History

ProSiebenSat.1 is realigning its production and international distribution business: Following the establishment of two new production companies in Germany and the sale of Red Arrow Studio’s US production business, the digital Group is bundling its eight subsidiaries in Germany, UK, Denmark and Israel as well as the global program distribution arm of the Red Arrow Studios International. The new productions house offers a broad production portfolio that will produce content across all key program genres, both for its own platforms as well as for external clients. The founding of Seven One.Studios makes ProSiebenSat.1 Media SE more independent from the competitive German production market. At the same time, the European production houses remain an important part of our production business. 

Bert Habets will take over as chairperson of the Executive Board (Group CEO) of ProSiebenSat.1 Media SE as of November 1, 2022. He has already been involved with ProSiebenSat.1 as a Member of the Supervisory Board since May 2022. The born Dutchman has in-depth experience in managing global media companies as well as extensive expertise in launching and expanding video streaming services. As a result of Bert Habets’ transition from the Supervisory Board to the Group Executive Board, his seat on the Supervisory Board will become vacant and is to be filled at the latest in the course of the next ProSiebenSat.1 Annual General Meeting. In addition, the Executive Board contracts of Christine Scheffler and Wolfgang Link were each extended by five years to the end of 2027 with effect from January 1, 2023. Both have been on the Group’s Executive Board since March 2020. 

ProSiebenSat.1 Group is acquiring the outstanding 50% of the shares in Joyn from Warner Bros. Discovery. The joint venture was established with Discovery in 2017 and has been operating under the name Joyn since 2019. Now Joyn will be transferred to the Group’s Entertainment segment as a wholly owned subsidiary. ProSiebenSat.1 is thus making the streaming platform an integral part of its value chain and placing Joyn at the center of its digital entertainment presence. The aim is to develop Joyn into the largest freely accessible platform for premium video content in the German-speaking region.  

From day one, Joyn has focused on a strong, free and thus advertising-financed offering, as well as an exclusive subscription service. In addition to content from ProSiebenSat.1 and other content partners, Joyn users will continue to have on-demand access to free, advertising-financed content from Warner Bros. Discovery. 

ProSiebenSat.1 Group continues to consistently execute its strategy and sells the US part of Red Arrow Studios' production business to Peter Chernin's The North Road Company. This includes the companies Kinetic Content, Left/Right, 44 Blue, Half Yard Productions and Dorsey Pictures. The European production business, on the other hand, remains an important part of the entertainment business, as does the distribution business Red Arrow Studios International. The sale thus reflects the clear focus of the ProSiebenSat.1 Group's Entertainment segment on producing local, relevant content in the German-speaking region. Red Arrow Studios had built up its US business since 2010 and produced successful formats for US stations and platforms during this time, including the hit formats "Love is blind" (Kinetic Content for Netflix) or "The Weekly" (Left/Right for FX and Hulu).

At the Annual General Meeting on May 5, 2022, Dr. Andreas Wiele was elected as the new Chairman of the Supervisory Board of ProSiebenSat.1 Media SE. Thus, he succeeds Dr. Werner Brandt, who did not again stand for re-election after eight years and two periods in office. 

Dr. Andreas Wiele has already been appointed by court as member of the ProSiebenSat.1 Supervisory Board in February 2022 and was now confirmed by the Annual General Meeting. Dr. Wiele has broad international professional experience from three decades in the media industry, e.g., at Bertelsmann and Axel Springer SE. As a member of the Executive Board of Axel Springer SE, which he joined in 2000, the transformation expert continuously drove forward the change process from a print publishing house to a digital company and played a key role in shaping it.

With the establishment of a new Red Arrow production company in Germany, the entertainment business of ProSiebenSat.1 Media SE is further sharpening its focus on local content: The new production subsidiary, based in Cologne, will develop and produce entertainment formats for all Seven.One Entertainment Group platforms, among others, from 2022. The new production house will also realize format ideas from the recently concluded first-look deal with John de Mol's Talpa Concepts. The managing directors of the new production company will be Nadine Grünfeld and Frank Kott. Both have worked in leadership roles at the production company Endemol Shine Germany before. 

The Seven.One Entertainment Group is sharpening its digital offering in 2022: By focusing on a future-oriented digital portfolio, the company is setting a clear course for growth. Therefore, the company, which is part of the Group's Entertainment segment, revamps its app and online offering and makes the streaming provider Joyn the central element of its strategy. Following an extensive audit, the individual station and brand apps – with the exception of the "ran" sports offering and the "Zappn" app in Austria and Switzerland – will be discontinued. In this way, on the web, the company will focus on the station sites in the future and thus increase their user-friendliness. Joyn will further expand its existing content offering with around one hundred exclusive previews of the Seven.One Entertainment Group's prime time formats. "With this, we are making a clear promise to viewers: They will find all of our company's content on Joyn – live, as previews or on-demand. That makes Joyn an even more attractive offer in the German streaming market", explains Wolfgang Link, member of the Executive Board of ProSiebenSat.1 Media SE and CEO of Seven.One Entertainment Group.

With a series of decisions regarding the Supervisory Board and Executive Board, ProSiebenSat.1 has set the personnel course for the future to successfully continue the Group's strategic realignment and position the Group for the media landscape of the future.
After two election periods, Chairman of the Supervisory Board Dr. Werner Brandt will not stand for re-election at the Annual General Meeting on May 5, 2022. The new Chairman of the Supervisory Board will be Dr. Andreas Wiele, former member of the Executive Board of Axel Springer SE and a proven transformation expert, who is to be elected as the new Chairman and thus as Dr. Brandt's successor at the upcoming Annual General Meeting. Dr. Wiele will be a court-appointed member of the Supervisory Board from February 13, 2022, and succeeds Adam Cahan, who has resigned from the Supervisory Board. Bert Habets, former CEO of RTL Group, will be proposed as a further new member of the Supervisory Board at the upcoming Annual General Meeting. Habets has profound experience in leading global media companies and extensive expertise in launching and expanding streaming video services across multiple countries. In addition, Prof. Dr. Rolf Nonnenmacher, a member of the Supervisory Board since 2015, will stand for re-election to continue his successful work on the Audit Committee.
At the level of the Executive Board, the Supervisory Board has further decided to extend Rainer Beaujean's contract for five years with effect from July 1, 2022. With this contract extension, Beaujean will be appointed as Group Chief Executive Officer. In addition, Ralf Peter Gierig, currently Deputy Group CFO, will become the new Chief Financial Officer of ProSiebenSat.1 Media SE effective January 1, 2022.

