Berlin, 1 September 2015 - From 4 to 9 September the international media will again be focusing on IFA in Berlin.
In addition to live coverage of this event television and radio stations will once again be making use of the world’s leading trade show for consumer electronics and home appliances in order to inform their viewers and listeners, trade visitors and the general public about their programmes, offers and projects and, equally importantly, to provide an extensive and varied range of entertainment for everyone attending this event.
International broadcasting stations at the IFA Global Broadcast Centre
The large number of broadcasting organisations that have registered at the Global Broadcast Centre in the Media Centre in Hall 6.3 are proof of the enormous interest that IFA attracts: the news agencies AP and Reuters, public sector networks belonging to the EBU with its headquarters in Switzerland, and the ENEX association of commercial broadcasters based in Luxembourg. The international networks reporting on IFA include CCTV and Tianjin TV from China, 01net TV, LCI, BFM TV, MCM, Sport 365, Euronews and OUATCH.tv from France, BBC from the UK, RAI and Mediaset from Italy, NHK from Japan, Polsat News from Poland, YTN and KBS from South Korea, IBA International from Israel, Nine Network from Australia, TRT from Turkey and the American broadcasting organisations CNBC/ NBC and Bloomberg.
National broadcasting organisations
ARD: IFA Radio, live television and numerous stars
In Hall 2.2 at IFA 2015 radio and television can be experienced live, along with information, entertainment and the latest technological trends, from the stations belonging to the ARD public sector network. The six stands and extensive programme on the stage will feature the latest technical developments in radio and television. Insights will be given into programme-making, while leading names from the world of information, together with show business stars can be seen live in the exhibition hall.
In Hall 2.2 the emphasis is on digital radio and the HbbTV standard, as well as on programmes from ARD. IFA Radio will be broadcasting from the glass digital radio studio and will be providing the sound for the fair, while ARD Digital in the “digital living room” will supply details about current innovations and the opportunities offered by traditional and new distribution channels. There are plenty of new discoveries to be made, including the world’s first virtual 360 degree video documentation from ARTE. Leading journalists and top entertainers from ARD will be appearing and performing on the ARD stage for the enjoyment of the entire family. From the end of August onwards all the details about ARD at IFA can be read about and followed under the hashtag “#ardifa15”, via Facebook and Twitter, and also actively experienced in the live blog. Useful information and the latest pictures each day can be found at “www.ifa.ard.de”.
As well as established HbbTV applications, ARD Digital is also presenting the new ARD Text, which enables viewers to make even more individual use of their televisions. Other new features this year include improvements to the ARD taskbar and the electronic programme guide ARD EPG. With its “ARD Couch Mode” the ARD Play-Out Centre is introducing a new, intuitively operated version of its programme guide for tablets. Visitors to the ARD Text stand can also try their hand at live subtitling and attempt to provide subtitling for an initiative entitled “Wie wird das Wetter?” (What will the weather be like?) using speech software.
The innovative rbb projects aim to show how subtitles are used in HbbTV media libraries. Sign language interpreter Laura M. Schwengber will combine sign language and music in order to present music videos live. For the first time the youngest visitors to the fair can also learn how and where they can see their favourite programmes, what apps are available and what other ways are available for finding out what is on offer for children. “SCHAU HIN!” is the name of an initiative providing advice for parents, with lots of new information about how to obtain the most from the media and also find out how competent they are in media usage. Meanwhile children will have an opportunity to take photographs and make their first attempts at digital image processing.
Each day at IFA the ARD stage in Hall 2.2 will offer variety and entertainment for young and old alike, from the production of entire television programmes such as “ARD-Buffet”, as well as switching live to various ARD programmes, the magazine programme “Mittagsmagazin” and the current affairs broadcast “tagesschau24”, and discussions with celebrities. The presenters René Kindermann and Singa Gätgens will be meeting many guests from such ARD shows as “Sturm der Liebe”, “Sechs auf einen Streich” and “Tatort”. They will also be inviting musical guests to join them on the stage. The Berlin band “Esther Niko” will be appearing on Saturday (5 Sept.), on Monday (7 Sept.) there will be the band “John Apart” from Potsdam, and on Tuesday (8 Sept.) the entertainer and singer Maxi Arland will be on the stage. On Sunday (6 Sept.) at 11 a.m. all ages are invited to a families’ concert by “Mukketier-Bande” in the ARD hall.
