Alex Berger
Encyclopedia
Alex Berger is a creator, producer, consultant and media entrepreneur. During his career, he participated in numerous TV programs in Europe and more specifically France (Rock Report, Rapido, Burger Quizz…) ; invented the multi access web portal Vizzavi (later sold to Vodafone and baptised Vodafone Live), founded & accelerated the growth of several media companies (NBdC, Chez Wam…) and occupied various executive positions, notably with Pierre Lescure at Canal+, and as Chairman & CEO of CanalNumédia & VivendiNet (group Vivendi-Universal). He is currently a producer of TV scripted entertainment through The Oligarchs Productions based in Paris; a consultant through MM&I and owns the digital distribution company ENTJOY.
At 10, he moved to France with his parents and sister Sylvie Berger. After a French education, he briefly studied at the University of Pennsylvania
and then lived alternatively between France & the United States.
He currently lives in Paris, with his wife Florence Servan-Schreiber and their three children (Pénélope, Arthur & Léon Berger).
-TMC, as producer of the evening news. While at TMC he meets Alain Chabat
( a radio host on RMC
at the time).
. This company produces short programs for the emerging industry of US cable TV networks. It develops for Revell
(the US toy and model company and US subsidiary of Compagnie industrielle du jouet) one of the first animated series based on a toy line (Robotech
), produced by Harmony Gold USA, Frank Agrama.
in Geneva, as a financial analyst specialized in the media & communication fields.
. NBdC rapidly becomes one of the leading independent production companies in France specialized in programs for the young adult audience. NBdC notably produces :
...
NBdC also produces a series of documentaries (Génération 90, on Antenne 2), numerous music videos such as « Precious Thing » by Dee Dee Bridge Water & Ray Charles ; « Goodbye Marylou » by Michel Polnareff
and a 100 more including France’s idol Johnny Hallyday
. NBdC also produces commercials, graphic design and TV id and institutional films.
to create a 50/50 joint venture : Rapido TV. Rapido TV instantly becomes a significant TV program supplier in the UK "Euro Trash" on channel4 with Antoine de Caunes & Jean Paul Gaultier, « Passengers », « Around the world in 80 raves », « Baadasss TV » presented by Ice T
, « The Girly Show », « Unzipped », « Carnal Knowledge »…), fictions (« Is Harry on the Boat ? ») & documentaries (« Fortean TV », « Channel Hopping », « Dying to be beautiful », « Unpeeled », «Gerard Depardieu
: the ugly frog that became a prince » ; « Brigitte Bardot
: the reluctant godesss », and « Serge Gainsbourg
: France’s secret vice », « Naked City », « Graham Norton’s Rock Babylon »…and plenty more).
, Jimmy
, CinéCinéma, Cine Cinefil & Seasons).
On November 4, 1994 he is nominated Directeur Délégué & special advisor to Pierre Lescure, Chairman & CEO of Groupe Canal+.Pierre Lescure.
In this capacity as well as member of the Strategic Committee, he initiates or participates in all strategic developments of Canal+ Group and is directly involved in all major developments of the company between 1994 and 2000 :
under the name Vodafone Live..
Universal
Net (VivendiNet) along with Franck Boulben. VivendiNet regrouped together all Canal+’s digital content as well as all of the digital activities of Vivendi (Allociné
, Havas
, Blizzard
, Sierra
, iFrance, Cegetel, Vizzavi, two venture capital funds and many more companies around the world.))
strategic committee .
At the beginning of January 2000, following the announcement of the merger between AOL
and TimeWarner, Alex understands the necessity to elaborate an offensive strategy in order to avoid being desintermediated by the owners of premium content made in the US and held by the major studios.
Upon approval by Jean Marie Messier and Pierre Lescure, Alex Berger initiates, with the help of Terry Semel
, former CEO of Warner Brothers, a deal with Edgar Bronfman Jr, CEO of Seagram
, parent company of Universal
. This strategy will lead to the merger between Vivendi, Universal and Canal+ in June 2000.
