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COLOGNE -- German TV producers association Bundesverband Deutscher Fernsehproduzenten has agreed to merge with two other associations to form one large interest group for TV and movie producers named Allianz Deutscher Produzenten -- Film und Fernsehen.

Shaped after Britain's Pact, the Allianz will consist of film, TV, and entertainment formats.

The two other interests groups that will join to form Allianz are Film20 and the Assn. of German Entertainment producers (Agep). While Film20 represents most large German film shingles, another movie producers federation, Spielfilm, recently voted against joining the new Allianz.

However, the Allianz will remain "open to any producer, including those still organized in other federation," said Bundesverband's chairman, Bernd Burgemeister.

Meanwhile, Germany's association of film directors, Bundesverband Regie, has dismissed its managing director, Steffen Schmidt-Hug, who has headed the group since 2003. A decision for a successor has not been made yet.