German local TV channels münchen.tv and tv.ingolstadt have changed hands.
Munich real estate entrepreneur Professor Dr Max Schlereth is the new owner of both channels by taking over all shares from the previous stakeholders. Financial details were not disclosed.
With the move, Schlereth is adding a new business segment and a further 74 employees to the Derag group, of which he is the managing majority shareholder. The portfolio of Derag (Deutsche Realbesitz AG), which was founded in 1951, includes real estate development, property management, hotels with 18 properties and 3,200 rooms and serviced apartments in nine cities.
All jobs will be retained and he has long-term plans, stressed the new investor when announcing the takeover to the teams of both channels. “I believe in the power and success of local television. It is close to the people. It is authentic and, above all, it is verifiable. That is its great strength, especially in times of social media,” said Schlereth.
Horst Rettig, Managing Director of münchen.tv and tv.ingolstadt, thanked the previous shareholders Medienpool TV, Burda Broadcast Media, Studio Gong, Münchner Zeitungs-Verlage, HeronMedia, Neue Welle Antenne München and rt1.media group around Chairman Helmut Markwort for their commitment up to this point and welcomed the new owner.
“Both channels have developed enormously positively in recent years despite severe crises. We are very fortunate that in Max Schlereth we have found a person deeply committed to our two companies,” said Rettig. “Together, we are entering an exciting new era in which we will continue to work with all our energy on the success of münchen.tv and tv.ingolstadt.”
The transaction still requires regulatory approval by Bavarian media authority BLM.
