ProSiebenSat.1 content acquisition chief to leave

Rüdiger Böss

Rüdiger Böss, executive VP of content acquisitions and sales at Germany’s ProSiebenSat.1 Media SE, has decided to leave the group at the end of the year after over 25 years.

Böss has worked at ProSiebenSat.1 since 1992. Since 2007, he has been responsible for negotiations for and the acquisition of licensed films and series for the media group’s stations and video platforms.

He has secured long-term licensing deals for ProSieben with key Hollywood studios such as Warner Bros., Disney, Twentieth Century Fox, CBS, Paramount and Regency.

Henrik Pabst, who joined ProSieben as chief commercial officer for entertainment from Red Arrow Studios International as of January 2019, will take over responsibility for content acquisitions and content sales in his new role.

Conrad Albert, deputy CEO and general counsel of ProSiebenSat.1 Media SE, said: “Rüdiger Böss defined an era at ProSiebenSat.1 – he was our man in Hollywood, he was the one who opened the doors to the major film studios for us. His instinct for the next big TV hit, his negotiation skills and his passion for movies are legendary.

“He brought all the major blockbusters and US ratings hits to Germany for us. And alongside all that, he was always a great colleague and friend. We thank Rüdiger from the bottom of our hearts for these extraordinary years and wish him all the very best for his future.”

Böss added: “I look back at this quarter-century at ProSiebenSat.1 with fondness and gratitude and am incredibly happy that I was able to spend the majority of my professional life here. My biggest thank you goes to all the wonderful colleagues and partners.

“I am very proud of what we achieved together and the program milestones that we secured for our stations, from Four Weddings and a Funeral, one of my first purchases, to The Hunger Games and The Big Bang Theory. But now I’m taking a hint from the title of one of our most recent purchases: The Boy Needs Fresh Air. And after a short break I will get back in touch.”