Vivendi Deutschland has offloaded its 100% interest in Babelsberg studio tour and theme park to Schatz Entertainment GmbH und Co. Filmpark Babelsberg KG in line with the French media empire's concentration on core activities at the film and television production centre.

Commenting on the takeover by former studio tour manager Friedhelm Schatz, Thierry Potok, head of Vivendi Deutschland and managing director of Studio Babelsberg Motion Pictures, admitted that the theme park and tour had struggled financially in recent years, but that he was 'very happy with this solution as it takes into account the various viewpoints of the staff, the involved companies, the politicians and, not least, the visitors of the film park as well'

Schatz announced that, with the takeover on March 15 - the beginning of this year's season - , 'talks will begin immediately with producers, distribution companies and broadcasters for a spectacular expansion of the programme offer already in this year.'