Bertelsmann is a world wide media corporation with a presence in over 50 countries on 5 different continents. Bertelsmann’s products specialize in media distribution and Its key geographical markets are Western Europe – especially Germany, France, Britain and Spain – as well as the United States. Bertelsmann’s corporate divisions are as follows: RTL media group, Penguin Random House, Grüner and Jahr, Arvato, and BE printers.

RTL media specializes in mostly television media but also has radio stations such as Radio Luxembourg and RTL brand. RTL’s media content, Fremantle media, creates and produces a range of award-winning programs including primetime drama, serial drama, and comedies. With distribution in some 150 countries, Fremantle Media is also the largest independent TV distribution company outside the US.

Bertelsmann owns 53% of Penguin Random House, one of the world’s largest publishing houses. Penguin Random House issues around 15,000 books each year and puts around 700 into print, audio, and e-books. Penguin Random House represents famous authors such as Tom Clancy, Clive Cussler, Roald Dahl, E.L. Doctorow and Ken Follett.

Gruner and Jahr focuses on online and print news and special interest publications. According to Bertelsmann’s website, “Gruner and Jahr publications include STERN (D), BRIGITTE (D), GEO (D, E, F), CAPITAL (D, F), GALA (D, F, PL), ELTERN (CHN, D, E), the P.M. suite (D), ESSEN & TRINKEN (D) and NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC (D, F, NL).”

Arvato provides custom made business solutions. Some of their business products include product distribution and sale, data management, CRM services and customer care. Be Printers is Bertelsmann’s communication printing and distribution branch that creates custom printed customer communication materials.

Some of Bertelsmann’s corporate investments include BMG Music group, BDMI Digital media group, and BAI chinese media. BMG is the fourth largest music label world wide and has signed major artists such as Elvis Presley, Whitney Houston, Alicia Keys, Iron Maiden, Mariah Carey and many more. BDMI’s digital media’s focus is to grow smaller companies toward more successful endeavors through its digital media marketing strategies. Bertelsmann Asia Investments (BAI) is quickly growing into the largest market. According to Bertelsmann’s website, “Bertelsmann is using BAI to position itself in the Chinese market with moderate resource commitment, networking and accumulating valuable experience in the process. In 2008 BAI acquired a stake in China Distance Education Holdings (CDEL), an online training specialist. The company went public in August 2008 and is now the largest provider of its kind in China.”

Financial Sheet Germany:

Money for use: $296,447,867

Products Purchased:    -South Korea: Film and Concert $18,224,253        Reason for purchase: will bring something different to Germany’s culture and    people will get to experience a hot pop group from South Korea through a movie. It will create a different target audience and will allow the pop group to become popular. Also, if they ever come to Germany for a tour it will increase the country's revenue because of the use of a venue and merchandise that stores can sell to promote them for coming.

    -South Africa: South African Sports Magazine $26,720,000        Reason for purchase: Germany is very big on soccer and already has a vast fan base so it is assumed that the magazine will sell very well. Also, since it is from South Africa, it will give Germany a perspective on other countries soccer teams that are not only in Europe.

    -Sweden: Breaking Dead (show) $26,000,000            Girl with the Dragon (movie) $26,728,905        Reason for purchase: Germany has a great connection with Sweden and their film industry so it was a given to continue that cooperation and buy their products. Both the movie and show will attract audiences in Germany because of their interesting themes and since both countries are in Europe and share German and English as a language, it can be assumed that tastes are somewhat similar.

    -Saudi Arabia: Soccer channel $24,000,000        Reason for purchase: Once again, soccer is a big deal in Germany and has a wide audience, therefore, it will sell well.

    -Egypt: AFIN Soccer channel $26,299,005        Pharoah Times $24,299,005        Reason for purchase: Soccer channel is 24 hours and live so it is guaranteed that Germany will receive the greatest and most recent soccer news and games at all times which will attract many target audiences. The Pharoah Times is beneficial because it touches on travel and is a great place to only advertise Germany as a travel destination, but also give the countries readers interesting destinations to visit which will attract an audience to read the paper.

Revenue and Expenses:    -Total money started with: 296,447,867    -Total Money Spent: $178,345,919    -Total Money Earned: $116, 740, 000    -Total Revenue: $ 234,841,948