Ufa Media Ventures Shifts Base to Berlin, Leaving Potsdam with Sentiment of Disappointment
In a significant move for the German media industry, leading TV, cinema, and streaming production company Ufa has announced its return to Berlin after three decades at the Potsdam-Babelsberg media location. The company plans to relocate approximately 130 employees to new premises on Schöneberger Ufer in Berlin from the first half of 2026.
The relocation includes popular shows such as "Gute Zeiten, schlechte Zeiten" and "Deutschland sucht den Superstar." However, no further information has been provided about the reasons for the relocation or the specific shows to be produced in Berlin.
Ufa, a broad-based media company, is bundling the activities of the Ufa Serial Drama division at the Potsdam location. The production of the RTL series "Gute Zeiten, schlechte Zeiten" will remain at the Potsdam location, including the outdoor set. The outdoor set for "Gute Zeiten, schlechte Zeiten" will remain in Potsdam.
The relocation is seen as a move to be in the middle of society's creative pulse, according to Chief Operating Officer Natalie Clausen. Brandenburg's Minister of Economics Daniel Keller stated that this is a strategic restart within Ufa.
It is worth noting that Ufa is the parent company of the German production activities of the media company Fremantle. Fremantle operates the global production business of the RTL Group, which belongs to Bertelsmann. The change is in response to changing market conditions that can only be partially influenced from Brandenburg.
As of now, there are no major news outlets or industry calendars confirming Ufa’s relocation from Potsdam to Berlin in 2026. In the absence of official information, the strategic motivations for such a move cannot be ascertained from current sources.
The location in Berlin that Ufa already has is not specified in the text. The headquarters of Ufa will return to the capital, but no new information is provided about Ufa's headquarters or its status as a broad-based media company.
The industry is eagerly awaiting more details about this significant move and the impact it may have on the German media landscape. As more information becomes available, it is expected that the reasons for the relocation will be clarified, and the future plans for Ufa's operations in Berlin will be outlined.
The relocation of Ufa, a broad-based media company, includes its entry into the Berlin finance and business sector, as it plans to establish its new premises on Schöneberger Ufer. With the move, Ufa aims to tap into the creative pulse of the city, as stated by Chief Operating Officer Natalie Clausen, also positioning itself for potential collaborations in entertainment, given Berlin's vibrant industry landscape.
