dctp

dctp, short for Development Company for Television Program mbH (German: Entwicklungsgesellschaft für Fernsehprogramm), is a German media company founded in 1987 and headquartered in Düsseldorf. It operates as a platform for independent providers within the German private television landscape, producing and broadcasting content under its own editorial responsibility in programming windows on major channels including RTL, Sat.1, VOX, and, through PresseTV, on Swiss public broadcasters SRF 1 and SRF info. The company is structured as a GmbH (private limited company) with shares held by Alexander Kluge (37.5%), the Japanese advertising and public relations firm Dentsū (37.5%), Spiegel-Verlag Rudolf Augstein GmbH & Co. KG (12.5%), and Neue Zürcher Zeitung AG (12.5%). dctp's programming draws on its own productions, films largely sourced from the archives of Filmverlag der Autoren, and content from cooperation partners such as Spiegel TV, Neue Zürcher Zeitung, Süddeutsche Zeitung, stern, and the BBC. Under German media law, private broadcasters are obliged to air a certain proportion of third-party programming ("Drittsendelizenzen") and to reimburse the cooperation partner for costs. While documentaries have become commercially successful components of private television, many films are relegated to late-night slots. Notable productions include 10 vor 11 (1988–2018 on RTL), Spiegel TV (since 1988 on RTL), News & Stories (1988–2017 on Sat.1), stern TV (since 1990 on RTL), Spiegel TV Reportage (1990–2020 on Sat.1), Süddeutsche Zeitung TV (1993–2011 on VOX), NZZ Format (1993–2010 on VOX), Mitternachtsmagazin (1993–2007 on VOX), and BBC Exklusiv (1998–2011 on VOX). From 2001 to 2006, dctp jointly operated the television channel XXP with Spiegel TV. Their shares in XXP were sold to US media conglomerate Discovery Communications—98 percent in January 2006 and the remainder in August 2006. In May 2009, dctp launched the web TV format dctp.tv, which offers a livestream and a themed "Themenpark" with curated film loops. dctp.tv won the golden LeadAward in the Web-TV category on 25 March 2010 and the Webvideopreis Deutschland in the Talk category in 2011. It is licensed as a full program. The company has faced legal and regulatory challenges. In August 2008, Ulrich Wickert sued the responsible state media authority because his own production company UWP did not win a contract for window programming on RTL against dctp. Critics argue that virtually all legally mandated third-party windows have been filled by dctp programs. On 18 July 2014, following a decision by the Lower Saxony Higher Administrative Court (10 ME 99/13 of 11 July 2014), RTL's broadcasting management decided to cancel dctp productions Spiegel TV and stern TV with immediate effect. However, from 28 July 2014, RTL was again obliged to broadcast the magazines due to a prior procedural error. dctp remains active, with its website listing current formats such as GROSSE SAMSTAGSDOKU, SPIEGEL TV MAGAZIN, NEWS & STORIES, SPIEGEL TV Reportage, FOCUS TV Reportage, and 10 VOR 11.

