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The Star
4 days ago
- General
- The Star
China Focus: Exhibitions, ceremonies mark 80th anniversary of Japan's WWII surrender
BEIJING, Aug. 15 (Xinhua) -- Exhibitions and various other memorial activities have been organized across China to commemorate the 80th anniversary of Japan's announcement of unconditional surrender in World War II (WWII). On Aug. 15, 1945, Japan announced its unconditional surrender. Following the announcement, Japan sent representatives to Zhijiang County of Hunan Province to hand over a map of Japanese troops deployed in China, and to sign a memorandum of surrender. On Friday, an exhibition titled "WWII: Zhijiang," featuring 61 historical photos, was unveiled at a hall memorializing Japan's surrender in Zhijiang. The photos are on public display in China for the first time. Visitors slowed their pace, some standing quietly in front of the display board to contemplate the historical images. According to Wu Jianhong, curator of the memorial hall, the photos were collected by Zhijiang-born painter Qian Dexiang and his wife, Tan Mingli. The couple discovered a booklet about Zhijiang's WWII history that contained historical photos in the United States. The photos vividly portray the people of Zhijiang and their struggle against aggression, as well as Chinese military personnel and civilians fighting alongside their American peers, and moments from the victory celebrations. "The release of these photos is not only intended to revisit Zhijiang's wartime history -- it is also a profound remembrance of the county's countless fallen heroes," Wu said. "Looking back at history is meant to help us move forward." In Nanjing -- the site of the horrific Nanjing Massacre during WWII -- six individuals were on Friday recognized as "inheritors of historical memories of the Nanjing Massacre" during a ceremony held at the Memorial Hall of the Victims in Nanjing Massacre by Japanese Invaders. There are now 38 such inheritors. Notably, that number now includes two foreign nationals for the first time: Thomas Rabe and Megan Brady, both of whom are descendants of international personnel who had helped save Chinese people and recorded the horrific history of the war in China. Thomas Rabe is the grandson of German businessman John Rabe, who joined other foreigners to establish an international safe zone during the massacre, saving over 250,000 Chinese lives. The diaries of John Rabe remain among the most comprehensive historical records of the atrocity. Megan Brady is the great-granddaughter of Richard Brady, a U.S. surgeon who aided civilians in Nanjing and documented the atrocities of the Japanese army through diary entries, photographs and letters. The Nanjing Massacre took place when Japanese troops captured the then Chinese capital on Dec. 13, 1937. Over a period of six weeks, they killed approximately 300,000 Chinese civilians and unarmed soldiers in one of the most barbaric episodes of WWII. Also on Friday, a special exhibition titled "Justice Trial" opened at the September 18th Historical Museum in Shenyang, Liaoning Province, showcasing historical facts related to trials of Japanese war criminals. The exhibition features more than 200 photographs and over 100 other items, as well as archival materials. It documents the public trials, as well as the subsequent verdicts, of 45 Japanese war criminals conducted by a special military tribunal of the Supreme People's Court of the People's Republic of China (PRC). Fan Lihong, curator of the September 18th Historical Museum, told Xinhua that these trials were the first trials on Japanese war criminals conducted by the Chinese people on their own territory after the founding of the PRC. They were carried out independently and without external interference, holding significant international influence and historic importance. In southwest China's Chongqing Municipality, a guided tour was organized on Friday morning. Participants set off from the city's iconic People's Liberation Monument and walked all the way to a museum which presents visitors with information about the Japanese bombing in Chongqing. "I have been deeply moved along this journey," said Chen Junfeng, who participated in the tour. "The People's Liberation Monument used to be a monument to victory in the Chinese People's War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression, and now it stands amid towering skyscrapers as a landmark of the city. These changes have all been achieved through the sacrifices and bloodshed of our forebears."
