Das Hörspielstudio XBerg

What Das Hörspielstudio XBerg does

Das Hörspielstudio XBerg GmbH is a Berlin-based, B2B audio production company founded in 2003, operating as a subsidiary of the Lauscherlounge Gruppe. The studio produces audiobooks (Hörbücher), audio dramas (Hörspiele), podcasts, live formats, and advertising on a project basis for German publishers, audiobook labels, broadcasters, and media companies. Its named clients include Audible Studios, Random House Audio, Argon Verlag, ZDF Studios, Europa/Sony Music, Hörbuch Hamburg, DAV, Blinkist, ProSiebenSat1's FYEO platform, Steiff/Tonies, and LEONINE Kids, among others. Revenue is earned primarily through project-based fees for end-to-end production services, supplemented since 2020 by a co-production model in which the studio contributes content and rights alongside platforms such as Audible, sharing in production risk and upside.

Operationally, the company runs ten studios (Ateliers) across four locations in Berlin-Kreuzberg, Berlin-Charlottenburg, Potsdam-Babelsberg (hosted at Rotor Film), and Cologne (via affiliated Studio B3 GmbH). The technical stack comprises professional recording rooms, dedicated mixing/mastering suites, an in-house Foley studio, secure EU-based file servers with end-to-end encryption, and an internal casting database of more than 2,032 professional voice actors. Cumulative output since founding includes 3,721 audiobook productions and 723 hours of audio drama (as of September 2023). Service modules span story development, direction and script, casting, recording (studio and on-location), Foley, sound design, mixing, mastering, and an emerging Multimedia Team for photo/video content. Founded and artistically directed by Oliver Rohrbeck with Kai Schenker as Managing Director (Geschäftsführer), the studio is positioned as a full-service production partner that absorbs the entire technical and creative workflow for publishers without in-house studio infrastructure.

Name

Das Hörspielstudio XBerg

Legal name

Das Hörspielstudio XBerg GmbH

Website

https://dashoerspielstudio.de

Company type

Private

Founded year

2003

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Das Hörspielstudio XBerg is a Berlin-based B2B audio production studio founded in 2003, producing audiobooks, audio dramas, podcasts, and advertising for German publishers, broadcasters, and media companies across ten studios in Germany.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Audio Production Services

NAICS

Sound Recording Studios (51224), Sound Recording Industries (5122)

akta.pro primary industry

Audiobook Production & Studios (Narration, Recording, Editing, Mastering) (MPAJAIAB)

akta.pro secondary industry

Radio Content Production & Studios (On-air Production, Imaging, Jingles) (MPAIAEAL)

Keywords

• Audiobook production services
• Audio drama recording
• Podcast production
• Sound design foley
• Voice casting studio

Headquarters

HQ city

Berlin

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices4 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Audio Production Services (Project-Based): Full-service audio production for publishers and media companies, from concept development through final mastering. Projects include audiobooks, audio dramas, podcasts, live formats, and advertising. Revenue earned through project fees charged to publishers and media companies for production services.
2. Co-Production and Content Rights: Co-producing audio productions and holding content rights alongside platforms like Audible, sharing in production risk and upside. First result of this strategy was the Fantasy-Hörspiel 'Verwandte Seelen' where the studio supplied content and rights and acted as co-producer.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Das Hörspielstudio XBerg is a B2B audio production company that produces audiobooks (Hörbücher), audio dramas (Hörspiele), podcasts, live formats, and advertising audio for publishers and media companies. The company provides end-to-end production services — from concept development and script writing through speaker casting, studio and on-location recording, Foley, sound design, mixing, and final mastering — across ten studios in Berlin, Potsdam, and Cologne.

Product overview

Das Hörspielstudio XBerg operates as a full-service audio production company offering a comprehensive portfolio centered on audio content creation. The core offerings comprise Hörbuchproduktion (audiobook production), Hörspielproduktion (audio drama production), and Podcast-Produktion (podcast production), supported by modular service layers for Stoffentwicklung (story development), Regie & Skript (direction and scripting), Mastering & Mischung (mastering and mixing), Foleys (Foley recording), and Fotos & Videos (multimedia production). The company also operates specialized sub-brands: the stories team handles creative development and content ideation, while the Multimedia team produces behind-the-scenes video and photo content. Services span from initial concept development through final mastering, with ten studios at four locations in Berlin, Potsdam, and Köln.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• stories: Content development team handling story development, networking, and editorial services for audio formats including podcasts, audiobooks, and radio plays

Products and services

• Hörbuchproduktion (Audiobook Production) Professional audiobook recording services covering speaker selection, disposition, studio recording, editing, and final mastering, delivered to publishers and media companies for distribution on platforms such as Audible.
• Hörspielproduktion (Audio Drama Production) Studio and on-location audio drama recording for single-voice and ensemble productions, including live stage performances and adaptations of book, TV, and film properties for publishers, broadcasters, and platforms.
• Podcast-Produktion (Podcast Production) Full-service podcast production covering conception, recording, mastering, and delivery of branded, narrative, and editorial podcasts for publishers, platforms, and media companies.
• stories Team (Content & Story Development) Sub-brand creative development service producing concepts and editorial support for podcasts, audio dramas, audio documentaries, and branded audio stories, acting as a catalyst and companion for external authors' concepts.

Quantifiable outcome

• 3,721 audiobook productions completed and 723 hours of audio drama produced as of September 2023
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers13 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration1 record

AI capability2 records

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Twelve partnerships are on record, tiered core, ongoing and minor.

