Christoph Schneider: Prime Video Germany Exit

Prime Video Germany Chief Christoph Schneider Exits amid Restructuring

Prime Video has confirmed the departure of Christoph Schneider, its country chief in Germany, after 13 years with the company. The move is part of an internal restructuring that eliminates Schneider’s position as Country Director, with several executives set to absorb his responsibilities.

Schneider’s exit, first reported by German TV industry site dwdl.de, is understood to be amicable and arrives at a noteworthy moment for the streaming giant. The second season of the popular young adult series Maxton Hall: The world Between Us recently launched to notable acclaim.

Did you know? – Maxton Hall, despite its English-language production, originated as a German commission for Prime Video, demonstrating the platform’s investment in international content creation.

Maxton Hall Drives Prime Video’s International Success

Despite being set in a British boarding school and filmed in English, Maxton Hall is a German production commissioned by Prime Video. The show’s second season, which premiered on November 7, quickly rose to the top of Prime Video’s global charts in its first week. According to a company release, Maxton Hall is now Prime Video’s most successful non-English-language original series, with a third season already in advancement.

Pro tip: – Streaming services often commission content in one country but produce it in English to broaden its potential audience and increase international appeal.

Restructuring Details: New Leadership Roles Emerge

The restructuring will see Stephan bauer taking on responsibility for acquisitions and licensing across Northern and Central Europe. Max Pawlak will manage the transactional aspects of Prime Video’s German operations. Both Bauer and pawlak will be based in Munich and will report to Andrew Bennett,VP of Business Operations,Programming & Partnerships for Prime Video International,who is located in London. Philip Pratt will continue to lead German originals for Amazon MGM Studios, reporting to nicole Clemens, Vice President International originals at Amazon MGM Studios.

A Long Tenure at amazon

Schneider joined Amazon in 2012, following the tech giant’s acquisition of video streaming service Lovefilm. At the time, Lovefilm primarily operated in the UK and Germany. He navigated the transition of the service from Lovefilm to Amazon Prime Video and ultimately to Prime Video. He was appointed Country Manager for Prime Video in November 2022, succeeding kaspar Pflüger. Prior to his time at Amazon, Schneider served as Managing Director of ProSiebenSat.1’s streaming service Maxdome from 2010 to 2012. His future plans remain undisclosed.

Reader question: – How might this restructuring impact the types of German-language content Prime Video commissions and produces in the future?

Shifting Landscape in German Television

Schneider’s departure comes amid broader changes in the german media landscape. Marco Giordani of MediaForEurope will succeed Bert Habets at ProSiebenSat.1. These concurrent shifts signal a dynamic and evolving landscape for media in Germany.