Brainpool TV

Brainpool TV GmbH is a German television and film production company based in Cologne. It is associated primarily with light entertainment, comedy, event television and commercially successful German television formats. The company operates within Banijay's German production structure and works across several adjacent areas, including television production, film, live concerts and festivals, artist management, production services, marketing, rights exploitation and the development of emerging creative talent. Brainpool became particularly influential in German entertainment through its long-running relationship with television producer and entertainer Stefan Raab. That partnership helped create and sustain formats such as TV total, Schlag den Raab, the Wok World Cup and several music- and Eurovision-related programmes. The company's catalogue also includes comedy and scripted productions such as Ladykracher and Stromberg, as well as entertainment programmes connected with performers including Anke Engelke, Elton and Oliver Pocher. Its activities have therefore extended beyond conventional programme production into format ownership, talent-led development and exploitation of television rights. The company underwent several ownership changes during the 2000s. It was a subsidiary of VIVA Medien AG from 2001 until the mid-2000s. After MTV Networks Europe acquired VIVA, Brainpool was sold back to its co-founders and managing directors Jörg Grabosch and Ralf Günther in a management buyout announced in December 2006 and completed around the turn of 2006–2007. This restored Brainpool to independent management before it entered a broader international production group. In 2001, Brainpool expanded into France by taking a 50 percent stake in Show Devant Productions alongside the Swiss-based Gregoire Furrer Productions. It also formed Hasen TV-Produktion in Cologne with presenter Aleksandra Bechtel, a venture intended to develop entertainment formats for German and international markets. In 2007, Brainpool acquired a 74.9 percent stake in D'nA Productions, a Cologne comedy and talent producer associated with the NightWash stand-up format. These transactions strengthened its position in comedy and gave it additional international and talent-development capabilities. Banijay Entertainment entered the German market through Brainpool in 2009, acquiring a 50 percent stake. Banijay later acquired the remaining shares in 2020, making Brainpool part of the group's German production network. Marcus Wolter, then Banijay Germany chief executive and shareholder, became Brainpool's managing director in 2019. The company faced an employment restructuring in 2015 after Stefan Raab announced his retirement from regular television work. Brainpool announced plans to dismiss approximately 80 employees, although the Cologne Labour Court subsequently found that some dismissals were legally unjustified. The Raab relationship formally ended in 2023 after approximately 25 years. Brainpool retained the rights to the relevant format catalogue and continued producing the formats. In 2024, the former Raab TV production subsidiary was reorganized as Brainpool Entertainment, a division operating under the Brainpool name. Brainpool consequently remains an important German entertainment producer within Banijay, combining established catalogue rights with television, film, live-event and talent activities.

Brainpool TV developed as a Cologne-based German producer of entertainment, comedy and television formats. Its business broadened over time from programme production into film, live events, artist management, production services, marketing and rights exploitation. The company became closely identified with creator-led entertainment and with the commercial development of repeatable formats. During 2001, Brainpool pursued international and domestic expansion. It acquired a 50 percent stake in French light-entertainment company Show Devant Productions alongside Gregoire Furrer Productions, giving it a French production presence. In the same month it partnered with presenter Aleksandra Bechtel to establish Hasen TV-Produktion in Cologne. The new company was intended to create entertainment formats for German and international markets. Brainpool was part of VIVA Medien AG from 2001 to 2006. After MTV Networks Europe acquired VIVA, Brainpool was sold in a management buyout to co-founders and managing directors Jörg Grabosch and Ralf Günther. The transaction was announced in December 2006 and completed around the transition into 2007. In August 2007, Brainpool strengthened its comedy and talent activities by purchasing 74.9 percent of D'nA Productions, the Cologne company behind the NightWash stand-up format. Klaus-Jürgen Deuser remained associated with the unit's management. Banijay entered the German market in July 2009 by acquiring half of Brainpool. The transaction made Brainpool Banijay Entertainment's first German production-company investment and provided Banijay with a platform in German television. Banijay later consolidated its position, acquiring the remaining shares in 2020. In 2019, Marcus Wolter, Banijay Germany's chief executive and a shareholder, was appointed managing director of Brainpool. A central chapter in Brainpool's history was its relationship with Stefan Raab. Beginning in the late 1990s, the collaboration produced a substantial body of television formats, including TV total, Schlag den Raab, the Wok World Cup and several German Eurovision selection programmes. Brainpool also produced or participated in major entertainment and comedy titles such as Die Wochenshow, Ladykracher, Elton.tv, Rent a Pocher, Stromberg and NightWash. Its Eurovision-related work included national selection programmes and production involvement around the 2011 and 2012 Eurovision Song Contests. The relationship with Raab also influenced Brainpool's employment structure. When Raab announced his retirement from regular television work in 2015, Brainpool announced approximately 80 redundancies. The Cologne Labour Court later held that some of the dismissals were not legally justified. In 2011, the company and its partners used fan crowdfunding to finance Stromberg – The Movie; the campaign reportedly raised one million euros in a week from about 3,000 fans. Brainpool and Raab ended their formal partnership in 2023 after roughly 25 years. Brainpool retained the rights to the associated formats and continued producing them. In 2024, Raab TV was reorganized into Brainpool Entertainment, a division of Brainpool. Florian Göbels, Shiva Mobashery and Torsten Kluth continued to lead the rebranded unit in creative and executive production roles. Brainpool now operates as part of Banijay Germany, retaining its identity as a major German entertainment-production label with activities spanning television, film, live events, talent and catalogue rights.

• 2024

  Raab TV reorganized as Brainpool Entertainment

  [1]Brainpool TVen.wikipedia.org

  Raab TV was converted into Brainpool Entertainment, a division within Brainpool.

