RedSeven Entertainment

What RedSeven Entertainment does

RedSeven Entertainment GmbH is a German television and media production company founded in 2008 by Jobst Benthues and headquartered in Unterföhring near Munich, with additional offices in Cologne and Berlin and approximately 300 employees. The company operates as a wholly-owned subsidiary of Seven.One Studios within the ProSiebenSat.1 Media SE group and ranks among the ten most successful German entertainment production companies. It develops and produces entertainment, fiction, documentary, factual, and corporate media content for all major German broadcasters (ProSieben, SAT.1, Kabel Eins, VOX, RTL, ZDF, BR) and streaming platforms including Joyn, Netflix, and Prime Video Deutschland.

The company's core product is a portfolio of proprietary long-running TV formats, anchored by Germany's Next Topmodel (GNTM, 300+ episodes across 20 years, 25%+ market share in the ad-relevant target group), The Taste (14 seasons, SAT.1), Hochzeit auf den ersten Blick (13 seasons), Duell der Gartenprofis (200+ episodes, ZDF), Rosins Restaurants (19 seasons, Kabel Eins), and Mein Mann kann (700+ episodes licensed in 30+ countries). Recent additions include Love is Blind: Germany (Netflix, Top 10 in 15 countries), The Power (Joyn, 27M+ views), and Eden (Joyn, 2026). Technical capabilities include AI-assisted animation for medical visualization in Doc Caros Körperkenner (VOX), virtual production (used for Audi urbansphere world premiere), and a proprietary casting platform built on SimpleRedak with Microsoft Teams integration.

RedSeven's business model is B2B production services: it earns production fees from broadcasters commissioning formats, format licensing royalties from international adaptations, and professional services fees from corporate clients via its Branded Studios division (clients include Audi, McDonald's, Adidas, Nobilia, Intimissimi, NYX). Pricing is project-based and negotiated individually with broadcasters and corporate clients. The company distributes content exclusively through broadcaster and streaming partners rather than direct-to-consumer, and monetizes audience reach through brand integrations and sponsored product placements in flagship formats.

Name

RedSeven Entertainment

Legal name

RedSeven Entertainment GmbH

Website

https://redseven.de

Company type

Private

Founded year

2008

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

251–500 employees

Short description

RedSeven Entertainment is a German TV and streaming production company (founded 2008, ~300 staff) producing entertainment, fiction, and factual formats for broadcasters and platforms including ProSieben, RTL, ZDF, and Netflix, anchored by Germany's Next Topmodel and The Taste.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Television Production Services

NAICS

Motion Picture and Video Production (512110)

SIC

Services-Motion Picture & Video Tape Production (7812)

akta.pro primary industry

Co-Production & Distribution Partnerships (Pre-Sales, Output Deals) (MPABANAI)

Keywords

• Television production
• Entertainment formats
• Reality show production
• Branded content production
• Format licensing

Headquarters

HQ city

Unterföhring

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. TV Production Fees: Redseven produces entertainment formats for German TV broadcasters and receives production fees. Major clients include ProSiebenSat.1 Group (ProSieben, SAT.1, Kabel Eins, sixx, Joyn), RTL Group (RTL, VOX, RTLZWEI), ZDF, BR, Sky, DMAX, and international streaming platforms (Netflix, Prime Video Deutschland).
2. Branded Studios / Corporate Content: Creation of branded entertainment, content marketing, social media, livestream events, and inhouse communications for corporate clients. Examples include campaigns for McDonald's, Audi, NYX Professional Make Up, and product placements with Adidas and Nobilia Küchen.
3. Format Licensing: Redseven develops original formats and licenses them internationally. Notable examples include 'Mein Mann kann' sold to over 30 countries including China, France, South Africa, and Latin America. 'The Hunt' format sold as paper format to Channel 4 UK.
4. Live Events: Production of live events including concert series (ProSieben in Concert with artists like P!NK, Coldplay), red carpet events, and hybrid live events for corporate clients.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

RedSeven Entertainment develops and produces entertainment, fiction, factual, information, and corporate media content for the German and international TV and streaming markets. The company produces hit TV formats (reality, dating, cooking, modeling, lifestyle shows) for major broadcasters such as ProSieben, SAT.1, RTL, ZDF, BR, and Netflix, alongside branded entertainment and live event production services for corporate clients. Operations span offices in Munich, Cologne, and Berlin with production capabilities extending internationally through format licensing.

