Eins
TV
ProSieben
TV
Sat.1
Other Media Outlets

Other TV Outlets

Germany

Joyn Originals; Kabel Eins; Kabel Eins Classics; Kabel Eins Doku; ProSieben; ProSieben FUN; ProSieben MAXX; ran.de; SAT.1; Sat.1 17:30 live für Bayern (Regionalfenster); SAT.1 emotions; SAT.1 Gold; Sat.1 Regional; sixx; wetter.com TV

Other Online Outlets

Germany

www.beziehungsweise-magazin.de, www.browsergames.de, www.deutschland-spielt.de, www.elitepartner.de/magazin, www.esports.com, www.fem.com, www.galileo.tv, www.gewinnarena.de, www.goingreen.ran.de, www.joyn.de, www.kabeleins.de, www.kabeleinsclassics.de, www.kabeleinsdoku.de, www.promiboom.de, www.prosieben.de, www.prosiebenfun.de, www.prosiebengames.de, www.prosiebenmaxx.de, www.prosiebensat1welt.com, www.ran.de, www.ranaktive.de, www.sat1.de, www.sat1emotions.de, www.sat1gold.de, www.sat1regional.de, www.sixx.de, www.stylight.de, www.wetter.com, www.wetter.com/tv

Facts

Media Business

Film industry/fiction rights

Flat White Productions GmbH (100%)

Film Industry/ Fiction Rights

Pyjama Pictures GmbH (55%)

Film industry/ Fiction rights

Red Arrow Studios International GmbH (100%)

Film industry/ fiction rights

SevenPictures Film GmbH (100%)

Distribution networks

SevenVentures GmbH (100%)

Advertising

AdTech S8 GmbH (100%)

Software/ Technology

Kairion GmbH (100%)

Sports licences

SAM Sports - Starwatch Artist Management GmbH (100%)

Publishing houses

Cheerio Entertainment GmbH (100%)

News agencies

AGF Videoforschung GmbH (17.65%)

Cable/Satellite

ProSiebenSat.1 Achte Verwaltungsgesellschaft mbH (100%)

Cabel/Satellite

ProSiebenSat.1 Fünfzehnte Verwaltungsgesellschaft mbH (100%)

Broadcasting in Metropolitan Region

Sat.1 Norddeutschland GmbH (100%)

Broadcasting in the Metropolitan Region

tv weiss-blau Rundfunkprogrammanbieter GmbH (100%)

Business

Teleshopping

Marketplace GmbH (100%)

E-Commerce

Love Holding GmbH (98.47%)

Entertainment

FLOYT Mobility GmbH (100%)

Logistics and Supply

NCG Commerce GmbH (100%)

Management

Masterpiece Gaming GmbH (100%)

Sports

Sportority Germany GmbH (40%)

Venture Capital

Corint Media GmbH (30.49%)

Advertising

esome advertising technologies d.o.o. Beograd (Serbien, 100%)

Film industry/ Fiction Rights

Snowman Productions ApS (Denmark, 100%)

Film Industry/ Fiction Rights

Fabrik Entertainment, LLC (USA, 100%)

Digital Television

P7S1 Broadcasting Holding I B.V. (Netherlands, 100%)

News Agencies

Seven.One Entertainment Group Schweiz AG (Switzerland, 100%)

Distribution networks

SevenVentures Austria GmbH (Austria, 100%)

Broadcasting in Metropolitan Region

Visivo Consulting GmbH (Austria, 63.78%)

Sports licences

The Band's Visit LP (Israel, 55%)

E-Commerce

SevenVentures Austria GmbH (Austria, 100%)

Management

Nit Television Limited (United Kingdom, 50.01%)

Logistics and Supply

CPL Good Vibrations Limited (United Kingdom, 100%)

Software/ Technology

ADITION Schweiz GmbH in liquidazione (Switzerland, 100%)

General Information

Founding Year

2000

Affiliated Interests Founder

Leo Kirch (1926-2011)

founded the Kirch Group in 1955 and developed it into one of the most influential media companies in Europe. His rise began with the acquisition of film rights, which soon earned him the nickname ‘film rights dealer’. Kirch's business model was based on the acquisition and licensing of film and TV rights, which secured him a key role in the German media landscape. In the 1980s, Kirch entered the private television market and founded several television channels, including SAT.1 and later ProSieben and Kabel Eins, initially as a cable channel. The introduction of private television in Germany was a revolutionary step that broke the monopoly of the public broadcasters ARD and ZDF and fundamentally changed the German television market. Leo Kirch knew how to steadily expand his empire through skilful investments and strategic partnerships. The film dealer initiated the merger of the two channels Sat.1 and ProSieben in 2000. Previously, this had not been permitted by the Cartel Office's concentration rules. Therefore, his son Thomas Kirch (*1956) was officially a shareholder of ProSieben. In 1997, Thomas Kirch became the majority shareholder of ProSieben Media AG with a 58.4 % stake, which included the television programmes Pro 7 and Kabel Eins. In 1999, Thomas Kirch contributed his shares in ProSieben Media to his father's KirchMedia, which thus became the majority shareholder in both Sat.1 and the ProSieben Group. In the course of the merger, Axel Springer acquired an 11.5 per cent stake in ProSiebenSat.1 Media; Leo Kirch in turn held 40 per cent of Axel Springer. After doubts arose in 2001 about Kirch's solvency, Springer sold its stake to ProSiebenSat.1 Media. The excessive reliance on outside capital and expensive rights purchases, particularly in the sports sector, led to considerable debt for the Kirch Group. In 2002, the company had to file for insolvency, a dramatic end for one of Europe's largest media empires. Thomas Kirch himself held a 6.54 per cent stake in KirchMedia at the time. Leo Kirch largely withdrew from the public eye and died in Munich in 2011. Following the insolvency of the Kirch Group, Thomas Kirch focussed on other business areas and largely stayed out of the media. He died in 2014 at the age of 57. The effects of the Kirch era on the German media landscape can still be felt today. Leo Kirch was a pioneer whose vision and willingness to take risks laid the foundations for modern private television in Germany. Despite the tragic end of his company, his contribution to media development remains undisputed.