In November 2021, Red Arrow Studios sold its majority stake of 62.5 percent in the US film distributor Gravitas Ventures to Anthem Sport & Entertainment, Inc., a global multi-platform media company. The sale of Gravitas Ventures reflects the strategic direction of the ProSiebenSat.1 Group's Entertainment segment, which is clearly focused on the region of Germany, Austria and Switzerland as its core market. Gravitas Ventures distributes independent films and -documentaries in particular to international digital platforms and has been part of Red Arrow Studios since November 2017. The transaction was based on a cash purchase price of USD 73 million and an additional common stock consideration component. 

In October 2021, ProSiebenSat.1 subsidiary NuCom Group sold all of its shares of around 98% in Amorelie (Sonoma Internet GmbH) to EQOM Group. The group, that is one of the biggest players on the market for sexual wellness in Europe, also acquires the further around 2% held by the founder Lea-Sophie Cramer. Amorelie was founded in Berlin in 2013 and is now one of the leading German online shops for sensual lifestyle and erotic products. Through the successful use of TV advertising on the entertainment platforms of ProSiebenSat.1, Amorelie has been able to significantly expand its market position and increase brand awareness of its products over the past seven years. The sale of Amorelie was subject to approval by the relevant antitrust authorities. The closing of the transaction and the subsequent deconsolidation were expected for the second half of the fourth quarter of 2021.

For the 2021 federal election, Seven.One Entertainment Group is also fulfilling its journalistic responsibility with an extensive package of programs and campaigns. Wolfgang Link, member of the Executive Board of ProSiebenSat.1 Media SE: “We inform and report on all aspects of the federal election in numerous shows, reports, posts, clips, weekly series and specials. And with our 'Geh wählen! (Go vote!)’ campaign, we want to motivate people to exercise the great good of the right to vote in this year's federal election as one of Germany's leading media companies.” Highlights of the program include the prime-time shows “Kannste Kanzleramt? Baerbock, Laschet und Scholz zurück in der Schule“ (Kannste Kanzleramt? Baerbock, Laschet and Scholz back in school) (SAT.1) and the “ProSieben Bundestag Election Show”, the prime-time documentary “Deutschland radikal – Wie Hass unsere Gesellschaft spaltet” (Germany radical – How hate divides our society) (ProSieben), the knowledge special “Galileo Plus: Generation Change – Das interaktive Wahl-Spezial” (Galileo Plus: Generation Change – The interactive election special) (ProSieben) and the final TV triell of the top candidates before the election, simultaneously broadcasted on SAT.1, ProSieben, Kabel Eins, and the Group's digital platforms.

Seven.One Entertainment Group has signed a comprehensive first-look deal for the German TV market with Talpa Concepts, John de Mol's TV format development company. The deal gives the German entertainment company first access to all future formats developed or licensed by Talpa Concepts. Seven.One Entertainment Group will also be the exclusive producer for all new Talpa formats in the TV markets in Germany, Austria and Switzerland. The contract is for several years.

Since January 2021, ProSiebenSat.1 has bundled its digital investments under the umbrella of the newly established Commerce & Ventures segment. This includes NuCom Group and all its majority interests, as well as SevenVentures, SevenAccelerator and SevenGrowth. 

From June 2021, the portfolio companies will assume more responsibility so that they can expand their business models more strongly under their own steam. Rainer Beaujean, Chairman of the Executive Board of ProSiebenSat.1 Media SE, sees the realignment as the next step in the consistent implementation of the Group's strategy: "The closer cooperation will help us to expand synergies within the Group even more. By bundling all our investment businesses under the umbrella of the Commerce & Ventures segment, we are very well positioned to be the ideal partner for companies across all phases of growth."

More live. More local. And above all: more relevant. The Seven.One Entertainment Group continues to invest in the best entertainment and infotainment – especially in prime time. In addition to building up journalistic expertise with its own newsroom, this includes expanding the programming lineup: Formats like "Zervakis & Opdenhövel. Live." or the chancellor candidate interviews in the run-up to the 2021 federal election strengthen the focus on current, relevant, sustainable and entertaining content. ProSiebenSat.1 Executive Board member Wolfgang Link confirms the move: "Our stations are particularly successful with young target groups. We take this responsibility seriously, address socially relevant topics in our editorial formats and show attitude - in our own style and in the language of the viewers. With the launch of new magazine formats and the development of our newsroom, a total of more than 500 journalists will be working day in, day out under the umbrella of the Seven.One Entertainment Group in 2023."

As of January 2021, ProSiebenSat.1 is setting itself up in three segments: Entertainment, Dating and Commerce & Ventures. In this way, we aim to make our Company more synergistic, diversified and profitable, generating sustainable growth in all business areas. 

The platform-independent Entertainment segment combines our station brands with the production, content, distribution and sales business and thus represents the complete entertainment business value chain. The ParshipMeet Group, which forms our Dating segment, is one of the leading global players in the dating field. The segment is to substantially drive our diversification and significantly support the Group’s future growth through its various revenue streams. In the third segment, Commerce & Ventures, we bundle the ProSiebenSat.1 Group's growth businesses, which we grow and promote using media power, and hence our entire investment options. In addition to SevenVentures, this also includes SevenAccelerator, the investment vehicle SevenGrowth and the NuCom Group.

