RTL Group and Virgin Media join Thinkbox
Thinkbox has announced today that RTL Group, the European entertainment network, and Virgin Media, one of the UK's leading entertainment and communications companies, have become the organisation’s first associate members.
Full shareholder status is currently reserved for TV broadcasters and their sales representatives, with the associate members to be involved with consultation and participation across Thinkbox activities and with Thinkbox’s working groups.
Oliver Herrgesell, RTL Group’s executive vice president of corporate communications, public affairs and marketing, said: “RTL Group has always believed in the fundamental strength of commercial, advertising-funded TV. Not out of complacency, but because the facts speak for themselves – and facts delivered by Thinkbox are convincing, its research innovative and thought-provoking. We look forward to a close co-operation to enforce the power of TV.”
Mark Brandon, commercial director, VMDS for Virgin Media, said: “Virgin Media is pleased to become an associate member of Thinkbox. The TV advertising value chain is evolving fast, with next generation TV platforms such as Virgin Media playing an increasingly prominent role in this evolution. We look forward to bringing our content knowledge, on demand expertise and business perspective to Thinkbox.”
Thinkbox’s shareholders are Channel 4, ITV, Sky Media, Turner Media Innovations and UKTV. The organisation represents over 90% of the commercial TV market in the UK through its shareholders’ owned and partner channels.
Tess Alps, Thinkbox’s chief executive, added: “We’re delighted that both RTL and Virgin Media have decided to support Thinkbox’s mission by becoming our first associate members. We’re also grateful for the acknowledgement of the work we are doing and their desire to help us do more to explain the commercial opportunities in TV’s rapidly developing future, be that TV on-demand, addressable advertising or product placement.
“We look forward to working with them and our shareholders to continue helping advertisers enjoy the unparalleled success that TV advertising, in all its forms, brings.”