TC Unterhaltungselektronik

TC Unterhaltungselektronik AG (short form TCU AG) is a German consumer-electronics company headquartered in Koblenz. Its core business is the development, production and marketing of television accessory devices for the external control of audio and video equipment. The company's shares are traded on the General Standard segment of the Frankfurt Stock Exchange and the stock is included in the CDAX index. The company was founded on 3 June 1998 in Koblenz with the aim of distributing TV and media systems capable of suppressing television advertising both on broadcast television and on video tapes. In October 2000 it went public on the Regulated Market (Geregelter Markt) of the Frankfurt Stock Exchange. The proceeds of the IPO were intended to finance an advertising campaign to market a TV advertising blocker. The boxes, called 'Fernsehfee' (Television Fairy), were to cost 399 euros each and were designed to automatically switch to another channel during commercial breaks. In April 2013 TCU brought a new live-TV ad blocker to market with 'Fernsehfee 2.0', this time Android-based and in the form of a satellite receiver. RTL Television GmbH accused TCU of copyright infringements in 2018 in connection with cooperation with an online recorder provider. As a result, TCU had to interrupt business operations in November 2018 following a search of its business premises by the Koblenz public prosecutor's office. The company has also attracted criticism over corporate-governance and accounting issues. In 2002 TCU was accused of various violations of stock-corporation law, including failing to present annual reports to shareholders, improperly convening the annual general meeting, and, at that meeting, tearing a shareholder's own notes from his hands. The management board publicly spoke of a 'misinterpretation of the Stock Corporation Act'. The company was also accused of accounting errors, such as fully capitalizing damage claims from pending lawsuits in the balance sheet. In 2006 auditors accused TCU of several inaccuracies or violations of the Commercial Code (HGB); the annual general meeting for 2004 had not been convened in time and not all presentation and information obligations had been met, and the auditor's opinion for 2004 was withheld. The management board disputed the accusations or placed responsibility with the auditors. In 2023 the German Federal Financial Supervisory Authority (BaFin) imposed a fine on TCU for a violation of the Securities Trading Act (WpHG).

TC Unterhaltungselektronik AG was founded on 3 June 1998 with its registered office in Koblenz, Germany. Its founding purpose was to distribute TV and media systems capable of suppressing television advertising both on television broadcasts and on video tapes. In October 2000 the company went public on the Regulated Market (Geregelter Markt) of the Frankfurt Stock Exchange. The proceeds from the IPO were intended to finance an advertising campaign to market a TV advertising blocker. The devices, called 'Fernsehfee', were to be sold at 399 euros each and were designed to automatically switch to another channel during commercial spots. In April 2013 TCU brought a new live-TV ad blocker to market with 'Fernsehfee 2.0', this time based on Android and in the form of a satellite receiver. In 2018 RTL Television GmbH accused TCU of copyright infringements in connection with cooperation with an online recorder provider. As a result, TCU had to interrupt business operations in November 2018 following a search of its business premises by the Koblenz public prosecutor's office. Over its history the company has faced repeated criticism regarding corporate governance and accounting. In 2002 TCU was accused of various violations of stock-corporation law: shareholders were not presented with annual reports, the annual general meeting was not properly convened, and at the meeting a shareholder's own notes were torn from his hands. The management board publicly declared a 'misinterpretation of the Stock Corporation Act'. The company was also accused of accounting errors, including capitalizing damage claims from still-undecided lawsuits at full value in the balance sheet. In 2006 auditors accused TCU of several inaccuracies or violations of the Commercial Code (HGB): the annual general meeting for 2004 had not been convened in time and not all presentation and information obligations had been fulfilled. Because of these omissions the auditor's opinion for 2004 was withheld. The management board disputed the accusations or saw responsibility as lying with the auditors. In 2023 the German Federal Financial Supervisory Authority (BaFin) imposed a fine on TCU for a violation of the Securities Trading Act (WpHG).

• 2023

  BaFin imposed a fine on TCU for a violation of the Securities Trading Act (WpHG).

• 2018

  RTL Television GmbH accused TCU of copyright infringements; business operations interrupted in November 2018 after a search by the Koblenz public prosecutor's office.

• 2013

  Launched 'Fernsehfee 2.0', an Android-based live-TV ad blocker in the form of a satellite receiver, in April 2013.

• 2006

  Auditors accused TCU of inaccuracies or violations of the Commercial Code (HGB); auditor's opinion for 2004 withheld.

• 2002

  Accused of various violations of stock-corporation law and accounting errors.

• 2000

  IPO on the Regulated Market (Geregelter Markt) of the Frankfurt Stock Exchange in October 2000.

• 1998

  Founded on 3 June 1998 in Koblenz to distribute TV and media systems that suppress TV advertising.

Developer and marketer of television accessory devices, notably live-TV advertising blockers, listed on the Frankfurt Stock Exchange General Standard.

• Fernsehfee

  A TV advertising blocker box priced at 399 euros that automatically switched to another channel during commercial spots.

• Fernsehfee 2.0

  An Android-based live-TV ad blocker released in April 2013 in the form of a satellite receiver.

1. 1TC Unterhaltungselektronik – Wikipedia (German)de.wikipedia.org
2. 2TC Unterhaltungselektronik – Wikidatawikidata.org
3. 3Company websitetelecontrol.de