dctp was founded in 1987 as Development Company for Television Program mbH (Entwicklungsgesellschaft für Fernsehprogramm), a platform for independent providers in the German private television sector. It is headquartered in Düsseldorf and structured as a GmbH. The founding is closely associated with Alexander Kluge, who remains a major shareholder. The company's ownership is divided among Alexander Kluge (37.5%), Dentsū (37.5%), Spiegel-Verlag Rudolf Augstein GmbH & Co. KG (12.5%), and Neue Zürich Zeitung AG (12.5%). From its early years, dctp produced and licensed programming for private broadcasters. Its productions include 10 vor 11 (1988–2018 on RTL), Spiegel TV (since 1988 on RTL), News & Stories (1988–2017 on Sat.1), Prime-Time/Spätausgabe (1990–2008 on RTL), stern TV (since 1990 on RTL), Spiegel TV Reportage (1990–2020 on Sat.1), Süddeutsche Zeitung TV (1993–2011 on VOX), NZZ Format (1993–2010 on VOX), Mitternachtsmagazin (1993–2007 on VOX), and BBC Exklusiv (1998–2011 on VOX). Content comes from own productions, films largely from the archives of Filmverlag der Autoren, and cooperation partners such as Spiegel TV, Neue Zürich Zeitung, Süddeutsche Zeitung, stern, and BBC. Under German law, private broadcasters are required to air a certain proportion of third-party programming ("Drittsendelizenzen") and to reimburse the cooperation partner for costs. From 2001 to 2006, dctp jointly operated the television channel XXP with Spiegel TV. Their shares in XXP were sold to US media conglomerate Discovery Communications—98 percent in January 2006 and the remainder in August 2006. In May 2009, dctp launched the web TV format dctp.tv, which includes a livestream and a themed park ("Themenpark") with so-called theme loops containing multiple films. Initial loops included titles such as "Krieg ist das Ende aller Pläne," "Kosmos," "150 Jahre Darwin und kein Ende," "Liebe macht hellsichtig," "Ohne Musik ist alles Leben ein Irrtum," and "Kapitalismus ist keine Einbahnstraße." On 25 March 2010, dctp.tv was awarded the golden LeadAward in the Web-TV category. In 2011, the project received the Webvideopreis Deutschland in the Talk category. dctp.tv is licensed as a full program. The company has been involved in legal and regulatory disputes. In August 2008, Ulrich Wickert sued the responsible state media authority because his own production company UWP did not win a contract for window programming on RTL against dctp. Critics argue that virtually all legally mandated third-party windows have been filled by dctp programs. On 18 July 2014, following a decision by the Lower Saxony Higher Administrative Court (10 ME 99/13 of 11 July 2014), RTL's broadcasting management decided to cancel dctp productions Spiegel TV and stern TV with immediate effect. However, from 28 July 2014, RTL was again obliged to broadcast the magazines due to a prior procedural error. dctp continues to operate, with its website listing current formats such as GROSSE SAMSTAGSDOKU, SPIEGEL TV MAGAZIN, NEWS & STORIES, SPIEGEL TV Reportage, FOCUS TV Reportage, and 10 VOR 11.

• 2014

  RTL cancels Spiegel TV and stern TV on 18 July; resumes on 28 July due to procedural error

• 2011

  dctp.tv wins Webvideopreis Deutschland in Talk category

• 2010

  dctp.tv wins golden LeadAward in Web-TV category on 25 March

• 2009

  dctp.tv launched in May

• 2008

  Ulrich Wickert sues state media authority over window programming allocation

• 2006

  Shares in XXP sold to Discovery Communications (98% in January, remainder in August)

• 2001

  dctp and Spiegel TV jointly operate XXP

• 1998

  BBC Exklusiv begins airing on VOX

• 1993

  Süddeutsche Zeitung TV, NZZ Format, and Mitternachtsmagazin begin airing on VOX

• 1990

  stern TV begins airing on RTL

• 1990

  Spiegel TV Reportage begins airing on Sat.1

• 1988

  10 vor 11 and Spiegel TV begin airing on RTL

• 1988

  News & Stories begins airing on Sat.1

• 1987

  dctp founded as Development Company for Television Program mbH

Platform for independent providers in German private television, producing and licensing high-quality documentaries and magazines for third-party windows.

• 10 vor 11

  Magazine aired 1988–2018 on RTL

• Spiegel TV

  Magazine aired since 1988 on RTL

• News & Stories

  Magazine aired 1988–2017 on Sat.1

• Prime-Time/Spätausgabe

  Program aired 1990–2008 on RTL

• stern TV

  Magazine aired since 1990 on RTL

• Spiegel TV Reportage

  Reportage aired 1990–2020 on Sat.1

• Süddeutsche Zeitung TV

  Magazine aired 1993–2011 on VOX

• NZZ Format

  Magazine aired 1993–2010 on VOX

• Mitternachtsmagazin

  Magazine aired 1993–2007 on VOX

• BBC Exklusiv

  Program aired 1998–2011 on VOX

• dctp.tv

  Web TV format launched in May 2009, featuring livestream and themed film loops

1. 1dctp.de - firmadctp.de
2. 2Dctp - Wikipediade.wikipedia.org
3. 3Dctp - Wikidatawikidata.org