After closing the deal and in spite of the position he then occupies within the new merged entity, Alex Berger decides that the internal politics and the strategy are not in line his vision he had and quits in September 2000. , Alex Berger décide de quitter le groupe Canal+ en septembre 2000.
Content Participations invests in content companies in order to stimulate their growth in the domains of TV, films, web, music publishing, online gaming. Content Participations S.A is both an investor and a consultant to these firms.
Through CP, Alex Berger has been associated with companies such as :
…
In June 2006, Content Participations is taken over by his partner Benjamin de Rothschild and is now part of EBR Finances.
, Sanoma, France 24
, 365 media, LVMH
, producers of content and other international companies.
are partners in The Oligarchs Productions since 2008.
Based in Paris, the company was founded on the basis of bridging the gap between European original ideas and talent in scripted drama and comedy and the mature US system of production. The Oligarchs Productions (TOP) started with the development of the original series The Oligarchs for Canal+
and a US broadcaster. TOP is currently developing several international formats and series..
Childhood & Family
Alex Berger was born on March 22, 1962 in Philadelphia, USA of a French mother, Francine Dreyfus-Berger, a painter and an American father, Joseph Berger, PhD.At 10, he moved to France with his parents and sister Sylvie Berger. After a French education, he briefly studied at the University of Pennsylvania
University of Pennsylvania
The University of Pennsylvania is a private, Ivy League university located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States. Penn is the fourth-oldest institution of higher education in the United States,Penn is the fourth-oldest using the founding dates claimed by each institution...
and then lived alternatively between France & the United States.
He currently lives in Paris, with his wife Florence Servan-Schreiber and their three children (Pénélope, Arthur & Léon Berger).
Tele Monte-Carlo
His career begins in 1982 at Tele Monte Carlo TMC in the Principality of Monaco where Michel Lacroix, SVP of TMC recruits him as an intern script assistant over the summer. After multiple positions and notably the coordination of Princess Grace’s funeral ceremonies, at 21, Alex is promoted by Jean-Claude Heberlé, then CEO of RMCRMC
RMC may refer to:* Radio Monte Carlo, a radio station operation in France, Monaco and Italy* Randolph-Macon College, in the United States* Ravenshaw Management Centre, a premier management institute, Cuttack, India* Rawalpindi Medical College, in Pakistan...
-TMC, as producer of the evening news. While at TMC he meets Alain Chabat
Alain Chabat
Alain Chabat is a French actor and director who appeared in La Cité de la peur, French Twist, The Taste of Others and The Science of Sleep.- Life and career :Chabat was born in Oran, French Algeria. He is Jewish....
( a radio host on RMC
RMC
RMC may refer to:* Radio Monte Carlo, a radio station operation in France, Monaco and Italy* Randolph-Macon College, in the United States* Ravenshaw Management Centre, a premier management institute, Cuttack, India* Rawalpindi Medical College, in Pakistan...
at the time).
Real to Reel Filmworks, Inc & Revell.
He quits Monte-Carlo in 1984 and creates his first production company : Real to Reel Filmworks, Inc. in Los Angeles with the Baron Edmond de Rothschild & his son Benjamin de RothschildBenjamin de Rothschild
Benjamin de Rothschild is a Swiss banker, the chairman of the Edmond de Rothschild Group, a private bank established by his father and owned by the family...
. This company produces short programs for the emerging industry of US cable TV networks. It develops for Revell
Revell
Revell is the brand name today of two manufacturers of scale plastic models. The original US company merged with another, Monogram, but now trades only under the Revell name. European Revell Germany separated from the US company in 2006.-Early history:...
(the US toy and model company and US subsidiary of Compagnie industrielle du jouet) one of the first animated series based on a toy line (Robotech
Robotech
Robotech is an 85-episode science fiction anime adaptation produced by Harmony Gold USA in association with Tatsunoko Production Co., Ltd. and first released in the United States in 1985...
), produced by Harmony Gold USA, Frank Agrama.
Banque Privée Edmond de Rothschild.