Seven.One Entertainment Group continues to expand its own production activities: The company will produce the news formats for ProSieben, SAT.1 and Kabel Eins itself across all platforms starting in 2023. Therefore, a central newsroom with around 60 employees will be set up at the main location in Unterfoehring. An additional office is also planned in Berlin. "With this, we are opening another important chapter on our way to becoming a platform-independent entertainment company," says Wolfgang Link, member of the ProSiebenSat.1 Executive Board. "In addition to our numerous public-value contents, this decision is also a clear signal that ProSiebenSat.1 is aware of its high socio-political responsibility and is prepared to fulfill it even more strongly.”

In October 2020, ProSiebenSat.1 subsidiary NuCom Group sold its entire stake of 92% in WindStar Medical to Oakley Capital. The financial investor also acquired the remaining 8% currently held by minority shareholders. WindStar Medical is one of the leading providers of healthcare products in Germany. The company develops and distributes high-quality medical products and over-the-counter pharmaceuticals for drugstores, supermarkets as well as pharmacies. Windstar Medical was part of ProSiebenSat.1 since 2016. In 2018, the company became part of NuCom Group. The enterprise value of WindStar Medical underlying the transaction was at EUR 280 million. Thus, in the last four years, ProSiebenSat.1 was able to increase the EV by 2.4x – especially thanks to the media reach provided. The sale of WindStar Medical was subject to the approval of relevant antitrust authorities. Closing of the transaction as well as the subsequent deconsolidation were expected for the fourth quarter of 2020.

The entertainment activities of ProSiebenSat.1 Media SE are managed under the umbrella brand of the Seven.One Entertainment Group since October 1, 2020. The brand unites all channel brands as well as the content, digital and marketing business under one roof, thus offering viewers cross-media content across all platforms. In the content area, the Seven.One Entertainment Group focuses on its own local programs and live events, more infotainment formats and sports. Strong channel brands and the constant expansion of its own digital offerings, not least with the streaming platform Joyn or the audio platform FYEO, transform the Seven.One Entertainment Group from a classic TV company to a platform-independent entertainment company.

ProSiebenSat.1’s and General Atlantic’s Parship Group has successfully completed the acquisition of the US company The Meet Group, following regulatory approval from all required authorities. The combined company operates as ParshipMeet Group, a newly-minted unicorn and a leading global player in the online dating market. The Group offers a full suite of services, from social dating and entertainment to online matchmaking. By carving out Parship Group from NuCom Group, ProSiebenSat.1 forms a strong new pillar in a highly profitable and fast-growing segment. Thus, ProSiebenSat.1 creates various upside opportunities and synergies within the Group and secures a stronger presence in Europe and North America.

SAT.1 secures the exclusive live free-TV package for the German Soccer League Bundesliga. This makes SAT.1 the only free-TV channel to show the Bundesliga as of season 2020/2021. Included in the rights package are a total of nine live matches per season, including the season opener and the Supercup as well as the matches before and after the winter break, the start of the second Bundesliga and the relegation matches for the first and second Bundesliga. The rights package is valid for four seasons. In addition to the live broadcast on SAT.1, the matches will be shown on ran.de, sat1.de and the associated apps as well as in the live stream on Joyn.

Exciting documentaries, expert talks, news podcasts or real cinema for your ears: ProSiebenSat.1 launches a new, local audio-on-demand platform, FYEO ("For Your Ears Only"). On this, users find free accessible Podcasts, which can be called up without registration and free of charge, as well as FYEO Premium with exclusive in-house productions, the "FYEO Originals". In addition to external partners such as Süddeutsche Zeitung or dpa, FYEO also cooperates with other ProSiebenSat.1 companies to bundle strengths and competencies in the audio sector. On the platform, users have access to all contents of the newly founded Starwatch Podcast Factory as well as exclusive formats from Studio71, among others.

Dr. Antonella Mei-Pochtler was appointed as a member of the ProSiebenSat.1 Supervisory Board with effect from April 13, 2020 by court. At the Annual General Meeting on June 10, 2020, the shareholders elected her as a new member of the Supervisory Board by a clear majority. Dr. Antonella Mei-Pochtler is taking over from Angela Gifford. She is an independent entrepreneur as well as a senior advisor at the Boston Consulting Group and special advisor to the Austrian Chancellor. Dr. Antonella Mei-Pochtler has extensive expertise as well as a global network in the areas of strategy, media and digital transformation.

ProSiebenSat.1 Media SE is reorganizing its Executive Board and refocusing more strongly on entertainment. Chief Financial Officer Rainer Beaujean has additionally assumed the office of Chairman of the Executive Board (“Vorstandssprecher”) on March 26. New appointees to the Executive Board are Wolfgang Link, who will be responsible for the Entertainment segment, and Christine Scheffler, who will continue to be in charge of Human Resources. Accompanying the reshuffle of the Executive Board is a change in relation to the strategic focus. ProSiebenSat.1 is returning the primary focus of its operating business to the entertainment sector in Germany, Austria and Switzerland). Here, the main emphasis is on local and live formats, also in close cooperation with Red Arrow Studios and Studio71. The Group’s digital reach is to be further extended, including via the streaming platform Joyn. NuCom Group remains an important pillar of the Group in synergistic terms.

Since January, ProSiebenSat.1 has been a signatory of the United Nations (UN) Global Compact, thereby expressly committing itself to its ten principles in the areas of human rights, labor standards, environment and climate, and corruption prevention. The United Nations Global Compact is the world's largest and most important initiative for responsible corporate governance. Based on ten universal principles and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), it pursues the vision of an inclusive and sustainable global economy. By joining, ProSiebenSat.1 is demonstrating, along with more than 13,000 other companies and organizations from civil society, politics and science in more than 160 countries, that we want to help shape this vision and strengthen our commitment to sustainability.

