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German television production company specialising in entertainment shows, part of the UFA Group and Bertelsmann.

Last updated September 27, 2026

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Overview

UFA Show GmbH was a German television production company that developed and produced entertainment programmes for various broadcasters. Its core business covered a wide range of entertainment genres, including variety and game shows, quiz and panel shows, as well as dating, comedy and music shows. The company was headquartered in Cologne-Deutz from July 2006. Until 2013 it operated under the name Grundy Light Entertainment (stylised as GRUNDY Light Entertainment), after which it was rebranded as UFA Show GmbH. In 2015 it merged with UFA Factual GmbH and has since been known as UFA Show & Factual GmbH, with retroactive effect from 1 January 2015. Like Grundy UFA TV Produktions GmbH, which produces television series, UFA Show belonged to the UFA Group and, globally, to FremantleMedia, one of the largest international producers of entertainment formats. FremantleMedia is part of the RTL Group, which in turn is a subsidiary of the German media company Bertelsmann SE & Co. KGaA. This ownership structure places UFA Show within a major European media conglomerate. The company's history dates back to 1997, when Grundy TV and Fremantle (Deutschland) Fernsehproduktions GmbH merged to form Pearson Television Deutschland. From August 2001 to August 2013 the producer operated as Grundy Light Entertainment. As part of the UFA rebranding in 2013, Grundy Light Entertainment was renamed UFA Show. In 2015 it merged with UFA Factual GmbH to become UFA Show & Factual GmbH. UFA Show expanded its production activities into Switzerland in 2005, founding a subsidiary called Grundy Schweiz AG together with its Swiss partner Ringier AG (Ringier TV division), with a majority stake. Since September 2010 the company has also been represented in Austria through Grundy Austria GmbH, based in Vienna. The name Grundy goes back decades to Australian Reg Grundy, one of the founders of international entertainment television production. UFA Show was a member of the international producers' association Frapa. Among its productions were well-known German entertainment formats such as Deutschland sucht den Superstar (RTL), X Factor (VOX; later Sky), Das Supertalent (RTL), Take Me Out (RTL), Familien-Duell (RTL), Herzblatt (ARD/BR), Dalli Dalli (NDR), Sag die Wahrheit (SWR), and many others. From January to June 2012 the company also produced the early-evening show Gottschalk Live, hosted by Thomas Gottschalk. The company was involved in social projects, supporting the Kalker Kindermittagstisch e.V. and the RTL foundation "Wir helfen Kindern". In 2011, research by Handelsblatt revealed criticism regarding candidate contracts and manipulation on Das Supertalent.

History

The company was formed in 1997 through the merger of Grundy TV and Fremantle (Deutschland) Fernsehproduktions GmbH into Pearson Television Deutschland. From August 2001 to August 2013, the producer operated under the name Grundy Light Entertainment. In 2005, the company expanded its production activities in Switzerland by founding Grundy Schweiz AG together with its Swiss partner Ringier AG (Ringier TV division), with a majority stake. Since September 2010, the company has also been represented in Austria through Grundy Austria GmbH, based in Vienna. Ute Biernat was the managing director of Grundy Austria GmbH. As part of the UFA rebranding in 2013, Grundy Light Entertainment was renamed UFA Show. In 2015, UFA Show GmbH merged with UFA Factual GmbH and has since been known as UFA Show & Factual GmbH, with retroactive effect from 1 January 2015. The name Grundy goes back decades to Australian Reg Grundy, one of the founders of international entertainment television production. UFA Show was a member of the international producers' association Frapa. From January 2012 to June 2012, the company produced the early-evening show Gottschalk Live, hosted by Thomas Gottschalk.

  • 2015

    Merged with UFA Factual GmbH to form UFA Show & Factual GmbH, retroactively from 1 January 2015.

  • 2013

    Rebranded as UFA Show as part of UFA rebranding (August 2013).

  • 2012

    Produced Gottschalk Live from January to June 2012.

  • 2010

    Grundy Austria GmbH established in Vienna (September 2010).

  • 2006

    Headquarters moved to Cologne-Deutz in July 2006.

  • 2005

    Expansion into Switzerland with the founding of Grundy Schweiz AG together with Ringier AG.

  • 2001

    Company begins operating as Grundy Light Entertainment (August 2001).

  • 1997

    Merger of Grundy TV and Fremantle (Deutschland) Fernsehproduktions GmbH to form Pearson Television Deutschland.

Products and positioning

Producer of entertainment shows for various television broadcasters, part of a global production network.

  • Deutschland sucht den Superstar

    Casting show on RTL.

  • X Factor

    Music competition on VOX; later revived on Sky.

  • Das Supertalent

    Talent show on RTL.

  • Take Me Out

    Dating show on RTL.

  • Familien-Duell

    Game show on RTL.

  • Gottschalk Live

    Early-evening show on ARD hosted by Thomas Gottschalk (2012).

  • Herzblatt

    Dating show on ARD/BR.

  • Dalli Dalli

    Game show on NDR.

  • Sag die Wahrheit

    Panel show on SWR.

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