After the sale of Real to Reel, Inc. Alex Berger returns to Europe in the financial sector at Banque privée Edmond de RothschildBanque privée Edmond de Rothschild
Banque Privée Edmond de Rothschild S.A. is a private bank headquartered in Geneva, Switzerland. It is exclusively dedicated to wealth management for private and institutional clients. It is a part of Edmond de Rothschild Group. It is listed on the Swiss Exchange...
in Geneva, as a financial analyst specialized in the media & communication fields.
NBdC (Newman, Berger, de Caunes)
18 months later, in 1986, he returns to Paris, France and founds NBdC with partners Tim Newman and Antoine de CaunesAntoine de Caunes
Antoine de Caunes is a television presenter, actor, writer and film director. He is the son of two prominent French personalities, television journalist-reporter Georges de Caunes and television announcer Jacqueline Joubert...
. NBdC rapidly becomes one of the leading independent production companies in France specialized in programs for the young adult audience. NBdC notably produces :
- Rock Report on Antenne 2, a weekly music magazine inside Les Enfants du Rock
- Rapido, a weekly music program with opening titles by Jean-Baptiste MondinoJean-Baptiste MondinoJean-Baptiste Mondino is a French fashion photographer and music video director. He has directed music videos for Madonna, David Bowie, Sting, Björk, Neneh Cherry and Les Rita Mitsouko...
. Rapido had three broadcast lives : first on TF1TF1TF1 is a national French TV channel, controlled by TF1 Group, whose major share-holder is Bouygues. TF1's average market share of 24% makes it the most popular domestic network...
(weekly hour show), then Canal + ( weekly 26’ min) and in 14 other countries including the UK. Noticed by Jane Porter and Alan Yentob at the BBC, the format was aired on BBC1 between 1988 and 1992, presented by the original French host Antoine de CaunesAntoine de CaunesAntoine de Caunes is a television presenter, actor, writer and film director. He is the son of two prominent French personalities, television journalist-reporter Georges de Caunes and television announcer Jacqueline Joubert...
. - Le glaive et la balance on M6, presented by Antoine de CaunesAntoine de CaunesAntoine de Caunes is a television presenter, actor, writer and film director. He is the son of two prominent French personalities, television journalist-reporter Georges de Caunes and television announcer Jacqueline Joubert...
and co-produced by Série Limitée. - Merci et encore bravo (Antenne2), Arthur Emission Impossible (TF1), le meilleur du pire (Canal Jimmy).
...
NBdC also produces a series of documentaries (Génération 90, on Antenne 2), numerous music videos such as « Precious Thing » by Dee Dee Bridge Water & Ray Charles ; « Goodbye Marylou » by Michel Polnareff
Michel Polnareff
Michel Polnareff, born in Nérac on 3 July 1944, is a French singer-songwriter who was very popular from the mid-1960s until the early 1980s...
and a 100 more including France’s idol Johnny Hallyday
Johnny Hallyday
Johnny Hallyday is a French singer and actor. An icon in the French-speaking world since the beginning of his career, he was considered by some to have been the French Elvis Presley. He was married for 15 years to one of the most popular French female singers: Sylvie Vartan...
. NBdC also produces commercials, graphic design and TV id and institutional films.
RAPIDO TV
In 1989, capitalizing on NBdC’s international notoriety, Alex Berger, Tim Newman, Antoine de Caunes and prolific producer Peter Stuart partner with Richard BransonRichard Branson
Sir Richard Charles Nicholas Branson is an English business magnate, best known for his Virgin Group of more than 400 companies....
to create a 50/50 joint venture : Rapido TV. Rapido TV instantly becomes a significant TV program supplier in the UK "Euro Trash" on channel4 with Antoine de Caunes & Jean Paul Gaultier, « Passengers », « Around the world in 80 raves », « Baadasss TV » presented by Ice T
Ice T
Tracy Marrow , better known by his stage name Ice-T, is an American musician and actor.He was born in Newark, New Jersey and moved to the Crenshaw district of Los Angeles when he was in the 7th grade. After graduating from high school he served in the United States Army for four years...