Product overview

RedSeven Entertainment is a German TV and media production company operating as a platform-plus-portfolio model. It develops and produces entertainment, fiction, factual, information, and corporate media content from offices in Munich, Cologne, and Berlin for broadcasters including ProSieben, SAT.1, Kabel Eins, ZDF, BR, RTL, VOX, RTLZWEI, Sky, Prime Video Germany, and Netflix. The company's core portfolio includes established hit formats like 'Germany's Next Topmodel' (GNTM), 'The Taste,' 'Hochzeit auf den ersten Blick,' and 'Love is Blind: Germany' alongside newer productions like 'The Power,' 'Doc Caros Körperkenner' (which uses AI-powered visualizations), and branded studio services for corporate clients. RedSeven operates as a subsidiary of Seven.One Studios within the ProSiebenSat.1 Media SE group.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Germany's Next Topmodel – by Heidi Klum Long-running modeling competition show produced for ProSieben, currently in Season 20+ with over 300 episodes and more than 3,000 candidates across 20 years. Season 19 achieved over 25% market share in the advertising-relevant target group.
• Love is Blind: Germany Dating reality show adaptation of the US Netflix original produced for Netflix where singles meet without seeing each other. Season 2 (January 2026) reached Netflix Nonfiction Top 10 in 15 countries and Top 3 in Germany within days of release.
• The Taste & Promi Taste Cooking competition show produced for SAT.1 where professional and amateur chefs compete for the 'Gourmet Spoon.' Spanning 14 seasons plus a spin-off, Promi Taste, which premiered in 2025.
• Duell der Gartenprofis Dokutainment format produced for ZDF where two professional gardening teams compete to redesign family gardens. Over 200 episodes with Eva Brenner as advisor, regularly achieving over 2 million viewers, plus spin-offs.
• The Power – Wer hat die Macht? Strategy reality show produced for Joyn where 12 reality stars compete with one Power Player making weekly decisions while others guess who holds the power. Most successful new reality format on Joyn, with over 27 million video views in September 2025.
• Hochzeit auf den ersten Blick Matchmaking reality show where couples marry strangers based on psychological analysis by experts. Described as the world's most successful social experiment; 10th anniversary season achieved up to 12.7% market share in advertising-relevant target group; Season 13 in production.
• Behringer und die Toten – ein Bamberg-Krimi Crime fiction series produced for RTL starring Antoine Monot as Chief Inspector Konrad Behringer, set in Bamberg. Each of the first four films reached approximately 3 million viewers (age 3+).
• Doc Caros Körperkenner Medical quiz entertainment show produced for VOX hosted by Dr. Carola Holzner where four celebrity teams answer questions about health topics like Longevity and brain function, visualized using AI-powered animations inside the human body.
• Rosins Restaurants Dokutainment format produced for Kabel Eins where two-star chef Frank Rosin rescues struggling restaurants by overhauling kitchen, cooking, and crew. 19 seasons and over 150 episodes.
• JENKE. Experimental documentary series produced for ProSieben where journalist Jenke von Wilmsdorff tests personal limits on critical societal topics. Includes the new sub-format JENKE. Zeitreise.
• Mein Mann kann Game show produced for SAT.1 where couples answer questions across various topics. Revived in 2022 and licensed internationally to 30+ countries including China, France, and South Africa, with 700+ episodes produced worldwide. The companion 'The Hunt' paper format was sold to Channel 4 UK.
• Don't Stop the Music Factual entertainment format produced for ZDF and KiKA where children from disadvantaged families learn to play musical instruments and prepare for a concert. Won the 2022 Deutscher Fernsehpreis for Best Factual Entertainment and Blauer Panther TV & Streaming Award.
• Karlsplatz Bavarian-style late-night talk show produced for Bayerischer Rundfunk, hosted by cabaret artist Eva Karl Faltermeier with celebrity guests and humorous competitions. Redseven's first production for BR.
• Road to Miss Germany presented by CUPRA 12-part dokuseries plus a live awards show produced for sixx and Joyn showcasing women entrepreneurs and leaders preparing for the Miss Germany title.
• Eden - Du bezahlst für jede Lüge Dating reality show for Joyn and ProSieben featuring 13 singles tied to a lie detector where each detected lie deducts 1,000 euros from a shared 100,000-euro prize pool. Developed and produced by Redseven Entertainment, launching June 25, 2026.
• Supertiere made in Bavaria Five-part TV series produced for BR Bayerischer Rundfunk exploring the extraordinary abilities of Bavarian animals and bionics, hosted by Caro Matzko. Premiered on July 16, 2026 in ARD Mediathek with subsequent broadcasts on BR Fernsehen.
• Branded Studios / Kampagnenproduktionen Full-service branded entertainment production including TV advertorials, web originals, red carpet livestreams, VR/AR apps, social media campaigns, and video content for inhouse communications, events, and trade shows. Clients include McDonald's, Audi, Adidas, NYX Professional Make Up, and Nobilia.
• Live-Events - Kinopremieren Production of live entertainment shows and red carpet events for national and international film premieres, including locations in London, Los Angeles, and Berlin.
• Casting Platform Branded casting platform with dedicated websites for each format (GNTM, The Taste, Love is Blind, Hochzeit auf den ersten Blick, etc.) functioning as the primary consumer recruitment channel for reality show participants. Uses the SimpleRedak casting platform with Microsoft Teams integration for video interviews.
• ProSieben in Concert Concert series produced for ProSieben featuring exclusive live performances by major artists including Rita Ora, P!NK, Cro, Robin Schulz, Kontra K, and Coldplay.
• ANCHOR Awards International music award for newcomers, produced by Redseven Entertainment since 2023 and awarded annually in September at the Reeperbahn Festival in Hamburg.