• 2023

  End of the Stefan Raab partnership

  [1]Brainpool TVen.wikipedia.org

  Brainpool and Stefan Raab ended their formal partnership, while Brainpool retained the associated format rights.

• 2020

  Banijay completes acquisition

  [1]Brainpool TVen.wikipedia.org

  Banijay acquired the remaining shares in Brainpool and obtained full ownership.

• 2019

  Marcus Wolter appointed managing director

  [1]Brainpool TVen.wikipedia.org

  Banijay Germany chief executive Marcus Wolter was appointed Brainpool's managing director.

• 2011

  Stromberg film crowdfunding

  [1]Brainpool TVen.wikipedia.org

  A fan crowdfunding campaign for Stromberg – The Movie reportedly raised one million euros within one week.

• 2009

  Banijay takes a 50 percent stake

  [1]Brainpool TVen.wikipedia.org

  Banijay Entertainment acquired half of Brainpool, entering the German television-production market.

• 2007

  D'nA Productions acquisition

  [1]Brainpool TVen.wikipedia.org

  Brainpool acquired a 74.9 percent stake in D'nA Productions, expanding its comedy and talent-production portfolio.

• 2006

  Management buyout

  [1]Brainpool TVen.wikipedia.org

  Brainpool was sold out of the VIVA and MTV ownership structure to co-founders Jörg Grabosch and Ralf Günther.

• 2001

  French expansion and Hasen TV launch

  [1]Brainpool TVen.wikipedia.org

  Brainpool acquired half of Show Devant Productions in France and partnered with Aleksandra Bechtel to launch Hasen TV-Produktion in Cologne.

• 1998

  Beginning of the Stefan Raab partnership

  [1]Brainpool TVen.wikipedia.org

  Brainpool began a long-running creative and production partnership with Stefan Raab, which later generated numerous entertainment and event formats.

A German entertainment-production house built around comedy, event television, talent-led formats and the development and exploitation of durable programme rights. Within Banijay Germany, Brainpool combines established domestic formats with production, live-event and artist-management capabilities.

• Television entertainment

  TV total

  A satirical and comedy-oriented television format associated with Stefan Raab and Brainpool. It became one of the company's best-known long-running entertainment properties and helped establish Brainpool's model of combining a distinctive presenter with recurring studio segments, topical material and expandable event concepts.

• Competition entertainment

  Schlag den Raab

  A competitive entertainment format built around a series of physical, strategic and general-knowledge contests. Its presenter-versus-contestant structure made it suitable for extended primetime broadcasts and helped make it one of the most internationally recognizable formats associated with Brainpool and Stefan Raab.

• Live event entertainment

  Wok World Cup

  An event programme based on competitive racing in modified woks. The format combined sport-like competition with celebrity participation and entertainment presentation, illustrating Brainpool's interest in turning unusual stunts and personality-driven concepts into recurring television events.

• Scripted comedy

  Stromberg

  A German workplace comedy series produced by Brainpool and later extended into a feature film. The property became notable for its character-based satire of office hierarchies and for the unusually strong fan involvement that supported the film's crowdfunding campaign.

• Comedy

  Ladykracher

  A sketch-comedy production associated with Brainpool and comedian Anke Engelke. It represents the company's long-standing emphasis on performer-led comedy and compact television formats built around recurring characters, sketches and topical humor.

• Stand-up comedy

  NightWash

  A stand-up comedy platform and television format associated with D'nA Productions. Brainpool's 2007 majority acquisition of D'nA Productions expanded the company's involvement in comedy talent development and live or studio-based stand-up entertainment.

• Music entertainment

  Eurovision selection and event productions

  Brainpool produced or contributed to a series of German Eurovision selection programmes, including Unser Star für Oslo, Unser Song für Deutschland, Unser Star für Baku, Unser Song für Malmö, Unser Song für Dänemark and Unser Song für Österreich. The company was also involved in production of the 2011 and 2012 Eurovision Song Contests.

• 2011Stromberg – The Movie fan crowdfunding

  Germany

  Brainpool and the Stromberg film project used a fan-financing campaign to demonstrate audience demand and fund production. The campaign reportedly attracted about 3,000 supporters and reached one million euros in one week.

  Outcome. The reported funding target was reached, enabling production of Stromberg – The Movie.

  Source

• 2024

  Reorganization of Raab TV as Brainpool EntertainmentStrategy

  Background

  Following the end of the formal partnership with Stefan Raab, Brainpool retained the relevant programme rights and reorganized the associated production activity.

  Action taken

  Raab TV was converted into Brainpool Entertainment, a division operating under the Brainpool name.

  Aftermath

  Florian Göbels, Shiva Mobashery and Torsten Kluth continued to lead the rebranded division in creative and executive production roles.

  Source

• 2023

  End of formal partnership with Stefan RaabStrategy

  Background

  Brainpool and Stefan Raab had worked together for approximately 25 years and had created a substantial portfolio of television formats.

  Action taken

  The parties ended their formal partnership. Brainpool retained the rights to the format catalogue created during the relationship and continued producing the programmes.

  Aftermath

  The former Raab TV unit was reorganized in 2024 as Brainpool Entertainment.

  Source

• 2015

  Workforce restructuring after Stefan Raab's retirement announcementStrategy

  Background

  Stefan Raab's announced withdrawal from television was expected to reduce Brainpool's production workload and revenue base in Raab-associated programming.

  Action taken

  Brainpool announced plans to dismiss approximately 80 employees at the end of 2015.

  Aftermath

  The Cologne Labour Court later found some of the dismissals unjustified and invalid. No reliable financial figures are included here.

  Source

1. 1Brainpool TVen.wikipedia.org