Observed Signal · Aug 5, 2026 · Hiring · Source: DWDL · Impact: 1/5 · Sentiment: Neutral

Leadership Reshuffle at münchen.tv under Max Schlereth

Executive Signal Summary

Owner Max Schlereth has reorganized the Localism group that houses regional broadcasters including münchen.tv, tv.ingolstadt and L‑TV. Horst Rettig and Marion Gehlert are moved from münchen.tv into the group's holding company: Rettig becomes managing director of the entire Localism group and Gehlert will serve as Chief Content & Talent Officer, continuing her political-talk formats across the stations. At münchen.tv Willi Arsan will take responsibility for programming, editorial, production and technical operations, while Christoph Schwedler becomes managing director overseeing finance & controlling, strategy, marketing, research, promotion, design and social media. The holding will centralize cross-station functions (sales, tech, administration, accounting, corporate development) and expand journalistic education and quality work at group level.

Polaris7 AgentPolaris7 Strategic Assessment
High Confidence

Personnel and organizational changes at a regional broadcaster and its holding are relevant to media ownership and local TV operations but have limited industry-wide impact on AdTech/MarTech.

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Key Takeaways & Evidence Grounding

  • In April 2024 Max Schlereth, managing majority shareholder of Derag Unternehmensgruppe, bought the local TV stations münchen.tv and tv.ingolstadt; a year later he acquired regional station L‑TV and founded Localism Media GmbH.
  • Horst Rettig is promoted to Managing Director of the entire Localism group; Marion Gehlert is promoted to Chief Content & Talent Officer of the group.
  • münchen.tv's on-site leadership is filled by Willi Arsan (responsible for program, editorial, production and technology) and Christoph Schwedler (managing director responsible for finance & controlling, strategy, marketing & brand management, research, promotion, graphics, design & social media).
  • The Localism holding will centralize cross-station areas such as sales, technical operations, administration, accounting and corporate development.
  • Owner Max Schlereth intends to anchor and expand journalistic training and quality as an overarching responsibility in the holding.

Connected Companies & Entities

3 Entities mapped

“Schwedler also sat on the management board of oe24.TV in the past.”

“This article is published by DWDL.de GmbH (© DWDL.de GmbH, 2001-2026).”

“Christoph Schwedler previously worked as Sales Director at ORF-Enterprise.”

Ontology Mapping & Concepts

Primary Source Grounding & Direct Attribution
Direct Origin Attribution
Primary Reporting: DWDL•Published: Aug 5, 2026
Original Coverage Title: “Max Schlereth legt die Führung von münchen.tv in neue Hände - DWDL.de”

Related Market Signals & Shifts

Recent verified developments and strategic activity across this market segment.

TV (linear)Aug 5, 2026

Willi Arsan and Christoph Schwedler named München.TV CEOs

Localism Media Holding has reorganized its leadership and operating structure. Horst Rettig becomes CEO of the holding while Marion Gehlert, formerly München.TV editor-in-chief, is promoted to Chief Content & Talent Officer at holding level. The main station München.TV will be led by a dual executive team: Willi Arsan (responsible for program, editorial, production and technology) and Christoph Schwedler (responsible for finance, strategy, marketing, brand and research). Owner and investor Max Schlereth says the reorganization centralizes cross-station functions such as sales, technology, administration, accounting and corporate development to create synergies and advance strategic development. The group includes München.TV, TV.Ingolstadt and the Heilbronn regional station L‑TV, with an asserted renewed focus on journalistic quality.

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M&A / Leadership changesApr 24, 2026

RTL appoints Walthelm & Radelsberger; Schwecke, Heisserer leave

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