• ProSiebenSat1 / FYEOcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2020Production partner for FYEO ('For Your Ears Only'), ProSiebenSat1's audio-on-demand platform. Produced 'Konjunktiv Kochen' (Apr 2020, 3 shows) and 'Artikel X – Das Grundgesetz in 11 Geschichten' (Jan 2021, 11 episodes, 8.37h). FYEO is one of 18 launch originals on the new streaming app.
• Audible Studios (Co-Production Model)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2020First co-production under new strategy where the studio supplied both content and rights alongside Audible Studios, sharing production risk. Fantasy-Hörspiel 'Verwandte Seelen' (6h 8min, Nov 2020) based on Nica Stevens' bestseller trilogy (300,000+ copies sold).
• BlinkistongoingStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2019Ongoing production partnership for Blinkist's weekly 'Book in Blinks' audio content. Studio produces 15-30 minute audio summaries of non-fiction books on a weekly basis with dedicated workflow and quality control.
• Edel Kids and MackMediaminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2018Produced 'Alpha Mods P.D.' children's audio drama series for Edel Kids and MackMedia (released April/May 2019). Full production from concept through post-production.
• Lauscherlounge GruppecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDas Hörspielstudio XBerg GmbH is an operating company of the Lauscherlounge Gruppe. Oliver Rohrbeck is founder and artistic director of both the studio and Lauscherlounge. The companies share infrastructure, talent networks, and cross-refer business. The studio is headquartered in the same building complex as the Lauscherlounge in Berlin.
• ZDF StudioscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-production partnership for audio drama adaptations of ZDF TV series. Productions include 'Club der magischen Dinge' Season 2 (released Apr 2023) and 'Erben der Nacht' (Die Erben der Nacht – audio drama to TV series). ZDF Studios commissions the studio for audio adaptations of their media properties.
• Audible StudioscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLongstanding strategic production partner. Multiple productions commissioned by Audible Studios including Sebastian Fitzek ungekürzte Hörspiel adaptations (since 2012), Audible Originals ('Die Juten Sitten', 'Playlist'), and first co-production 'Verwandte Seelen' where the studio also supplied content and held rights.
• Europa Hörspiele / Sony Music EntertainmentcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOngoing partnership for children's audio drama series including 'Die drei ???' audiobook series with video podcast (since Sep 2019), 'Die Fuchsbande' children's series (since 2017), and 'Käpt'n Sharky' recordings.
• Studio B3 GmbH (Köln)coreOthersAffiliated studio location in Cologne, operating under the Studio B3 brand. Part of the studio network — serves as the Köln production hub with dedicated contact André Mager. Friesenplatz 16, 50672 Köln.
• Rotor Film (Potsdam)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership arrangement at the Potsdam-Babelsberg location. Studio space hosted at Rotor Film's facility at August-Bebel-Str. 26-53, 14482 Potsdam, for production operations.
• Steiff / ToniesminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerProduction partnership for 'Soft Cuddly Friends' Tonie audio content in cooperation with Tonies and Steiff. Produced 'Ben Teddybär' Hörspiel (66 min, Jul 2022) for the 120th teddy bear anniversary, part of the Tonie audio platform ecosystem.
• XPUBminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSister publishing company within the Lauscherlounge Group. Provided content rights for the 'Verwandte Seelen' co-production with Audible. XPUB also publishes physical CD miniseries of the production.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Argon Verlag: Independent German audiobook publisher that commissions and produces audiobooks, podcasts, and audio dramas. Customer of Das Hörspielstudio XBerg but also produces content in-house, making it a direct comparable in audiobook/Hörspiel production for the German market.
• Hörbuch Hamburg: German audiobook publisher with extensive in-house audiobook production studios, producing Sebastian Fitzek titles and crime/thriller audiobooks. Direct comparable in commissioning and producing high-volume German audiobooks.
• Studio Funk: Berlin-based full-service audio production agency producing podcasts, branded audio, and audiobooks for publishers, broadcasters, and brands. Directly comparable B2B audio production studio serving overlapping enterprise clients in DACH.
• Der Hörverlag (DHV): German audiobook publisher (Random House/Bertelsmann subsidiary) with its own in-house audiobook production studios. Comparable in producing audiobook and audio drama content for the German-speaking market using a similar talent and production infrastructure model.
• Lauscherlounge Gruppe: Sister/parent organization within the same group. Lauscherlounge operates the 'Hörspiel pur' brand and produces/publishes Hörspiele and audiobooks with overlapping talent, infrastructure, and customers. Directly comparable B2B and consumer audio production operation.

Broad incumbents

• Audible Studios (Germany): German arm of the largest audiobook platform globally, with in-house production capabilities and a major customer of Das Hörspielstudio XBerg. Overlapping production capacity and audience, but operates at platform scale rather than as a specialty studio.
• Penguin Random House Audio: Global audiobook publishing arm of Penguin Random House with integrated studio production. Customer of Das Hörspielstudio XBerg (via Random House Audio Germany) and a direct comparable in audiobook production at much larger scale.

Emerging players

• Podstars by OMR: German podcast production and distribution company associated with the OMR marketing platform. Comparable in producing podcast and branded audio content for enterprise clients, though focused on podcast rather than audiobook/audio drama.

Regional players

• NDR Audioproduktion / Hörspiel: Public broadcaster (Norddeutscher Rundfunk) with a dedicated Hörspiel/audio drama production team. Comparable in producing German-language Hörspiele at scale, but funded as public-service media rather than commercial B2B services.
• WDR Audioproduktion / Hörspiel: Public broadcaster (Westdeutscher Rundfunk) with a large in-house Hörspiel and audio drama production unit. Comparable in producing high-quality German-language Hörspiele, but operates as a public broadcaster rather than a commercial B2B studio.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 records

Subsidiaries4 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 Das Hörspielstudio XBerg