ProSiebenSat.1 TV Deutschland establishes the Berlin-based production company Pyjama Pictures with the two renowned content production experts Christian Ulmen and Carsten Kelber, thereby further expanding its expertise in the field of content production in Germany. In the future, the new creative set-up will produce fiction content for all ProSiebenSat.1 platforms as well as for external partners. Its focus will be on German-language and local content. As the first project, the newly founded production company will produce the fourth season of the hit series “jerks.” for the streaming platform Joyn and subsequent free-TV broadcasting on ProSieben.

Taking the step in ProSiebenSat.1's eSports offensive: 7Sports, the umbrella brand for the Group’s sports business, increases its stake in eSports GSA GmbH from 50 to 100 percent. Thus both brand and domain of the news portal www.eSports.com will also be transferred to 7Sports. Following Germany, Austria and Switzerland, 7Sports will from now on enforce its international activities with the complete takeover of eSports.com. Since 2016, 7Sports has been consistently expanding its involvement in the eSports segment, which is considered to be the fastest-growing branch in the sports and entertainment sector.

On September 1, 2019, PULS 24, the fourth home-grown Austrian TV station of ProSiebenSat.1 PULS 4 Group, as well as a brandnew, independent app were launched. In the era of “fake news” and filter bubbles, PULS 24 uses the power of live reporting to give viewers a direct and unadulterated view of the most important events in Austria - 24 hours a day, seven days a week. The new offering focuses primarily on information, news, business, tech, health, sports, society, service and entertainment. The 360° project covers all areas of the TV and digital sector with a high reach and is intended to provide viewers with added value to national and international TV offerings, especially with local and live content. With PULS 24, ProSiebenSat.1 is expanding its information expertise and driving forward the digital transformation of the Group.

Targeted advertising spots: The new addressable TV spots from SevenOne Media allow advertising spots to be addressed to a specific target audience, thus combining the high impact of advertising on television with various digital targeting options. The addressable TV spots are based on a unique technology that SevenOne Media has developed and filed for a Europe-wide patent and that allows distinct advertising spots to be superimposed in all advertising blocks. After a beta phase in which more than 60 campaigns have already been carried out, Seven One Media is now offering the addressable TV spots on all channels and in all program environments. With the new technology the marketer of ProSiebenSat.1 Group is driving forward the union of digital precision in delivery with the high reach of TV.

On June 18, the largest free TV offering in Germany Joyn, a Joint Venture between ProSiebenSat.1 and Discovery, launched: With Joyn, viewers can watch live streams of 55 channels for free on a single platform. As the app launches, all channels from ProSiebenSat.1, Discovery, Viacom, WELT, Sport1, channels of the public broadcasters ARD and ZDF plus other partners are included. Joyn also offers a vast on-demand library of original series, shows and exclusive previews for best entertainment anytime, anywhere. In addition, more than 40 TV formats are already available on Joyn as previews. For all viewers that have missed a TV show or want to watch it again, Joyn provides many shows in its media library for 30 days after. New features and content will be incorporated on the platform before the winter season. That includes content from maxdome and the Eurosport Player.

ProSiebenSat.1 and Facebook have concluded an agreement concerning the video platform Facebook Watch. The Facebook video destination thus offers its users a wide-ranging catalog of videos from the German media group. ProSiebenSat.1's inventory includes up-to-date content of TV shows and programs, archived content as well as exclusive clips giving viewers access to behind-the-scenes of their favorite shows, including backstage interviews and other information. This content on Facebook is curated by Studio71. Through the partnership, ProSiebenSat.1 increases its digital reach and generates additional revenues in the content and production business.

Mediengruppe RTL Deutschland and ProSiebenSat.1 are entering into a groundbreaking partnership and are establishing the joint venture “d-force”. There Advertisers are able to target relevant audiences in the area of addressable TV and online video across the complete portfolio of ProSiebenSat.1 and Mediengruppe RTL Deutschland, directly and individually, with just a few clicks. The portfolio includes the digital offerings of both media houses as well as third parties. Each company will hold 50% in the joint venture. The technological basis of the new partnership is the demand-side platform Active Agent, which is part of the Virtual Minds, the ad stack of ProSiebenSat.1 Group.

ProSiebenSat.1 Group continues to implement its three-pillar strategy thus adapting its management structure. As of April 1, 2019, ProSiebenSat.1 will establish a new Executive Committee on holding level, consisting of the CEO, CFO and Deputy CEO/Group General Counsel. At the same time, the pillars Entertainment, Content Production & Global Sales and Commerce will be led by two co-CEOs respectively. All co-CEOs as well as some key functional leaders will be part of a broader Executive Board, reporting to CEO Max Conze. With this, more operative decision-making power will be transferred to the individual pillars thus setting the Group significantly more agile and effective and pushing ahead with its transformation even more consistently.

ProSiebenSat.1 Group continues to expand its commerce portfolio: The worldwide growth equity investor General Atlantic sells Aroundhome shares to NuCom Group, the commerce business of ProSiebenSat.1, in exchange for an additional stake in NuCom. NuCom Group is thereby increasing its voting shares in Aroundhome from 42 percent to 94 percent. Aroundhome previously operated under the name Käuferportal and is Germany’s largest online broker for products and services around the house. NuCom Group now holds a majority stake in each of its ten portfolio companies.

7Sports, the sports business unit of the ProSiebenSat.1 Group, is forming a joint venture with the internationally positioned eSportscom AG. The platform of the same name is aimed at all eSports enthusiasts and fans and covers all aspects of the topic with content ranging from highlight videos from major eSports events and editorial reports through to online tournaments. 7Sports and eSportscom AG intend to jointly expand the product into the leading eSports platform in Germany, Austria and Switzerland. With its extensive expertise in the production and marketing of sports content, 7Sports will make a significant contribution to the platform’s growth. With the joint venture, ProSiebenSat.1 is clearly expanding its eSports activities.

