John de Mol Buys into Axel Springer’s Schwartzkopff TV

HAMBURG/HILVERSUM: John de Mol's Talpa Media has acquired a 49.9 percent stake of the production company Schwartzkopff TV, which is owned by Axel Springer, and plans to rename the outfit Talpa Germany.

Schwartzkopff TV produces more than 180 hours of programming each year, with output for such channels as RTL, ProSieben, Sat.1, Vox and ZDF. The company entered into a deal in 2010 to co-produce Talpa formats in Germany. This has seen it producing local versions of The Voice and The Voice Kids as well as Utopia.

Dr. Jens Müffelmann, the CEO of Axel Springer Digital Ventures, said: “John de Mol and Axel Springer have a common understanding with regard to entrepreneurship, creativity and love for content. We could not think of a better partner for Schwartzkopff TV.”

John de Mol, the owner of Talpa Media, added: “Schwartzkopff TV has been our partner in the German market from the very beginning. The fact that we work together so well is an important factor in the success of the Talpa formats in Germany. I’m therefore very pleased with this strong confirmation of our partnership, which fits into Talpa’s philosophy.”

Karsten Roeder, the managing director of Schwartzkopff TV, commented: “Over the last four years with Talpa, we have been able to produce many new and exciting TV formats. We are therefore very happy about the participation and the intended closer collaboration.”