Neeb and Bartel replace Steffens at RTL
December 10, 2019
From January 1st 2020, Mediengruppe RTL will combine its linear TV channels and its streaming platform TVNOW. As part of the reorganisation of its programming division, which is responsible for the development and realisation of in-house produced series and films as well as for US Fiction, Frauke Neeb and Hauke Bartel will now jointly be responsible for all fictional offerings across the RTL media group.
The new dual leaders will report to RTL Managing Director Jörg Graf and VOX Managing Director Sascha Schwingel, who are working closely with Henning Tewes on their strategic programme development.
Schwingel commented: “Mediengruppe RTL is not exclusively Broadcasting or Streaming – we are both, highlighted by the reorganisation of our fiction department. We want the strongest stories and the best talent of Germany on all our platforms. For this reason, the entire media group RTL should in the future also have access to the wealth of experience and creative know-how of our respective expert teams. Henning Tewes, Jörg Graf and myself are particularly pleased that we have been able to win two talents from our own ranks with Frauke Neeb and Hauke Bartel for this position. We wish both of them success in their extended tasks. “
Philipp Steffens, who has led the RTL fiction since 2014 and has helped drive forward the reorganisation, has decided to leave the company.
RTL CEO Jörg Graf, commented: “I thank Philipp Steffens very much for his involvement in RTL fiction. We owe him many successful new programmes […] I especially thank him for setting up a strong RTL network of creatives in front of and behind the camera. Philipp has successfully laid the foundation for a new, trusting work with talents and producers. We will continue on this path together with RTL, VOX and TVNOW. So I am very happy that we could win Frauke Neeb and Hauke Bartel for this new form of cooperation and wish them both a great start in a new team setup. “
Steffens said: “The last five years at RTL have been exciting, fascinating and characterised by great team spirit and a common will to succeed. Together, my editorial team and I have developed big ideas and tackled ambitious challenges. I am most grateful to my colleagues and team for their trust, cohesiveness and dedication. With the reorganisation, the timing is right for my next big adventure. It has always been important to promote new talent in front of and behind the camera, I‘m looking forward to work more closely with creatives in the near future. I am very pleased that Frauke Neeb and Hauke Bartel will take the lead on RTL fiction, they are the best choice for the role and I wish them every success.”