ProSiebenSat.1 Digital launches the live quiz app QUIPP for smartphones and tablet computers and therefore relies on a digital application via live streaming for the first time. Every day at 8 pm, quiz enthusiasts can prove their knowledge with the free app and earn money while guessing the correct answers in categories such as science, sports, history or politics. With QUIPP, ProSiebenSat.1 Digital launches mobile live entertainment and extends its digital reach. In addition to the German QUIPP App, there’s also an Austrian version available, which is produced in Vienna daily.

The ProSiebenSat.1 subsidiary Studio71 is establishing a new business unit, “VERT – The Vertical Content Division.” The name is derived from vertical mobile content in 9:16 format, which is in high demand on platforms such as Instagram and Snapchat and among young target groups and advertisers. VERT now offers a full-service range for the implementation of successful influencer campaigns for all brands seeking to present their messages in a high-quality form in the aesthetic world of Instagram. VERT benefits from a high-reach influencer portfolio that Studio71 has built up over the past years.

ProSiebenSat.1 is announcing its first major transaction in the Commerce segment since partnering with General Atlantic: The NuCom Group and its portfolio company PARSHIP ELITE Group are acquiring 100% of eharmony. The company is considered the creator of the segment and one of the leading online matchmaking platforms in the United States. PARSHIP ELITE Group is the leading online matchmaking platform in the German-speaking and Benelux region. Since the majority acquisition, NuCom Group has supported the development of  PARSHIP ELITE Group into one of its most successful portfolio companies today.

James Baker has been appointed President & COO of Red Arrow Studios. In his new role starting in March 2019, he will manage the global production network of ProSiebenSat.1. Baker will report directly to Max Conze, CEO of ProSiebenSat.1 Media SE. Baker’s predecessor Jan David Frouman, Chairman & CEO of Red Arrow Studios, and a member of ProSiebenSat.1 Media SE’s Executive Board, has decided to leave both posts when his current management contract concludes at the end of February 2019 after 15 years with ProSiebenSat.1.

With a symbolic turn of the sod, ProSiebenSat.1 has given the go-ahead for the construction of the "New Campus". Among other things, four studios will be built on an area of ​​around 26,000 square meters, equipped with state-of-the-art production and broadcasting technology. In addition, the new campus offers flexibly designed office and conference rooms as well as a public entrance area. The campus brings together around 1,700 workplaces that were previously spread over several buildings. This makes it easier for ProSiebenSat.1 employees to work together and promotes direct and creative exchange across various departments and hierarchical levels.

ProSiebenSat.1 is completing the strategic review of its travel segment and will be selling its entire stake in tour operator Tropo to dnata, which is part of the Emirates Group. The purchase agreement also includes TV media volume worth several million euros for 2018 and 2019. ProSiebenSat.1 has held a majority stake in Tropo GmbH since 2012. In the roughly six years it has belonged to the media group, the tour operator for low-cost but high-quality travel packages, last-minute vacations, and hotel reservations has increased its brand awareness significantly through the use of TV advertising.

ProSiebenSat.1 and Discovery announce plans to build the leading local streaming platform in Germany by integrating 7TV, maxdome and Eurosport player in one place. This will be a pioneering OTT platform in Germany offering the full entertainment package of live streams, an extensive media library with great local content and the best from Hollywood as well as high-quality sports content. The future product will deliver an un-matched digital entertainment experience for consumers’ needs. It will feature a wide free offering, an attractively priced advertising free tier and premium pay tiers with access to exclusive sports and movies. ProSiebenSat.1 and Discovery aim to create bespoke content and rapidly scale and invest into the platform. Building a dedicated team of more than 200 professionals will support the successful start of the platform in first half of 2019.

The Annual General Meeting of ProSiebenSat.1 Media SE was held on May 16, 2018 in Munich. The shareholders adopted all proposed resolutions requiring their approval by a large majority. Around 870 participants attended the Annual General Meeting. The attendance rate was around 64% of share capital. ProSiebenSat.1 Media SE is continuing its earnings-oriented dividend policy: The shareholders resolved to distribute a dividend of EUR 1.93 per dividend-entitled share for the 2017 financial year (previous year: EUR 1.90). This equates to a total payout of around EUR 442 million and a payout ratio of 80.3% of adjusted net income. The dividend will be paid out on May 22, 2018. In addition, the remuneration system for Executive Board members was adopted by a significant majority of the Annual General Meeting.

ProSiebenSat.1 Media SE and Hubert Burda Media have concluded a collaboration agreement for content and sales. The primary objective of the collaboration is to offer the advertising market additional services with high-quality content and a wider reach as well as cross-media and interlinked products. Both partners want to use their particular strengths with female target groups and initially focus their cooperation on the fashion and beauty industries. The existing joint digital marketing will also be developed. With their portfolio consisting of TV, digital and print, on average, both partners reach over 95 percent of the German public every month.

RedSeven Entertainment is looking back on a success story: The company has become one of Germany’s most successful entertainment production companies and has produced hit formats such as “Germany’s next Topmodel“, “The Taste“ or “The Biggest Loser”. With the launch of its new Brand & Digital Studio unit, RedSeven specializes in developing and creating corporate marketing content for internal and external use. RedSeven is part of Red Arrow Studios, the production and distribution division of ProSiebenSat.1 Media SE.

With the launch of the European netID Foundation, the log-in alliance by ProSiebenSat.1, Mediengruppe RTL Deutschland and United Internet is taking concrete shape. As a separate entity, the foundation will help internet providers in all industries to implement the new European data protection law. To this end, it is providing an open industry standard branded "netID", with which every website in Europe can offer its users a secure login pursuant to data protection regulations. At the same time, the foundation ensures the standard's compliance and further development.