, « The Girly Show », « Unzipped », « Carnal Knowledge »…), fictions (« Is Harry on the Boat ? ») & documentaries (« Fortean TV », « Channel Hopping », « Dying to be beautiful », « Unpeeled », «Gerard Depardieu
Gérard Depardieu
Gérard Xavier Marcel Depardieu is a French actor and filmmaker. He is a Chevalier of the Légion d'honneur, Chevalier of the Ordre national du Mérite and has twice won the César Award for Best Actor...
: the ugly frog that became a prince » ; « Brigitte Bardot
Brigitte Bardot
Brigitte Anne-Marie Bardot is a French former fashion model, actress, singer and animal rights activist. She was one of the best-known sex-symbols of the 1960s.In her early life, Bardot was an aspiring ballet dancer...
: the reluctant godesss », and « Serge Gainsbourg
Serge Gainsbourg
Serge Gainsbourg, born Lucien Ginsburg was a French singer-songwriter, actor and director. Gainsbourg's extremely varied musical style and individuality make him difficult to categorize...
: France’s secret vice », « Naked City », « Graham Norton’s Rock Babylon »…and plenty more).
Canal +
In 1993, Alex Berger starts his collaboration with Michel Thoulouze of Groupe Canal +, first as a producer for « le meilleur du pire » series on Canal Jimmy, then as strategic development consultant, notably for the international thematic channel « Voilà », focused on the luxe and French savoir-vivre. He also takes part in the creation of MultiThématiques S.A, assembling Canal Plus’s thematic channels (PlanètePlanète
Planète was a French fantastic realism magazine created by Jacques Bergier and Louis Pauwels. It ran from 1961 to 1972.They were the authors of the successful book The Morning of the Magicians , subtitled "Introduction to Fantastic Realism," published in October 1959 Jacques Bergier set...
, Jimmy
Jimmy
Jimmy is a diminutive form of the given name James which may refer to:-Media and entertainment:* "Jimmy" , by M.I.A.* Jimmy * Jimmy * "The Jimmy", a Seinfeld episode* Jimmy, a stage musical about Jimmy Walker...
, CinéCinéma, Cine Cinefil & Seasons).
On November 4, 1994 he is nominated Directeur Délégué & special advisor to Pierre Lescure, Chairman & CEO of Groupe Canal+.Pierre Lescure.
In this capacity as well as member of the Strategic Committee, he initiates or participates in all strategic developments of Canal+ Group and is directly involved in all major developments of the company between 1994 and 2000 :
- acquisition of Nethold and the creation of Canal + entities across Europe
- implementation of CanalSATCanalSatCanalSat is a French digital satellite and DSL pay television service. It is owned by Vivendi with a 65% share, minority shareholders are Lagardère , TF1 and M6...
, first digital satelliteSatelliteIn the context of spaceflight, a satellite is an object which has been placed into orbit by human endeavour. Such objects are sometimes called artificial satellites to distinguish them from natural satellites such as the Moon....
& interactive platform in the world - creation of Canal Technologies
- creation of StudioCanalStudioCanalStudioCanal is a French-based production and distribution company that owns the third-largest film library in the world...
- negotiations & joint ventures between Canal+Canal+Canal+ is a French premium pay television channel launched in 1984. It is 80% owned by the Canal+ Group, which in turn is owned by Vivendi SA. The channel broadcasts several kinds of programming, mostly encrypted...
and US major film/TV studios.
Vizzavi
In 1997, Alex Berger invents the multi-access web portal Vizzavi , that allows the migration of content between Premium pay TV subscribers, internet subscribers, and mobile subscribers. The service called Vizzavi and co-held by VodafoneVodafone
Vodafone Group Plc is a global telecommunications company headquartered in London, United Kingdom. It is the world's largest mobile telecommunications company measured by revenues and the world's second-largest measured by subscribers , with around 341 million proportionate subscribers as of...
under the name Vodafone Live..