Marking 30 years of a popular series, a total of 1,546 episodes, “30 Jahre Lindenstrasse” can be seen on Sunday (6 Sept.) at IFA. To mark this anniversary actors as well as people who are normally behind the camera will be invited onto the ARD stage. Each day at IFA “Lindenstrassen-Spezial” will feature excerpts from previous and current episodes, a quiz with some great prizes for those who are familiar with the series, along with interviews and autograph sessions.
Each day (except Sunday, 6 Sept.) the “ARD Buffet” will be produced and broadcast in its entirety live from Hall 2.2 at IFA. Between 12.15 and 1 p.m. (on Saturday, 5 Sept. from 12.05 to 12.50 p.m.) television viewers and the audience in the hall will be able to see some fascinating topics and useful information about services and entertainment as well as enjoying some culinary delights too. The highlight of a visit to IFA will be the special edition of “ARD Buffet” on Saturday (5 Sept.), which is being broadcast live on Channel 1 at 12.05 p.m. The five editions of “ARD Buffet” from IFA are being presented by Florian Weber.
Starting on Monday (7 Sept.) the magazine programme “ARD Mittagsmagazin” will be broadcast live from Hall 2.2. Stefan Scheider will present the latest trends and products and will take viewers on a journey in front of and behind the scenes at IFA and Mittagsmagazin, featuring the latest flat screens, hifi products, sat-nav systems, cameras and mobile phones, with first hand information, expertly presented by the “ARD Mittagsmagazin” team. There will also be a chance to see what goes on behind the scenes at the current affairs programme “Tagesschau”. “Zuschauer lesen die Tagesschau” is the name of the show in which newsreaders will be inviting people onto the stage to present the news.
By the beginning of October the ARD programmes will focus on the concept of “homeland”. During the week devoted to “Homeland” the Das Erste (First) network, all television programmes shown on the Third network, ARD radio stations and online services will be dealing with many different aspects of this subject, which will be covered beforehand at IFA. Visitors and prominent guests can use a whiteboard to state their own personal views about the subject of “homeland”. One of the sponsors of this theme week is the actress Nathalie Wörner, who has already announced a visit to IFA.
Live broadcasts, RTL Com.mit award and news training with n-tv
The news channel n-tv can be found at IFA again this year with its own stand and will also be broadcasting live from its own studio at the fair. Numerous News Specials, live connections and “Ratgeber” (Advice) programmes as well as online on “n-tv.de” will be used to provide a wealth of details and technical innovations and trends in the industry. Furthermore on 9 September the RTL Com.mit Award will be presented by the senior RTL presenter Peter Kloeppel accompanied by the star guest Nena on the n-tv stand in Hall 6.2.
A display area measuring 625 square metres is being used by the news network to present a close-up look at television. Visitors to the fair can be there in person in Berlin from 4 September onwards when the n-tv presenters Annett Möller andIsabelle Körner take a look at world events and at new items on show at the fair, as well as discussing current developments with experts. The advice programme “Ratgeber” with Carola Ferstl and Torsten Knippertz will also examine the most important trends and present some of the outstanding features of IFA 2015.
With up-to-the-minute reports, product tests and its own videos, n-tv will be using online at “n-tv.de” and its mobile services to provide a wide-ranging look at what is happening at the fair. On the n-tv stand presenters, technicians and camera operators can be seen at work and television can be experienced as it is being made, but it will also be possible to get in front of the cameras themselves in a section entitled “News Training”. The n-tv presenters will be providing assistance as well as passing on useful hints. The end results will be copied onto a memory stick, which visitors can take home with them. Once again there will be a number of other special features, including photo sessions. In addition a comfortable lounge-type setting will be created where successful n-tv apps for tablets, smartphones and Smart Watches, the network’s car entertainment systems and the latest n-tv app for Smart TV can be tried out.