ProSiebenSat.1 Group, one of the largest independent media companies in Europe, is entering a long-term partnership with General Atlantic, a leading global growth equity firm, to help drive the strategic development of its Commerce business. ProSiebenSat.1 Group formed NCG – NuCom Group on January 1, 2018, which will unite ten strategic investments from its Commerce business - including Verivox, Parship Elite Group and Jochen Schweizer mydays Group.

Max Conze will become the new CEO of ProSiebenSat.1 Media SE with effect from June 1, 2018. He will succeed the long-time ProSiebenSat.1 CEO Thomas Ebeling  who left the Company on February 22, 2018. Until Max Conze will take up his post, Conrad Albert, Deputy CEO of ProSiebenSat.1 Media SE, serves as interim chairman from until May 31, 2018.

ProSiebenSat.1 Group continues to strengthen its activities in the ad-tech sector and is acquiring the e-commerce marketer Kairion from Cocomore AG. The company aggregates the advertising environments and data of over 80 online shops, an activity known as retail media. Advertisers can tailor and target their messages to what the shoppers are actually interested in buying.

ProSiebenSat.1 is acquiring a majority in esome advertising technologies, the leading social-advertising provider in the DACH region. The acquisition complements the Group's growing AdTech portfolio. In November, ProSiebenSat.1 has also invested 42 percent in BuzzBird, a platform for the simple implementation of influencer marketing campaigns.

As of January 2018, the Group will have a new organizational setup with the three business areas of Entertainment, Content Production & Global Sales and Commerce. The aim is to adapt the Group to the dynamically changing environment and to secure further sustainable, profitable growth.

ProSiebenSat.1 is selling all shares in Comvel GmbH, which operates the travel website weg.de, to lastminute.com Group. weg.de is one of Germany’s best-known online travel sites and has been a wholly owned subsidiary of ProSiebenSat.1 Group since January 2014.

Red Arrow has acquired a majority stake in global distribution company Gravitas Ventures. Based in the US, Gravitas is one of the largest all-rights film distributors in the world, with a particular focus on independently produced films and documentaries for global digital, SVOD and OTT platforms.

Red Arrow has closed a commercial and creative partnership with the newly founded US production company 10Fold. Based in Los Angeles, 10Fold is focused on both non-scripted and scripted content and boasts both active productions and a large slate of market-ready developments across numerous genres. 10Fold is owned by Emmy-winning producers Craig Armstrong and Rick Ringbakk, who have more than 45 years of combined experience in the entertainment industry. 

ProSiebenSat.1 TV Deutschland GmbH and the US program provider A + E Networks have agreed on a multi-year volume deal. The contract gives the German broadcasting group access to the extensive program catalog of A + E. In addition to programs of the internationally known broadcasters A + E, Lifetime and FYI, ProSiebenSat.1 also has exclusive rights to the portfolio of the History Channel, the most successful channel of A + E Networks.

The aim of the log-in alliance of ProSiebenSat.1, RTL Deutschland Media Group, and United Internet is to create a simple and secure registration and single sign-on service online. Three leading German media and internet companies are thus adapting their platforms to the EU’s new data protection standards. Zalando SE will be the first partner to make use of this log-in solution.

With “Media Regulations 4.0”, ProSiebenSat.1 Media SE is presenting a model prompting discussion about the realignment of media policy in Germany. The aim is to reach a larger number of young people with public service content to promote democratic values, contribute to societal discourse and enhance social coherence.

SevenVentures, ProSiebenSat.1 Media SE’s financial investor, has successfully sold a large part of its media-for-equity portfolio to the leading private equity firm Lexington Partners. As part of the transaction, up to 16 minority participations of SevenVentures and other Group companies will be transferred to the new “Crosslantic Capital” fund. Sales proceeds amount to a mid-double-digit million Euro figure. In regards to the media and cash investments made, ProSiebenSat.1 Group doubled the value and generated an IRR of around 30 %.

ProSiebenSat.1 Group is expanding its commerce business with another acquisition by taking a majority stake in Jochen Schweizer GmbH, which operates the business for experience gifts within the Jochen Schweizer Holding. ProSiebenSat.1 combines the acquired company with its own 100 % stake in mydays under the umbrella of Jochen Schweizer mydays Holding GmbH. Both companies and brands remain under the new holding company and complement each other in terms of offering and focus.

ProSiebenSat.1 Group is selling all its shares in Etraveli Holding AB to CVC Capital Partners, an international financial investor. The company, which is based in Uppsala, Sweden, is a global online travel agency (OTA) for flights. Since ProSiebenSat.1’s acquisition in November 2015, the company has significantly increased its revenues and earnings. In addition, the company’s value (based on an enterprise value of EUR 508 million) more than doubled within this period.  

ProSiebenSat.1, TF1 Group (France) and Mediaset (Italy and Spain), are establishing in equal shares the European Broadcaster Exchange (EBX). The joint venture marks the start of a deeper strategic collaboration to drive forward the technological development of online advertising. One focus will be on high-quality pan-European video campaigns to create new ways for advertisers to reach their customers. Since November 2017 Channel 4 has invested in European Broadcaster Exchange as exclusive UK partner.

Dr. Jan Kemper has been a member of the Executive Board of ProSiebenSat.1 Media as Chief Financial Officer since June 1, 2017. He will succeed Dr. Gunnar Wiedenfels, who is leaving the company at the end of March 2017. Kemper will also assume responsibility for the M&A business of ProSiebenSat.1 Media SE as of August 1, 2017, in addition to his duties as CFO of the Group. Chief Investment Officer Dr. Ralf Schremper is leaving the Company at the end of July 2017.

At the Annual General Meeting of ProSiebenSat.1 Media SE was, the shareholders resolved to distribute a dividend of EUR 1.90 per dividend-entitled share for the 2016 financial year. This represents an increase of 10 cents compared to the previous year and equates to a total payout of around EUR 435 million and a payout ratio of 84.7 % of underlying net income. The Company is thus continuing its earnings-oriented dividend policy.

