Thielen tapped as RTL fiction chief

Exec replacing Wirbatz, Weckert

By ED MEZA

BERLIN -- Barbara Thielen will take over as head of fictional programming at German broadcaster RTL Television in August, replacing Annette Wirbatz and Peter Weckert, who are stepping down.

Thielen, a producer at RTL production subsid Teamworx, worked as a writer and editor at RTL from 1991-98, overseeing series "Balko," "Die Cleveren" and "Und Tschuess."

RTL program director Frank Berners praised Wirbatz and Weckert, who have worked at RTL since 1989, for shaping inhouse programming at the web. He didn't say whether Wirbatz and Weckert would stay or go, generating speculation that the two may be in talks for other positions at the network.