BBC Worldwide & All3Media Germany Strengthen Partnership

LONDON: BBC Worldwide and All3Media Germany are combining their format catalogues into a single collection for the jointly owned production company Tower Productions.

Tower Productions will have exclusive access to both BBC Worldwide’s and All3Media’s catalogues of non-scripted formats. Me, Myself & Eye Entertainment (MME) will no longer operate as a separate company, with its staff transferring to Tower Productions.

Arne Kreutzfeldt has been appointed as the new managing director of Tower Productions. Previously, Kreutzfeldt was executive producer and head of factual-entertainment programming at both Tower Productions and MME. Philipp Schmid, previously executive producer at BBC Worldwide, will be bringing added strength to Tower Productions' management as creative director and deputy managing director. The present managing director of MME, Dr. Marc Lammek, will be leaving the company by way of mutual agreement in the course of the restructuring process.

Tower Productions was formed in 2009 as a joint venture between All3Media (a major shareholder in MME Moviement) and BBC Worldwide, to produce and develop a wide spectrum of BBC Worldwide formats in Germany.

Tobi de Graaff, the executive VP for Western Europe and global markets at BBC Worldwide, commented: “Combining the two great format catalogues under one banner will make Tower a production powerhouse. I can’t imagine there being a more interesting and successful catalogue, with international hits ranging from Dancing with the Stars and Top Gear to Four in a Bed and Undercover Boss, to rival this partnership. With this new direction for Tower Productions in place we look to explore further opportunities in Western Europe.”

Dr. Markus Schäfer, the managing director of All3Media Germany and COO and CFO at MME Moviement, said: "It is an honor for us and underscores the international reputation of the All3Media Group, as well as our market position in Germany, that BBC Worldwide has decided to renew its cooperation with us. This represents another important step for us in implementing our strategy of continuing to grow in Germany with strong formats and partners, while at the same time enhancing the profile of the All3Media Group. I am particularly pleased that we have been able to enlist Arne Kreutzfeldt as managing director of Tower Productions, who is extremely familiar with the format rights catalogues owned by All3Media and BBC Worldwide, and that Philipp Schmid, as a format developer and programming expert from BBC Worldwide, will also be adding strength to the company's management.”