ProSiebenSat.1 and Discovery Communications today announced plans to expand Germany’s mobile video and OTT marketplace through an enhanced streaming joint venture partnership for their brands in Germany. The 50/50 JV will bring German viewers more options and better quality to enjoy their favorite content and shows from ProSiebenSat.1, Discovery and eventually other content partners. At launch, the streaming service will bring together the seven channels included in ProSiebenSat.1’s current 7TV mobile offering: ProSieben, SAT.1, kabel eins, sixx, ProSieben MAXX, SAT.1 Gold and kabel eins Doku, along with Discovery’s free-to-air German channels DMAX and TLC.

ProSiebenSat.1 PULS 4 is acquiring the Austrian broadcasting group ATV from Tele München Fernseh GmbH & Co. Produktionsgesellschaft. ATV will be maintained as a full-service broadcaster with clear positioning. At the same time, the private station will benefit after being integrated into ProSiebenSat.1 PULS 4 Group from the synergies within the station family.

German broadcaster ProSiebenSat.1 TV Deutschland GmbH and leading U.S. developer of lifestyle content Scripps Networks Interactive, have announced an extensive, multi-year license agreement. This strategic cooperation will be launched in spring 2017 with branded blocks of Scripps Networks’ popular television brands HGTV, DIY Network, Food Network and Travel Channel on ProSiebenSat.1 TV Deutschland channels. The volume deal boasts more than 1.200 hours of high-quality lifestyle and factual entertainment programming to premiere on German television. In addition to broadcasting rights, the cooperation includes extensive online rights.

ProSiebenSat.1 Group continues to internationalize its online video business and is building up a strategic partnership with its European media partners TF1 Group (France) and Mediaset (Italy) in the field of multi-channel networks (MCN). The new investors will support Studio71 in tapping into additional markets alongside Germany, USA, Canada, Great Britain and Austria, and in continuing its strong growth trajectory over the recent years.

Sabine Eckhardt has been a member of the Executive Board of ProSiebenSat.1 Media SE since January 1, 2017 as Chief Commercial Officer (CCO). In her current role as Managing Director of SevenOne Media and SevenOne AdFactory, she was mainly responsible for developing the business with innovative, cross-media advertising products as well as the ProSiebenSat.1 marketer’s new clients business. In addition, she will now push the exploitation of group-wide synergy potential. Within the Digital Ventures & Commerce segment, she will also be assuming responsibility on Board level for the Group’s SevenVentures business. Dr. Christian Wegner leaves the Company as of December 31, 2016 after twelve years.

With kabel eins Doku, ProSiebenSat.1 launched a new free TV channel in Germany. History, real crime, nature and technology are the focus of documentaries and reports. The advertising-financed station is aimed specifically at male viewers aged 40 to 64. The Group is thus pursuing its successful multi-station strategy.

ProSiebenSat.1 Group has expanded its digital portfolio and acquired a majority stake in the PARSHIP ELITE Group, the leading provider of online dating services in the German-speaking region. This acquisition underlines the strategic focus on established and profitable growth companies and complete the existing portfolio by adding value.

The Red Arrow Entertainment Group has acquired a majority stake in the US production company 44Blue. The company is a leading producer of non-scripted TV programs. Red Arrow is thus expanding the factual entertainment portfolio and strengthening its presence on the key market of the US at the same time. Here, Red Arrow is also expanding in the digital sector and investing in the US production company Band of Outsiders.

From the end of 2016, ICE passengers will be able to watch films and series on maxdome, ProSiebenSat.1 Group’s online video library. The Group has concluded a long-term partnership with Deutsche Bahn. This means that maxdome will be integrated into the ICE portal of Deutsche Bahn as the only video service, which will be accessible via on-board WiFi. With this new partnership, maxdome will can significantly increase its reach. Every year, around 80 million people in Germany travel with ICE trains.

Red Arrow Entertainment Group has invested in the newly established production company Mad Rabbit. The joint venture, which is based in Toronto and Los Angeles, produces high-value fiction formats for the global market. Red Arrow has a minority interest in the company and all future Mad Rabbit projects will be distributed around the world by Red Arrow International. Fiction programs are particularly relevant for the Group because of the high international demand.

As first media company, ProSiebenSat.1Media SE has been included in the leading index in Germany (the DAX) since March 21, 2016. Thus, the Group is one of the 30 largest listed corporations in Germany following market capitalization and trading volume. Over the past five years, the share’s value has more than tripled. In 2016, the share started with a profit as well: It reached its highest closing price at EUR 48.66 on March 1 and was quoted at EUR 45.19 at the end of the quarter (previous year: EUR 45.71). The median price target is EUR 51.80.

Jan David Frouman has been a member of the Executive Board of ProSiebenSat.1 Media SE since March 1, 2016. The newly created Executive Board department, Content & Broadcasting, comprises TV activities with all station brands and the Group’s content strategy in Germany, Austria and Switzerland. Frouman has been working for ProSiebenSat.1 since 2004; as CEO and Chairman, he remains in charge of the Red Arrow Entertainment Group.

The Group has concluded an exclusive partnership with Cittadino. As a result, ProSiebenSat.1 is now able to market digital screens in exclusive and high footfall locations — including airports, gas stations and various public places in major cities. With this collaboration, we will reach more than 225 million additional contacts each month and offer advertising customers the entire portfolio on video screens: from TV to online and mobile platforms to digital-out-of-home.

Together with Smuggler, Red Arrow Entertainment Group founded the international production company Cove Pictures. The joint venture produces high-value fiction and comedy formats and factual programs for the global market. Red Arrow holds a minority stake in Cove pictures. Cove already has forged a creative alliance with Eon Productions to develop a number of shows for the international market.