Time of India
09-08-2025
- Business
- Time of India
Broadcaster RTL bets on streaming shift as M&A activity picks up in Europe
European broadcaster RTL Group plans to speed up its business transformation, betting on the planned Sky Deutschland acquisition to drive streaming growth and offset declines in TV advertising and demand for traditional media, it said on Friday. RTL has been expanding its streaming platforms and strengthening its content production in response to evolving consumer habits and competition from digital rivals, including Netflix and Amazon's Prime Video. Over the past five years, it has generated more than 2.7 billion euros ($3.1 billion) by disposing assets not aligned with this strategy. "I believe there will inevitably be further handovers and licensing in Europe," CEO Thomas Rabe told reporters in a call after RTL published its half-year results. "We are no longer competing nationally or locally, but rather with global platforms." During the first half of 2025, RTL renewed its distribution partnership with Deutsche Telekom until 2030 and agreed to buy Sky Deutschland. Rabe said RTL was in talks with the European Commission, which is responsible for reviewing the proposed merger that would combine Sky's sports and streaming offerings with RTL's news and entertainment brands. The deal is part of an increasingly active M&A landscape in European media. RTL's German rival ProSiebenSat.1 on Wednesday abandoned its resistance and recommended its shareholders accept the latest public takeover offer from Italy's MFE-MediaForEurope . "We have submitted initial documents to the Commission and have also received initial questions," he said. The regulatory approval and closing of the transaction are expected in 2026. Takeovers in the TV industry have repeatedly failed in Germany and other European countries due to objections from regulators who fear the dominance of individual broadcasting groups. RTL's half-year revenue fell 3.2% to 2.78 billion euros ($3.24 billion), missing analysts' consensus, weighed down by lower revenue from ads and content production. That decline was partly offset by 27% growth in streaming revenue that reached 235 million euros.
Time of India
28-06-2025
- Business
- Time of India
RTL buys Sky Deutschland in deal to take on US streaming giants
European broadcaster RTL Group said on Friday it would buy Sky Deutschland , in a deal that combines Sky 's sports and streaming offerings with RTL's news and entertainment brands to create a business with 11.5 million paying subscribers. Shares in RTL surged 12% following announcement of the deal, rising to the top of Germany's mid-cap index. The merger brings together two of Europe's strongest media offerings in sport and entertainment in a battle to catch up with U.S. heavyweights in Germany. RTL and Sky's combined streaming services boast an audience larger than that of Disney but far behind market leaders Netflix and Amazon Prime. The deal includes a 150 million euro ($176 million) upfront payment plus a variable component of up to 377 million euros depending on RTL's share price which Sky parent Comcast can trigger any time within five years. The purchase gives RTL, which is majority-owned by German media group Bertelsmann , local access to Sky's premium sports rights including Bundesliga and Premier League soccer, and Formula 1 motor racing, as well as Sky's WOW streaming service. A person familiar with the situation said RTL had approached Sky for the deal, and that Sky was not looking to sell any other part of its business. RTL Chief Executive Thomas Rabe described the deal as "transformational" for the group and said it would create cost savings of around 250 million euros per year within three years of the deal closing. In the past, Rabe had considered a bid for German competitor ProSiebenSat.1 but doubted whether competition regulators would give that the green light. He told Reuters in a separate interview that RTL would not be involved in any further consolidation in the German market. "The issue of a merger with ProSiebenSat.1 is now definitely off the table," he said. ProSieben, for its part, is trying to fend off a takeover from MFE, the TV broadcaster controlled by Italy's Berlusconi family, which wants to build on its commercial TV operations in Italy and Spain to create a pan-European broadcaster. Sky Deutschland, which operates in Germany, Austria, Switzerland, was on track to break even on an earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization (EBITDA) basis, Sky Group Chief Executive Dana Strong said. The business reported around 2 billion euros in annual revenue. The variable component of the deal with Sky depends on RTL's share price, which was 35.40 euros at 0721 GMT in Frankfurt trade following a jump in value after announcement of the deal. Comcast can trigger it at any time within five years of the deal being finalised provided the share price exceeds 41 euros. At a share price of 70 euros, the additional payment for Comcast would be capped at 377 million euros. RTL can pay in cash, shares or a combination of both.