Das Erste (First) network with well known faces and opportunities for active involvement
There are numerous opportunities for the public to get actively involved and experience the various highlights of the programme and the contributors to the Das Erste (First) network at IFA 2015. Well-known figures from such popular programmes as “Tatort”, “Polizeiruf 110”, “Rote Rosen”, “Lindenstrasse”, “Grossstadtrevier”, “Sturm der Liebe” and “Tagesschau” will describe their work and answer questions from the audience on the ARD stage in Hall 2.2. For younger viewers many of the cast of the ARD children’s films “Prinzessin Marleen”, “Nussknacker und Mäusekönig” and “Prinz im Bärenfell” and from “Schloss Einstein” and “Tigerenten Club” have announced that they will be present.
The Das Erste network’s stand will also offer many autograph sessions with personal dedications from stars such as Jörg Pilawa and the “Tagesschau” teamled by Jan Hofer, with Judith Rakers, Thorsten Schröder and Susanne Daubner. Also joining them will be the “Tagesthemen” presenter Thomas Roth. Fans of the crime series “Tatort” will be eagerly awaiting visits by Dagmar Manzel and Elisabeth Wasserscheid. Actors Lisa Maria Potthoff and Peter Lohmeyer will be featuring their thriller “Brandmal”.
Two major anniversaries are being celebrated at IFA this year: “Lindenstrasse” is thirty and “Sturm der Liebe” marks ten years of broadcasts. The daily “Lindenstrasse” specials in the ARD hall inevitably include appearances by some of the main characters from the series, including Marie-Luise Marjan, Joachim H. Luger, Rebecca Siemoneit-Barum, Gunnar Solka, Irene Fischer and Andrea Spatzek. Actors appearing in “Sturm der Liebe” will also be using this opportunity to meet their fans at IFA again. The new perfect couple Magdalena Steinlein andKai Albrecht as well as long time favourites including Mona Seefried, Joachim Lätsch and Dietrich Adam will also be calling at the stand.
New characters in “Rote Rosen”, Lasse Petersen and Leoni Landa, as well as Frederic Böhle, Gregory B. Waldis and Claus Dieter Clausnitzer will also be meeting their fans during IFA. And for those who cannot be there on the Berlin Exhibition Grounds themselves, it will still be possible to follow the Das Erste network and its stars and activities via Twitter and Facebook.
The next round of the quiz show “Quizduell” will be taking place on the Das Erste network during IFA. Puzzles will also be a feature of the trade show, and visitors to IFA can demonstrate their knowledge at the Quizduell training camp. At the end of the week there will be a fantastic prize, an exclusive visit to the studio during a live broadcast of “Quizduell”, to be drawn from among the daily winners. The presenter Jörg Pilawa has promised to call at the Das Erste network’s stand.
Another outstanding feature this year on the Das Erste network is entitled “Basketball im Ersten”. The preliminary round of the European Basketball Championships is taking place in Berlin during IFA and three of the games are being screened live by the Das Erste network. To mark the occasion a court has been set up with numerous games consoles on which visitors can play virtual games. Beforehand visitors will have an exclusive opportunity to play the basketball simulation game “NBA 2K16” and to demonstrate their skills as gamers. The German professional basketball player Dennis Schröder has agreed to attend on the opening day (4 Sept.). The NBA star, who is signed to the American team Atlanta Hawks, will be describing his career and his role in the German team, and will also be talking about the European Basketball Championships in 2015.
radioBerlin Show and a new afternoon programme from rbb
This year the stand of the local broadcasting station Rundfunk Berlin-Brandenburg (rbb) in the ARD hall, No. 2.2, is dominated by radioBerlin 88,8, which broadcasts to the city. Several times each day the “radioBerlin Show” will provide entertainment and information for visitors to the fair. Well known faces and voices from rbb will be appearing on the stage, and afterwards they will be answering questions from the public during an autograph session.
Visitors to IFA can also demonstrate their knowledge of Berlin on the rbb stand during the big Berlin quiz entitled “Wie viel Berliner steckt in Dir?” (How much of a Berliner you?). Or for those who want to improve their presenting skills there will be opportunities to read the news. In addition, at the service counter, answers can be found to all kinds of questions about rbb programmes.