Quantifiable outcome

• GNTM Season 19 achieved over 25% market share in advertising-relevant target group
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers12 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

AI capability3 records

Feature3 records

Partnerships

13 partnerships are on record, tiered core, major, notable and supporting.

• Seven.One Studios (ProSiebenSat.1 Media SE)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSeven.One Studios is the production and distribution network of ProSiebenSat.1 Media SE. Redseven is a 100% subsidiary of Seven.One Studios, making this the core parent-subsidiary relationship that defines Redseven's position in the German media landscape. This relationship provides preferential access to ProSiebenSat.1 broadcast channels and collaborative development opportunities.
• Seven.One AdFactorycoreGTM or Marketing PartnerSeven.One AdFactory is the marketing subsidiary of ProSiebenSat.1 Group. Redseven collaborates closely with them for branded content and campaign productions for advertising clients. Together they create advertising-integrated productions and manage brand partnerships within Redseven formats.
• NetflixcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorNetflix is the international streaming partner for Love is Blind: Germany, Redseven's first production for the streaming giant. The second season in January 2026 reached Netflix Nonfiction Top 10 in 15 countries.
• Joyn (ProSiebenSat.1/Discovery Joint Venture)majorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorJoyn is the streaming platform jointly operated by ProSiebenSat.1 and Discovery. Redseven produces The Power and Wahl-Countdown for Joyn, which is described as the most successful new reality format on the platform.
• RTL GroupmajorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorRTL Group is a major broadcaster client for Redseven, commissioning Behringer und die Toten (RTL) and Friedmanns Vier (RTL+).
• Channel 4 (UK)notableChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorChannel 4 UK purchased Redseven's original game show format 'The Hunt' as a paper format, demonstrating international format development success.
• Bayerische Akademie für Fernsehen und Digitale MediensupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner educational institution for Redseven's two-yearVolontariat (editorial traineeship) program, providing practical theory training alongside work experience.
• SimpleRedak CastingsupportingTechnology or IntegrationSimpleRedak (schoenke – eMedia Consulting, Cologne) provides the casting platform and application management system used for Redseven's various show castings.
• Fresh LimesupportingTechnology or IntegrationFresh Lime (Christian Strausbach, Uhldingen-Mühlhofen) provides website hosting and technical maintenance for redseven.de.
• MailjetsupportingTechnology or IntegrationMailjet (Paris, France) provides newsletter distribution services for Redseven's email marketing campaigns.
• MicrosoftsupportingTechnology or IntegrationMicrosoft Ireland Operations provides Microsoft Teams for video and audio conferencing during casting interviews and candidate communications.
• Meta / WhatsAppsupportingTechnology or IntegrationWhatsApp Ireland (Meta subsidiary) is used for communication with casting candidates regarding scheduling and organizational matters.
• UsercentricssupportingTechnology or IntegrationUsercentrics provides the Consent Management Platform (CMP) for cookie consent management, IAB Europe Transparency & Consent Framework compliance.

Scale indicators13 records

Recent moves2 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• Fremantle: Global content producer owned by RTL Group, producing entertainment, drama, and documentary formats worldwide. Comparable in producing for major broadcasters (including RTL in Germany) but at significantly larger scale and with broader international reach than RedSeven.
• Banijay Group: World's largest international content production and distribution group, parent of Banijay Germany. Comparable as a major format licensor and producer, but operating at far larger scale and with portfolio diversification RedSeven cannot match as a single-market subsidiary.
• All3Media: Independent global television production group behind formats such as Gogglebox, The Circle, and Fleabag. Comparable in operating production companies across multiple markets, though with limited German-language production footprint relative to RedSeven's domestic depth.

Direct peers

• UFA: Germany's largest TV production company and the flagship production arm of RTL Group. UFA produces comparable entertainment, fiction, and reality formats for German broadcasters, making it the most direct competitor to RedSeven across genre, customer base, and business model.
• Banijay Germany: German arm of the world's largest international content producer Banijay Group (formerly Endemol Shine Germany). Produces Big Brother, MasterChef, and other major entertainment formats in Germany, directly competing for broadcaster commissions.
• Leonine Studios: German media group (including MME and Wiedemann & Berg) producing scripted and entertainment content for German broadcasters and streaming platforms. Comparable as a domestic competitor across formats and fiction.
• Constantin Film: Major German film and TV production company producing theatrical films, TV movies, and series. Comparable in scale and as a domestic German producer serving broadcasters, though more fiction- and theatrical-focused than RedSeven.
• Brainpool: Cologne-based German entertainment production company known for comedy and scripted entertainment (e.g., Ladykracher, Schillerstraße). Comparable to RedSeven as a German-focused entertainment producer serving the same major broadcaster clients.
• ITV Studios Germany: German operations of UK-headquartered ITV Studios, producing entertainment and scripted content for major German broadcasters. Comparable in producing for ProSieben, RTL, and streaming platforms, with similar format and drama expertise.
• Sony Pictures Television Germany: Produces long-running German entertainment formats including Wheel of Fortune and Jeopardy for German broadcasters. Comparable as a global studio with German-language production operations targeting the same customer base.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/redseven-entertainment-gmbh

Compliance4 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles9 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about RedSeven Entertainment