WDR mediagroup
Portrait
Profile of WDR mediagroup
Marketing advertising time. Making brands come alive.
The WDR mediagroup markets and distributes programmes of Westdeutscher Rundfunk (WDR).
It offers advertising time in the radio programmes with the widest reach and highest journalistic quality in North Rhine-Westphalia, as well as attractive sponsorship space on Das Erste, ARD’s national programme. At the same time, it makes WDR’s and ARD’s content and brands come alive for everyone – in retail, on platforms and at events, as well as on digital channels.
In addition to programme licensing and distribution, the services of the commercial WDR subsidiary also include merchandising, barrier-free media services and extensive IT and broadcasting services.
Management
Michael Loeb
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Managing Director / Chief Executive Officer
Michael Loeb studied law at the universities of Mannheim and Munich. In 1994, he passed the second legal state examination and joined the legal department of Westdeutscher Rundfunk (WDR, West German Broadcasting Company) in Cologne as a fully qualified lawyer for five years. He transferred to WDR mediagroup (WDRmg), the commercial affiliate of WDR, in 1999. Within the management board of WDRmg, he was responsible for program and operational issues as Chief Operating Officer from 2001 until 2008. During that time, he additionally assumed the position of General Manager for WDRmg licensing GmbH as well as the TV production company Colonia Media. In July 2008, he became Chief Executive Officer of WDRmg.
Frank Nielebock
.png "Frank Nielebock; Managing Director / Chief Financial Officer")
Managing Director / Chief Financial Officer
After studying business administration at the University of Passau, Frank Nielebock started his career in 1997 when he joined the management of the media company C.A.M.P. TV in Munich. In 2002, the business graduate was appointed Managing Director of the Monaco Film Group, as which he was responsible for finance, production and personnel. At the same time he served as an authorised representative and Director of Corporate Affairs for its parent company, Odeon Film AG. At the end of 2008, he joined WDR mediagroup in Cologne. As a member of management, he was responsible for finance and investments before becoming Managing Director in March 2017.
Subsidiaries
Subsidiaries
The WDR mediagroup has two wholly owned subsidiaries:
ARD Plus GmbH is the youngest subsidiary of the WDR mediagroup. It operates the further development of the video-on-demand service ARD Plus in the form of independent SVoD channels, available for example via MagentaTV, Amazon Prime Video and AppleTV.
WDR mediagroup digital GmbH is a leading IT and broadcast service provider. Its services are primarily aimed at public service broadcasters.
Compliance
Compliance
Transparency and market conformity play an important role for WDR mediagroup, which is why the company has established a Compliance Department that formulates guidelines for compliance with legal provisions (e.g. with regard to the laws pertaining to antitrust, competition, labour or data protection). Also, thanks to its Compliance Team, WDR mediagroup is on a safe footing when it comes to preventing corruption (invitations, entertainment, incentives, etc.). The responsibilities of the Compliance Department also include evaluating business processes and structures with regard to adequacy, suitability and efficiency.
WDR mediagroup has taken comprehensive measures to combat corruption. These include, inter alia, the appointment of an external ombudsman: lawyer Axel Groeger liaises with all whistleblowers who wish to remain anonymous for reasons of self-protection. Since lawyers are bound by professional discretion, their identity is protected and names need not be disclosed. Whistleblowers may be company employees, business partners or third parties. The ombudsman in particular deals with observations on possible irregularities, conflicts of interest and suspicious circumstances, persons or companies.
Contact:
Rechtsanwalt Axel Groeger
Kanzlei Redeker Sellner Dahs
Willy-Brandt-Allee 11
53113 Bonn
Germany
Tel.: +49 (0)228-7262 5151
Fax: +49 (0)228-7262 599
History
History of WDR mediagroup
1958 saw the foundation of WDR mediagroup GmbH, then still called Westdeutsches Werbefernsehen (WWF) GmbH, a wholly owned subsidiary of the Westdeutscher Rundfunk Köln. Its initial core business was the marketing of advertising slots on TV along with the producing and trade of programme formats for the early evening schedule of Das Erste TV channel. The marketing of advertising airtime on the radio followed in 1987. The company has since developed many other fields of business and has grown into a multimedia service. In 2004, it was renamed WDR mediagroup GmbH.
The different logos of WWF and WDR mediagroup over the decades.
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Logo-Animation - WDR mediagroup
"Gigglebug" comes to Channel 5's "Milkshake!"
/Gigglebug2017_teaser_305x200.jpg "'Gigglebug' comes to Channel 5's 'Milkshake!'")
The British broadcaster is betting on Gigglebug’s international popularity in the online world and will stream the episodes of the series on Milkshake!’s first ever YouTube channel as well as on the block’s website, milkshake.tv.
Reality and Comedy: New orginal WDR-formats on the market
/My_Garden_on_a_Plate_teaser_305x200(2).jpg "Reality and Comedy: New orginal WDR-formats on the market")
Content buyers from all over the world can now purchase the rights to produce international adaptations or remakes of the brand new reality formats "My Garden on a Plate" (pictured) and "Made with Love" as well as the fictional comedy series "Suck it up!".
"Little Sandman" added to sales catalogue
/Sandmann_teaser_305x200(2).jpg "'Little Sandman' added to sales catalogue")
The German cult programme as well as four additional children's formats that deal with dreaming and going to sleep are now available for international TV broadcasting, DVD publication and video on demand exploitation.
"Shaun the Sheep": New licensed products for pet accessories
/Shaun_Trixie_teaser_305x200(2).jpg "'Shaun the Sheep': New licensed products for pet accessories")
Trixie, the European market leader for pet supplies, will expand its popular range of "Shaun the Sheep" accessoires. Pet-owners can look forward to new plush squeak toys and cosy dog comforters.
“WildWoods”: broadcasting rights available now
/WildWoods_teaser_305x200(2).jpg "“WildWoods”: broadcasting rights available now")
The new live action series by Irish production studio Sixteen South will be filmed in summer 2017. It features puppets in beautiful outdoor locations and aims to encourage children to appreciate nature.
Kavaleer and WDRmg team up for "Dougie Noir"
/dougie_noir2_teaser_305x200(2).jpg "Kavaleer and WDRmg team up for 'Dougie Noir'")
Kavaleer Productions and WDR mediagroup will collaborate on a new 52 x 11 action-comedy series for 6-11 year olds, "Dougie Noir". The (estimated) €4.5m series is scheduled to begin pre-production Summer 2017.
On the way to new heights in international commercial orbit
/QPootle5_international_products_teaser_305x200.jpg "On the way to new heights in international commercial orbit")
Q Pootle 5 travels at full throttle, and not just aboard his spaceship! Renowned toy manufacturers NICI and Bullyland will launch a range of new merchandising products at retail stores across Europe and beyond.