On 7 September “rbb UM4 – Der neue Nachmittag” (The New Afternoon) will begin on rbb television and will be screened every week, Monday to Friday from 4 to 5 p.m. On the day after its initial broadcast, Tuesday (8 Sept.), the programme will be broadcast live from IFA. And what is special about it: “rbb UM4” will be created in a mobile glass studio, from a different location each day. This is authentic television and an exploratory trip at the same time, getting close to the people and the public at the fair. On the Tuesday at IFA the studio will be set up in front of the Main South Entrance to the Berlin Exhibition Grounds, and everyone is invited to come along and see for themselves.
Visitors can meet and talk with the “rbb UM4” presenters and obtain their autographs on the rbb stand in the ARD hall, No. 2.2: Arndt Breitfeld will be there on 6 September at 4 p.m., Susanne Tockan on 7 September at 3 p.m., and Marc Langebeck on 8 September also at 3 p.m. For those who are interested this is an exclusive opportunity to obtain comprehensive details about this new programme from rbb television.
IFA reports on all N24 and WELT channels and on site
During IFA both N24 and WELT will be providing comprehensive, live coverage on TV, on the websites, using mobile services and social channels as well as in “Woche der Zukunft” (Week of the Future) and in the WELT print editions. On the shared stand in Hall 9 visitors to the fair can learn about the main themes of IFA 2015, such as “Virtual Reality”, and experience them for themselves.
Coverage of the fair will be provided by presenters and reporters, on television and on the internet, beginning on Thursday (3 Sept.) in a number of live broadcasts, and for the duration of the fair on N24 news broadcasts from 6 a.m. onwards, as well as in the evening stock market report “Börse am Abend” at 6.15 p.m. Presenters Marcus Tychsen and Felicia Pochhammer will be at the fair to introduce the latest product highlights and to meet and hold discussions with some fascinating guests. There will be live broadcasts from the Berlin Exhibition Grounds beginning at 8 a.m. on the first day of the fair (4 Sept.).
Internet users and visitors to the stand in Hall 9 can expect a varied programme, introduced by Janos Joskowitz. It will include in-depth product tests, discussions with experts and reports on a number of main themes such as the digital start-up scene and various technological developments. On the stand visitors will be able to experience virtual reality for themselves and try out 360 degree glasses. There will also be a Sharing Box where selfies can be taken. In accordance with the slogan “Become a news star!” these can then be released straightaway on social networks and can also be seen on the large screen on the stand. TV presenters and reporters will also be on the stand to describe their working day in a section headed “Faces”. N24 and WELT will be allowing people to experience television and the digital world in close up at IFA 2015.
ARTE presents world’s first 360 degree video documentation
The world’s first 360 degree video documentation, “Polar Sea”, is being presented by ARTE in the ARD hall, No. 2.2, at IFA 2015. This is a multimedia experiment taking viewers into the icy Arctic, where they can see the impact of climate change with their own eyes, interactively, by means of online 360 degree videos and by taking an all-round look through virtual reality glasses. Using tablets on the stand visitors to IFA can explore the Arctic, try out virtual reality glasses and conduct their own research at home using a smartphone and the cardboard ARTE 360 degree glasses.
RTL acknowledges social commitment
Among the highlights on the n-tv stand in Hall 6.2 is the presentation of the RTL Com.mit Award at midday on the final day of the fair (9 September). This year, with this award RTL is responding to the efforts of young people who are not only travelling and making music but are also demonstrating their social commitment in an exemplary fashion, and in so doing, helping to bring together different generations and cultures. A total of 161 projects, more than ever before, have been submitted under the slogan “It’s the music that does it”. For 2015 the award will be made in three categories at IFA. There will be three individual finalists and three in the category of associations/groups. In addition there will be a Public’s Prize, chosen by users of the award website. RTL senior presenter Peter Kloeppeland a jury, comprising the singer Nena, DJ Antoine and Mrs. Greenbird, will be presenting the prizes on 9 September. The entire RTL Com.mit Award jury will be present at the fair on the Wednesday.