Employees

7.188 (2023)

Contact

ProSiebenSat.1 Media SE

Medienallee 7

85774 Unterföhring

Tel. +49 [0] 89 9507-10

Fax +49 [0] 89 9507-1122

E-Mail: info@prosiebensat1.com

Webseite: www.prosiebensat1.com

Tax/ ID Number

DE198611898

Financial Information

Revenue (Financial Data/ Optional)

€ 3.85 Billion (2022) / USD 4.06 Billion

Operating Profit (in Mill. $)

€ 578 Mio. (2022) / USD 608 Mio.

Advertising (in % of total funding)

€ 2.2 Billion (2022) / USD 2.32 Billion

Management

Executive Board

Bert Habets

born 1971 in the Netherlands, has been the CEO of ProSiebenSat.1 Media since 1 November 2022. Before joining ProSiebenSat.1, he was CEO of Antenna Group, a European media company, where he headed the Free TV, Content and Digital divisions from 2021 to 2022. Habets was already a member of the Supervisory Board of ProSiebenSat.1 Media SE in 2022. From 2017 to 2019, he was CEO and Co-CEO of RTL Group, where he led the strategic direction and operational excellence in the Broadcast, TV Production and Digital Business divisions. He drove the growth of the Fremantle scripted content division and built a portfolio of ad tech investments. Between 2008 and 2017, as CEO of RTL Nederland, he launched the video streaming service Videoland and expanded streaming services across RTL Group. During this time, he transformed RTL Nederland from a traditional TV broadcaster into an omnichannel media company with a successful ventures division specialising in media-for-equity. Prior to that, he was Chief Financial Officer at RTL Nederland from 2001 to 2008. He began his career in 1996 at NIBC Bank in The Hague after completing a Master's degree in Economics and Law at Maastricht University. At ProSiebenSat.1 Media, Habets is responsible for Strategy, M&A, Communications, Monetisation, Human Resources and Joint Works Council as well as for the Entertainment, Dating & Video segments, including Seven.One Entertainment Group, Joyn, Seven.One Studios, Studio71 and ParshipMeet Group.

Non-Executive Board

Dr Andreas Wiele

has been a member of the Supervisory Board of ProSiebenSat.1 Media since 2022 and was appointed until the 2025 Annual General Meeting. He is General Partner at Giano Capital Management in Luxembourg. Other mandates include memberships on the Supervisory Board of Giano Capital Management, Luxembourg, the Advisory Board of Giano Capital, Switzerland, and the Board of Directors of Oaktree Power, United Kingdom. Wiele brings with him 30 years of international media experience, which he began as a journalist after studying law in Dijon, Salzburg and Munich. After holding various management positions at Gruner + Jahr in Paris and New York, he joined the Executive Board of Axel Springer in 2000. There he shaped the transformation of the company from a national print publisher to a European digital publisher. Since leaving Axel Springer, he has been active as a company founder and angel investor and was a Senior Advisor to KKR until 2021. He was appointed to the Supervisory Board of ProSiebenSat.1 Media as a court-appointed member in February 2022 and confirmed by the shareholders at the 2022 Annual General Meeting. After the meeting, the Supervisory Board elected Dr Wiele as Chairman.

Other Influential People

Marc Rasmus

has been the head of Sat.1 since October 2023. In his first interview as head of Sat.1, Rasmus talked about his signature and announced more fiction for the early evening and more quiz shows for primetime. He emphasised the need for a new sense of self-evidence for Sat.1 and his vision of positioning the channel with women aged 40 and over. Rasmus began his career at the niche channel Sat.1 Gold, where he was responsible for strategic and operational management and was ultimately appointed head of the channel. He was then promoted to head of Kabel Eins.

Further Information

Headlines

Berlusconi-Kinder erhöhen ProsiebenSat.1-Anteile (2023), n-tv.de, accessed on 05.06.2024

Active Transparency

company/channel informs proactively and comprehensively about its ownership, data is constantly updated and easily verifiable

4 ♥

Meta Data

Market share AGF Video research/audience share
The Berlusconi family owns 50.002% of the votes, but not the shares, of MediaForEurope (MFE) via its holding company Fininvest. MFE holds 26.58 per cent of the shares in the German-based ProSiebenSat1 Media, which means that the Berlusconi family only holds 13.29 per cent.

Sources

Vorstand - Martin Mildner, Prosiebensat1.com, accessed on 5.6.2024

Documents

Unternehmensbeteiligungen, MFE-MEDIAFOREUROPE N.V.
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