Stefan Piëch

This interview originally appeared in the MIPCOM 2010 issue of TV Kids.

 

The German company Your Family Entertainment (YFE) focuses on high-quality programming for children and families. It also puts a premium on the creative force that can be harnessed from talented individuals working as a team. CEO Stefan Piëch talks about the company’s successful programming and its linear and mobile channels.

 

TV KIDS: What does YFE want to offer broadcasters and young viewers that they can’t find elsewhere?

PIËCH: Viewers have many shows to choose from, but we see few that are of good, sustainable quality. We are celebrating our 30th anniversary this year. We have produced and co-produced more than 70 shows and we now operate our own TV channels. Sadly, in the past few years, all of our German independent competitors either had to sell or went out of business.

 

In Germany, the homeland of fairy tales, quality comes first, and as a motivated and creative team we have a clear vision: the continued exploitation of premium quality productions should generate enthusiasm and inspiration in children, teenagers and families throughout the world.

 

There are few distributors that offer 3,500 half hours of high-quality programs of European origin. Most of our clients have known us for many years and trust in what we do. We make children and their parents happy, and reach them through good, wholesome content. We all know the difference between short-lived pleasure and happiness: when kids can discover something new, laugh and see role models they can trust, then they are happy.

 

TV KIDS: What genres of programming are you having success with in your program-sales business?

PIËCH: Our classics like Country Mouse and City Mouse, Fix & Foxi, Urmel, Enid Blyton are evergreens that most stations with a focus on both quality and high ratings request. We believe that quality is the most important factor, especially when there is too much product available in the market.

 

The Fairly OddParents has been very well received in Germany and Austria, and we are starting the licensing and merchandising business for the show this year. Currently in production we have Oscar the Balloonist, a preschool show co-produced with ZDF in HD. Li’l Larikkins is a production with our Australian partner Ettamogah Entertainment, as is Wakkaville, which targets both girls and boys ages six to nine. Two new shows, My Dad Is an Evil Genius and Ninjured, will be presented at MIP Junior.

 

TV KIDS: Tell us about your successful show Dragon Hunters. How did the project come about?

PIËCH: We co-produced Malo Korrigan with Philippe Delarue of Futurikon, one of the most talented European producers. We picked up Dragon Hunters at Cartoon Forum eight years ago, co-produced it with Super RTL and it became a great success. It follows the colorful adventures of Lian-Chu and Gwizdo, two inseparable dragon hunters. We are also offering a great new program produced by Futurikon called Shadow of the Elves. It features fairies and elves defending their meadowland and very good stories with animation of classic appeal.

 

TV KIDS: How has your pay-TV channel been performing and do you have plans to launch more channels?

PIËCH: In 2007, we launched our first very own pay-TV channel, yourfamily. Since then it has been successfully broadcast via various platforms in Germany, Austria, Switzerland, Luxembourg and France. It is the fastest-growing family channel in German-speaking Europe and has been enjoying a large number of subscribers and positive feedback. As parents are increasingly concerned about what their children are watching on TV, they appreciate yourfamily, an educational, non-violent channel that they can trust.

 

Alongside the well-established channel yourfamily, we have successfully launched mobile channels. Our three mobile channels are distributed in Austria via Hutchinson 3. Out of a total of 65 mobile channels, ours are ranked among the top ten. Based on this success we are planning to launch more channels in the international mobile and pay-TV markets abroad.

 

TV KIDS: Which titles would you like to highlight for MIPCOM?

PIËCH: Adventurers: Masters of Time is an action-adventure series for kids, which features four kids traveling to historic places via the Internet. The show is unique, well received and has already garnered good ratings in Germany, Austria and Turkey. Shadow of the Elves is another action-adventure series for kids, and the preschool shows Oscar the Balloonist and Altair currently on KI.KA are further highlights. We are getting many requests for Wakkaville and especially Li’l Larrikins.