Special broadcasts and competitions at tv.berlin
Once again this year IFA will feature widely in the coverage by tv.berlin, the capital’s own station. Each day from 4 to 9 September 2015 during the fair the city’s television station will broadcast a special one-hour programme. TV reporters Ina Buchholz and Ildiko Bognar will present the programme, with the highlights among the consumer electronics and home appliances, technical trends and some of the fascinating events taking place on the Exhibition Grounds. There will also be a number of competitions offering viewers a chance to win some highly desirable technical products. The daily broadcasts during the fair will be preceded in the week prior to the event by advance coverage of IFA and, when it is all over,tv.berlin will be presenting a “Best of”.
KiKA figure creates a happy mood
In Hall 2.2 the youngest discoverers at IFA will find a colourful children’s programme featuring the “Sandmann”, “Pittiplatsch” and other cult figures, including “Ernie und Bert”, who will also be attending the fair and will provide popular subjects for photographers. “Bernd das Brot” is once again putting in an appearance too. The entertaining KiKA figure will be at the children’s events each day between 10 a.m. and 6 p.m. to help create a happy mood. As in previous years all these characters will be on the ARD stage at the end of each day at IFA to say goodbye to all their young guests.
National radio stations
Radioeins: Digital radio live from IFA
The soundtrack for IFA is being provided each day between 10 a.m. and 6 p.m. by ARD with its IFA Radio from the glass studio in Hall 2.2. In cooperation withRadioeins from Rundfunk Berlin-Brandenburg (rbb) and Deutschlandradio Kultur a varied programme of text and music will be provided. Together with the Radioeins presenters Anja Goerz and Jörg Wagner, two well/known voices from Deutschlandradio, Vera Linss and Daniel Fiene, will be conducting interviews and providing information about digital radio and a wealth of details about various aspects of IFA.
As a new feature this ARD IFA Radio is also available as visual radio: four cameras will capture live impressions from visitors, and some of the activities in the studio and on the stand. A special intelligent system is used to switch between the cameras. It is capable of “detecting” which studio microphone is being spoken into at any particular time, and activates the relevant camera to provide a live picture. This enables anyone who is interested to be in the studio at any time via a videostream in order to experience the entertaining interviews and spontaneous singing. The best scenes from IFA Radio will then automatically be played as slideshows on digital radio. IFA Radio can be heard from 3 September onwards in the rbb digital radio reception area on Channel 7D and also online at “www.digitalradio.de”. Throughout Germany the broadcasts can be received on digital radio between 10 a.m. and 1 p.m. on the space on the dial between Dradio Documents and Debates (Dradio DokDeb).
In addition to live radio from the glass studio, anyone attending the fair can visit the digital radio stand to see for themselves how quickly the content accompanying the programmes is created. Pictures accompanying interviews in the studio or a snapshot directly from the stand can be transmitted viaDAB+ Slideshow. This will show visitors to the fair how digital radio add-on services are created and the added benefits that they provide compared with standard radio services. The new digital radio services can be tried out on numerous devices at the fair. Digital radio reception is already available to 90 per cent of the population.
Fritz presents Die Neuen DeutschPoeten
Outstanding texts in German and a wealth of musical diversity in the open air amidst trees and plants׃ for the sixth time the popular rbb station for young people is presenting “Fritz – Die Neuen DeutschPoeten” in the Messe Berlin Summer Garden at IFA. Performing on Friday evening (4 Sept.), starting at 5.30 p.m., are Clueso and AnnenMayKantereit, and on Saturday (5 Sept.) from 2 p.m. onwards, Jan Delay & Disko No.1, Cro, Bilderbuch, Die Orsons, Teesy, Joris, Philipp Dittberner and Tonbandgerät.
With “Die Neuen DeutschPoeten” the public network is providing successful artists and new talent the publicity that they need. In this way Fritz is supporting German musical culture in a continuous and lasting way, without having to rely on any commercial interests. With up to 13,000 fans “Die Neuen DeutschPoeten” is the best attended of any Fritz event.
Almost all the tickets for this year's open-air festival at IFA have already been sold. Admission tickets are also valid as day tickets for IFA. This year Fritz is again broadcasting all the Neuen DeutschPoeten concerts live on the radio and as a video stream on “fritz.de”. The event is also being recorded by rbb television and highlights from the concert will be screened on Thursday (10 Sept.) at 10.45 p.m.