Red Arrow Entertainment Group acquired a majority interest in Dorsey Pictures, a production company in the US. The Denver-based entity is a leading US producer of non-scripted TV programs and branded entertainment. The acquisition enlarges Red Arrow’s US production network with new program genres such as “outdoor adventure”. Red Arrow also opens up a new business area with branded entertainment.

Karga Seven is a leading US producer and developer of factual entertainment formats and produces both scripted and non-scripted programs. Via this acquisition, Red Arrow is continuing its rapid expansion in the world’s most important TV market. Karga Seven is headquartered in Los Angeles and the company also has a location in Istanbul.

ProSiebenSat.1 and Disney Germany, Switzerland and Austria signed a long-term master license agreement. The agreement gives ProSiebenSat.1 access to new Hollywood blockbusters and TV series from the Disney, Disney·Pixar, Lucasfilm, Marvel, and ABC Studios production companies. ProSiebenSat.1 Group has agreements with nearly all major Hollywood studios, producers, and film companies. The Group’s program supply is therefore secured in the long term.

With its purchase of etraveli, ProSiebenSat.1 realized the largest acquisition to date in its digital business. In October, the Company has acquired the leading pan-European online travel agency for flights. It complements the Travel Vertical with the Flight segment. By investing in etraveli, ProSiebenSat.1 has made its existing travel portfolio more international and set the course for further growth beyond Europe’s borders.

Axel Springer SE and ProSiebenSat.1 Media SE have launched a joint project to promote high-growth digital companies. The initiative aims to support innovative business ideas and start-ups in order to improve Germany’s position as a digital location, also on an international level. To this end, the two groups have already implemented three joint initiatives: Besides their investment in the Lakestar II investment fund, Axel Springer and ProSiebenSat.1 each acquired a minority interest in Jaunt, a US company specializing in augmented reality. The two media companies also invested in the online platform MyTicket.

On the basis of HbbTV, ProSiebenSat.1 is developing new forms of advertising that allow targeted modulation of commercials by region and by target group. In “switch-in” advertising for instance, a digital advertising banner is superimposed on the linear TV channel whenever the viewer switches over to the stations SAT.1, ProSieben, kabel eins and sixx. The ProSiebenSat.1 marketer SevenOne Media won the automotive company Daimler as first customer. In the new HbbTV-based forms of advertising, the Group sees a long-term opportunity to offer regional TV advertising via addressable TV.

ProSiebenSat.1 has acquired a 51.0% interest in Virtual Minds AG. The company is one of the leading European specialists in the dynamically growing programmatic advertising market. Virtual Minds’ products enable the increasingly automated sale and procurement of digital advertising, especially in the important market segment of video and moving images. Prior to this, ProSiebenSat.1 had already acquired a majority interest in SMARTSTREAM.TV, a company that provides services relating to the optimization of online advertising space. ProSiebenSat.1 is constantly broadening its own expertise in the automated sale of advertising in digital media and in individualized targeting. Thus, the Group offers its customers attractive online platforms and creates new growth opportunities.

Red Arrow Entertainment Group has strengthened its global digital presence by launching Ripple Entertainment, a digital media company in Los Angeles. The objective of Ripple Entertainment is to operate digital networks and to develop and produce content with Red Arrow Entertainment Group production companies, third-party providers, and independent creators. At the same time, Ripple Entertainment will exploit Red Arrow’s existing programming digitally, thus maximizing the value of the portfolio.

SAT.1 GOLD launches on January 17, 2013: Along the lines of "Mir geht's gold", the new free-to-air TV channel of ProSiebenSat.1 TV Deutschland is addressing the core target group of 40 to 64-year-olds with exclusively German TV productions, especially female viewers.

On October 1, 2012, the oldest SAT.1 format celebrates its 25th birthday: With a 21,2% market share in the 14- to 49- year-old target group, the birthday show takes over the market leadership between 5:30 am and 10:00 am.

The ProSiebenSat.1 Group's first two pay TV channels go on the air: SAT.1 Comedy and kabel eins CLASSICS. Besides "best of" favorite programs, they also offer audiences new productions.

On February 22, 2005 at 5:00 pm ProSiebenSat.1 Welt, a general interest program consisting of the best programs from SAT.1, ProSieben, kabel eins and N24, goes on air in the USA. The start button is pressed by national football coach Jürgen Klinsmann. Hans Fink and Jan Frouman take over the management of the US network.

Since September 2003, ProSieben’s slogan stands for great entertainment, brands and formats as well as forming bonds with the audience. A year later, the channel’s claim further develops the independent, registered lifestyle brand WE LOVE.

The “ProSieben Knowledge Award” is awarded for the first time on February 14, 2003. RED NOSE DAY is set up just a month later, on March 14, 2003.

Starting on March 8, 1999, Stefan Raab delights TV viewers nationwide with his weekly entertainment show “TV total”. In addition, the world’s most important film awards show, “The Oscars”, airs on ProSieben.

“Galileo”, Germany’s first daily science magazine hosted by Aiman Abdallah, goes an air on November 30, 1998.

Besides “K1 Nachrichten”, KABEL 1 launches the second member of the K1 information shows on September 25, 1997: “K1 Das Magazin” – a show presenting the main events of the week.

ProSieben’s first tabloid television program, “taff”, goes on air on May 29, 1995.

On January 4, 1995, Ulrich Meyer presents his first “akte” show on SAT.1. Serious tabloid journalism, current affairs, and in-depth research: The magazine soon became one of the longest-running programs on German private television.

“Hugo”, the first live interactive game show on German television, starts on April 14, 1994.

The first daily talk show, “Herrmann” with Wolf-Dieter Herrmann, goes on air on January 11, 1993.

On October 1, 1987 SAT.1 launches its breakfast show (at the beginning with the title "Guten Morgen mit SAT.1", from 1993 as "Deutschland heute morgen"), which quickly becomes the most successful morning show on German TV. From 5:30 on, talk and discussion, fun and service make getting up on weekdays a little easier. Public stations follow suit - after a five-year time lag.