CanalNumedia & VivendiNet
In 1998, Alex Berger founds and becomes the first Chairman & CEO of CanalNumedia . CanalNumedia heds all of Group Canal+’s internet activities (notably in sports, movies and gaming). In 1999 he is promoted co-CEO of VivendiVivendi
Vivendi SA is a French international media conglomerate with activities in music, television and film, publishing, telecommunications, the Internet, and video games. It is headquartered in Paris.- History :...
Universal
Universal
-Companies and organizations:* NBC Universal, a media and entertainment company** Universal Studios, an American film studio, and subsidiary of NBC Universal** Universal Channel, a television channel owned by NBC Universal...
Net (VivendiNet) along with Franck Boulben. VivendiNet regrouped together all Canal+’s digital content as well as all of the digital activities of Vivendi (Allociné
AlloCiné
AlloCiné is a service organization providing information on the programs of french cinema, especially centering on novelties' promotion with DVD information. The enterprise is founded as telephonic communicator, then diversified as internet portal site, which offers sufficient information by fast...
, Havas
Havas
Havas is the second largest advertising group in France and is a "Global advertising and communications services group" and the sixth-largest global advertising and communications group worldwide, operating on the communications consulting market through three main operational divisions:*Euro RSCG...
, Blizzard
Blizzard
A blizzard is a severe snowstorm characterized by strong winds. By definition, the difference between blizzard and a snowstorm is the strength of the wind. To be a blizzard, a snow storm must have winds in excess of with blowing or drifting snow which reduces visibility to 400 meters or ¼ mile or...
, Sierra
Sierra
Sierra can refer to:- Mountains and mountain ranges :* Sierra mountains * Sierra de Juárez, mountain range in Baja California, Mexico...
, iFrance, Cegetel, Vizzavi, two venture capital funds and many more companies around the world.))
Vivendi, Universal & Canal+ merger
In 1998, Alex Berger was appointed to the VivendiVivendi
Vivendi SA is a French international media conglomerate with activities in music, television and film, publishing, telecommunications, the Internet, and video games. It is headquartered in Paris.- History :...
strategic committee .
At the beginning of January 2000, following the announcement of the merger between AOL
AOL
AOL Inc. is an American global Internet services and media company. AOL is headquartered at 770 Broadway in New York. Founded in 1983 as Control Video Corporation, it has franchised its services to companies in several nations around the world or set up international versions of its services...
and TimeWarner, Alex understands the necessity to elaborate an offensive strategy in order to avoid being desintermediated by the owners of premium content made in the US and held by the major studios.
Upon approval by Jean Marie Messier and Pierre Lescure, Alex Berger initiates, with the help of Terry Semel
Terry Semel
Terry Semel is an American corporate executive who was the chairman and CEO of Yahoo! Incorporated. Previously, Semel spent 24 years at Warner Bros., where he served as chairman and co-chief executive officer...
, former CEO of Warner Brothers, a deal with Edgar Bronfman Jr, CEO of Seagram
Seagram
The Seagram Company Ltd. was a large corporation headquartered in Montreal, Quebec, Canada that was the largest distiller of alcoholic beverages in the world. Toward the end of its independent existence it also controlled various entertainment and other business ventures...
, parent company of Universal
Universal
-Companies and organizations:* NBC Universal, a media and entertainment company** Universal Studios, an American film studio, and subsidiary of NBC Universal** Universal Channel, a television channel owned by NBC Universal...
. This strategy will lead to the merger between Vivendi, Universal and Canal+ in June 2000.
After closing the deal and in spite of the position he then occupies within the new merged entity, Alex Berger decides that the internal politics and the strategy are not in line his vision he had and quits in September 2000. , Alex Berger décide de quitter le groupe Canal+ en septembre 2000.
Content Participations (CP)
At the end of 2000, Alex Berger establishes two companies : Content Participations S.A and MM&IContent Participations invests in content companies in order to stimulate their growth in the domains of TV, films, web, music publishing, online gaming. Content Participations S.A is both an investor and a consultant to these firms.