Plenty of information and entertainment from radioBerlin 88.8
This year radioBerlin 88.8, radio for the city from rbb, will form the focal point of the Rundfunk Berlin-Brandenburg (rbb) stand in the ARD hall, No. 2.2. Starting at 11 a.m. the “radioBerlin-Show” will be broadcasting every hour on the hour with a wealth of entertainment and information for visitors to the fair. Among those taking part will be such popular presenters as Sascha Hingst (4 Sept., 2 p.m.) andCathrin Böhme (9 Sept., 12 midday) from the current affairs programme “Abendschau”, the presenter of “Stilbruch”, Petra Gute (4 Sept., 12 midday) and radioBerlin broadcasters Jürgen Jürgens (6 Sept., 1 p.m.), Frauke Gust (7 Sept., 2 p.m.) and the morning duo Djamil Deininger and Sarah Zerdick (9 Sept., 11 a.m.). Other well-known faces and voices from rbb will also be appearing on the stage and will be available for discussions and to sign autographs.
Hits and Stars at the AntenneCafé
An invitation goes out again this year to visitors to call at the Antenne-Café at IFA. Each day at 2 p.m. from Monday to Wednesday (7-9 Sept.) Antenne Brandenburg from rbb is presenting Hits and Stars in the IFA Summer Garden, introduced by Linda Hesse. Monday's (7 Sept.) programme features the German pop bands Rainbirds and Strandlichter, while on Tuesday (8 Sept.) Pe Werner andDaniel Nitt will be performing, and on Wednesday (9 Sept.) the band Bollmer andMatteo Capreoli will be appearing.
Deutschlandradio with details about the expansion of DAB+
Deutschlandradio is at IFA 2015 in Hall 2.2 with its three nationwide services Deutschlandfunk, Deutschlandradio Kultur and DRadio Wissen. Attention will focus in particular on DRadio Wissen, a quality radio station with a mains connection for young listeners, setting the pace and providing an opportunity for experiments aimed at creating the radio of the future.
Details are available about programmes and broadcasts as well as about the widespread expansion of DAB+. Programme makers will be on the stand and on the ARD stage to answer visitors' questions. At interactive stations it will also be possible to familiarise oneself with the programmes in other ways.
Berliner Rundfunk 91.4 reporting from the Exhibition Grounds
Listeners to Berliner Rundfunk 91.4 will be hearing from Berlin reporters at IFA at regular intervals throughout the fair. Information will be provided about the most exciting innovations and the reporters will be engaging in discussions with experts as well as obtaining the views of many listeners and visitors.
Young IFA Webzine – from young people for young people
There is a lot going on in the Young IFA area in Hall 15.2. What sort of technical innovations can be found at the fair? When and where can celebrities be seen? What stars are performing at the fair, and where? Young journalists are reporting in text and on film about the highlights of the fair and about outstanding campaigns, as well as giving inside tips, all under the slogan “from young people for young people”. This year Young IFA reporters are out and about each day at the fair with cameras and microphones, producing daily film items for the Young IFA Webzine. In the Young IFA Blog young writers are presenting their own perspective on IFA 2015.
The Japanese broadcasting company Nippon Hōsō Kyōkai with its foreign service NHK World and its mascot “Dōmo-kun” is attending for the first time. In addition to the opportunity to learn about traditional culture and current trends in Japan, visitors can also be photographed with the furry Dōmo-kun or with its digital equivalent. This year's highlights include the major YouTube tech blogger meeting at Young IFA. In these relaxed surroundings technology freaks can meet with Germany's best known tech bloggers including Alex from MrHelferSyndrom, Balazsfrom TechVideo, Colin from Herr TechNews, Felix from Felixba, Julian from Own Galaxy and Matze from ValueTech as well as Mike Suminski and Valentin Möllerand discuss with them the main trends and highlights at IFA 2015.
Another major theme is: from community blog to community film. “Notes of Berlin – der Film” is the first blog to have been adapted for the cinema. The producerMartin Danisch from Nico Kupferberg Produktion is showing an episode from this film and providing details about this unusual project. Webzine reporters on the Philips stand are also planning to interview Jürgen Klopp, former manager of Borussia Dortmund, and the senior stars of the German hiphop scene, Die Fantastischen Vier. As in previous years Young IFA is being organised by Berlin/based music media park.
Source: Press release
