RTL Group and Virgin Media join Thinkbox

Thinkbox, the marketing body for commercial TV in the UK has added RTL Group and Virgin Media as Associate Members.Thinkbox represents over 90% of the commercial TV market in the UK through its shareholders’ owned and partner channels. The leading European entertainment network and one of the UK's leading entertainment and communications companies respectively will join an organisation including Channel 4, ITV, Sky Media, Turner Media Innovations and UKTV. Associate Membership entails consultation and involvement across Thinkbox activities and with Thinkbox’s working groups. Full shareholder status is currently reserved for TV broadcasters and their sales representatives. Said Tess Alps, Thinkbox’s Chief Executive: “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.” Added Oliver Herrgesell, RTL Group’s Executive Vice President Corporate Communications, Public Affairs & Marketing: “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.” For his part, 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.”