BMUV Video Framework Contract

Berlin, August 2, 2022 - With the signing of the framework agreement, the consortium of Berlin-based agencies Jakobs Medien GmbH and gretchen GmbH will take over the conceptual and technical production of video content, podcasts and livestreams for the German Federal Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation, Nuclear Safety and Consumer Protection (BMUV) starting this month.

Nicolai Jakobs, CEO and Founder of Jakobs Medien GmbH:_

“Berlin is a fiercely competitive market when it comes to political communication and video production. We’re naturally proud that we convinced with our concept and were able to prevail with bold ideas against some of the established players among the bidders. And it also speaks to the client’s intentions to bring in fresh creative perspectives and break new ground.”_

Christoph Herms, Founder & Executive Producer of gretchen GmbH:_

“Information moves at a different speed on the internet. There’s usually only one chance to stand out with visual language, humor, or a cleverly told story and position content effectively. But behind great content lies intensive research, creative work and technical know-how: This is where our competencies in event livestreaming and content-rich video production complement each other perfectly. That makes us a perfect match not only as a consortium, but also for the BMUV.”_

Why Video Communication Is Critical for Federal Ministries

In an era where digital communication is fundamentally transforming political public relations, professional video production is becoming increasingly important for federal agencies. Citizens no longer rely exclusively on traditional media for information - they expect polished content on social media platforms, YouTube and the ministries’ own websites. Especially with complex topics like environmental protection, climate policy and consumer protection, it’s crucial to present content in a way that is understandable, engaging and shareable.

For the BMUV, the framework agreement represents a strategic step toward modern government communication. Instead of going through elaborate procurement processes for individual projects, the framework contract enables flexible and rapid collaboration - a decisive advantage when current topics like new environmental legislation, international climate conferences or consumer warnings need to be communicated promptly.

The Scope of the Framework Agreement

The central task of the BMUV Consortium Jakobs Gretchen will be to produce target-group-specific content for the various communication channels of the federal agency, in order to further increase the appeal of the ministry’s website and social media channels. Flexibility and fast production speed are especially important here.

The scope of services covers a broad range of audiovisual formats: from short social media clips for Instagram and TikTok, to explanatory video features for the YouTube channel, podcast productions and professional livestreams of ministry events. The challenge lies in finding the right tone and format for each platform - an Instagram Reel follows different rules than a ten-minute explainer on the ministry website.

In terms of content, the focus was not only on developing a sample reportage and thematically versatile, interactive social media formats, but for the first time also a sustainability concept for resource-efficient productions.

The Consortium Partnership Model: Combining Strengths

The consortium of Jakobs Medien and gretchen GmbH brings together two complementary fields of expertise. Jakobs Medien stands for technical excellence in live production, streaming technology and virtual studio environments. gretchen brings its strengths in editorial work, journalistic storytelling and cinematic production.

This consortium model has proven to be particularly efficient in practice. While in classic agency models a single service provider often tries to cover all disciplines, in a consortium the respective specialists can fully leverage their core competencies. The result is productions that meet the highest standards both in content and technical execution.

In concrete terms, this means: gretchen handles the editorial concept, research and direction of video content, while Jakobs Medien is responsible for technical planning, equipment, live production and post-production. For livestreams and events, both teams work hand in hand on-site - with clear responsibilities and well-rehearsed workflows.

Sustainability in Video Production: Green Shooting as an Award Factor

Nicolai Jakobs, CEO and Founder of Jakobs Medien GmbH:_

“Film and video productions can cause high CO2 emissions because the technology, depending on the setup, is energy-intensive and waste is generated on set, which is more complicated to dispose of at external locations. Additionally, protagonists, crew and equipment often need to be transported to multiple shooting locations and supplied there. We’ve made it our mission to implement our projects in an ecologically sustainable way and drastically reduce the carbon footprint of our film productions. ‘Green production’ will become one of the decisive award factors in the event and film production industry in the future. We’re convinced of that.”_

The submitted sustainability concept was a key component of the successful application. It includes concrete measures to reduce the ecological footprint of video productions: preferential use of LED lighting instead of energy-intensive halogen spots, use of green electricity at the production site, minimization of transport routes by bundling shooting days and using the company’s own studio in Kreuzberg, as well as avoiding single-use materials on set.

A special aspect is the ability to reduce physical sets and thus material consumption through virtual productions. Backgrounds and sets that would otherwise need to be elaborately built and disposed of after shooting can be created in virtual space and reused as often as needed. Travel to external shooting locations is also eliminated when scenes can be recreated in the virtual studio.

For federal ministries that serve as role models in sustainability, such a concept is not just a nice-to-have - it’s a decisive factor in the award of public contracts. The trend is clear: sustainable production methods are increasingly becoming a mandatory criterion in public tenders.

Significance for Political Communication

The collaboration with the BMUV marks an important milestone for both agencies. It demonstrates that innovative, creative approaches are also in demand in the field of government communication. The contract award confirms the strategy of combining technological innovation with content depth while breaking new ground in visual communication.

For political communication as a whole, this framework agreement sends a signal: ministries are ready to invest in high-quality audiovisual content to convey their messages to citizens in a contemporary way. The days when a single press photo and a text statement were sufficient are over. Today, multimedia formats are needed that work on the platforms where target audiences actually spend their time.

BACKGROUND

Jakobs Medien GmbH is an owner-managed media production company specializing in digital live formats, technical equipment for events and greenscreen studio productions based in Berlin Kreuzberg, and has been a contract partner for event technology and operations at the Federal Ministry for the Environment since 2016.

Founded in 2012 by Managing Director Nicolai Jakobs as a livestream technology service company, Jakobs Medien GmbH’s service portfolio today encompasses film productions, livestreaming events, technical implementation of virtual conferences, greenscreen studio productions as well as live e-commerce shows, conferences and online award ceremonies.

The permanent staff consists of a 14-member interdisciplinary team serving a client base of NGOs, startups, SMEs, brands, advertising agencies and federal ministries with full service - from conception and technical planning through content creation to live and post-production.

gretchen GmbH produces videos and films for politics and society, national and international organizations and companies. gretchen has one great love: complexity. Since 2009, gretchen has been making complex content simple - while always maintaining high aesthetic standards. As a full-service production company, they create moving images from the initial idea through production to the final edited film. This is ensured by 16 permanent employees across three departments and a Europe-wide active freelancer pool. gretchen offers a wide range of formats: corporate films, portrait films, classic commercials, trailers, explainer videos, event documentaries or animation films - always tailored to the respective digital target audience.

PRESS CONTACT

Lukas Braun Communications Manager Jakobs Medien GmbH +49 3020847070

**More Information **www.jakobsmedien.de