Yahoo
27-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
RTL to buy Sky Deutschland for €150mn in TV consolidation effort
RTL has agreed to buy Comcast's Sky Deutschland for €150 million as the media conglomerate seeks to stave off competition from US streaming platforms. On top of the €150mn upfront cost, the group may pay a further €377mn if RTL's share price rises above €41 apiece five years after the deal's close. RTL said that the acquisition, if approved by regulators, would allow it to become the third-biggest provider of streaming services in Germany after Netflix and Amazon Prime. The deal is expected to close next year. Comcast, Sky's parent firm since 2018, has been looking to sell Sky Deutschland for several years. The German subsidiary has never made a profit but it is expected to break even this year. The firm has notably been struggling as competition from streaming services heats up. However, Sky won a significant deal to exclusively show most Bundesliga football matches last year, through to the end of the 2028-29 season, boosting its attractiveness. 'The business is on track to achieve EBITDA break-even, reflecting the success of our turnaround plan. Combining the strength of our brand with RTL builds on that momentum and opens up even greater opportunities,' Dana Strong, Group CEO at Sky, said in a statement. Related Warner Bros. Discovery to split, dividing TV and streaming services Netflix and France's TF1 join forces as traditional TV struggles Thomas Rabe, CEO of RTL, noted: 'the synergies are estimated to be around €250mn per annum within three years after closing, creating significant shareholder value'. Combined, the groups will have around 11.5mn subscribers. Under the terms of the deal, RTL will have the right to use the Sky brand in Germany, Austria, Switzerland, Luxembourg, Liechtenstein and South Tyrol. RTL has been looking to secure new revenue streams through premium subscriptions, as it operates several television and radio stations that are free to air. The decision to buy Sky Deutschland is the biggest deal it has struck since it was formed in 2000. In 2023, RTL had its eyes on another consolidation project, bidding to acquire Dutch media conglomerate Talpa Network. Competition authorities said the merged group would be too dominant in the Netherlands. RTL then proposed to sell its Dutch subsidiary RTL Nederland to Belgium-based DPG Media, although regulators have yet to give the green light. Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
Euronews
27-06-2025
- Business
- Euronews
RTL to buy Sky Deutschland for €150mn in TV consolidation effort
RTL has agreed to buy Comcast's Sky Deutschland for €150 million as the media conglomerate seeks to stave off competition from US streaming platforms. On top of the €150mn upfront cost, the group may pay a further €377mn if RTL's share price rises above €41 apiece five years after the deal's close. RTL said that the acquisition, if approved by regulators, would allow it to become the third-biggest provider of streaming services in Germany after Netflix and Amazon Prime. The deal is expected to close next year. Comcast, Sky's parent firm since 2018, has been looking to sell Sky Deutschland for several years. The German subsidiary has never made a profit but it is expected to break even this year. The firm has notably been struggling as competition from streaming services heats up. However, Sky won a significant deal to exclusively show most Bundesliga football matches last year, through to the end of the 2028-29 season, boosting its attractiveness. 'The business is on track to achieve EBITDA break-even, reflecting the success of our turnaround plan. Combining the strength of our brand with RTL builds on that momentum and opens up even greater opportunities,' Dana Strong, Group CEO at Sky, said in a statement. Thomas Rabe, CEO of RTL, noted: 'the synergies are estimated to be around €250mn per annum within three years after closing, creating significant shareholder value'. Combined, the groups will have around 11.5mn subscribers. Under the terms of the deal, RTL will have the right to use the Sky brand in Germany, Austria, Switzerland, Luxembourg, Liechtenstein and South Tyrol. RTL has been looking to secure new revenue streams through premium subscriptions, as it operates several television and radio stations that are free to air. The decision to buy Sky Deutschland is the biggest deal it has struck since it was formed in 2000. In 2023, RTL had its eyes on another consolidation project, bidding to acquire Dutch media conglomerate Talpa Network. Competition authorities said the merged group would be too dominant in the Netherlands. RTL then proposed to sell its Dutch subsidiary RTL Nederland to Belgium-based DPG Media, although regulators have yet to give the green light.