Through CP, Alex Berger has been associated with companies such as :
- Chez Wam (Alain ChabatAlain ChabatAlain Chabat is a French actor and director who appeared in La Cité de la peur, French Twist, The Taste of Others and The Science of Sleep.- Life and career :Chabat was born in Oran, French Algeria. He is Jewish....
) co-producer & producer of Astérix et Obélix : Mission Cléopatre, RRRrrrr !!!, Prète-moi ta mainPrête-moi ta mainI Do or Rent a Wife , is a 2006 French romantic comedy directed by Eric Lartigau, based on an original idea by Alain Chabat. The film stars Charlotte Gainsbourg, Alain Chabat and Bernadette Lafont...
, Burger Quiz, Avez-vous déjà vu ? and Wam Films USA with "A thousand Words" (2012) or "Maxx Powers and the Love Triangle of Doom".. - Source Films (Sébastien Fechner) producer of « Le Carton »
- Ardimages (Thierry Ardisson)
- Bikini Films (Thomas Sorriaux, Sandrine Paquot and François Desagnat.)
- Script Associés (Laurent Zeitoun)
- Also A7 Music, Insitu Systems, Realty Gaming, Inc ; Intermix (MySpace), Mania Entertainment
…
In June 2006, Content Participations is taken over by his partner Benjamin de Rothschild and is now part of EBR Finances.
MM&I
MM&I (Me, Myself and I) is a company that provides strategic consulting in development & innovation notably in media and media related business development. Among its clients : Yahoo !, PhilipsPhilips
Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V. , more commonly known as Philips, is a multinational Dutch electronics company....
, Sanoma, France 24
France 24
France 24 is an international news and current affairs television channel. The service is aimed at the overseas market, similar to BBC World News, DW-TV, NHK World and RT, and broadcast through satellite and cable operators throughout the world. During 2010 the channel started broadcasting through...
, 365 media, LVMH
LVMH
LVMH Moët Hennessy • Louis Vuitton S.A., better known as LVMH, is a French multinational luxury goods conglomerate headquartered in Paris, Île-de-France, France. The company was formed after the 1987 merger of fashion house Louis Vuitton with Moët Hennessy, a company formed after the 1971 merger...
, producers of content and other international companies.
Entjoy
Alex Berger is the founder, Chairman and CEO of ENTJOY SAS, a digital distributor of content in Europe and Asia. www.entjoy.com Entjoy connects brands to original content from producers and to a selection of web, mobile, connected devices and TV media partners in France, Europa and Asia.The Oligarchs Productions
Alex Berger & Eric RochantÉric Rochant
Éric Rochant, born February 24, 1961, is a French film director and a screenwriter.- Filmography :* 1984 - Comme les doigts de la main* 1985 - French Lovers* 1987 - Présence féminine* 1989 - Un monde sans pitié...
are partners in The Oligarchs Productions since 2008.
Based in Paris, the company was founded on the basis of bridging the gap between European original ideas and talent in scripted drama and comedy and the mature US system of production. The Oligarchs Productions (TOP) started with the development of the original series The Oligarchs for Canal+
Canal+
Canal+ is a French premium pay television channel launched in 1984. It is 80% owned by the Canal+ Group, which in turn is owned by Vivendi SA. The channel broadcasts several kinds of programming, mostly encrypted...
and a US broadcaster. TOP is currently developing several international formats and series..
Further Readings
- Profile et background sur le site Bloomberg Business Week
- Interview de Alex Berger, sur le site du Journal du Net, pour la création de Canal New Media, août 1999.
- Article "BSkyB and Canal Plus snuggle closer for joint European push", par Simon Bond sur le site de Media Life Magazine, octobre 1999
- Résumé de l'atelier sur les programmes courts, qui s'est tenu à Kuala Lumpur en Malaisie, en avril 2010, et auquel Alex Berger a participé.
- Histoire de désirs, de Pierre Lescure et Jean-Pierre Lavoignat, octobre 2001
- The Man Who Tried to Buy the World: Jean-Marie Messier and Vivendi Universal, de Jo Johnson et Martine Orange, janvier 2004