RTL to launch bouquet of channels in India

Pan European broadcaster RTL Group is to launch a bouquet of channels in India after striking a joint venture deal with Reliance Broadcast Network.

This comes two months after RTL chief executive Gerhard Zeiler told TBIvision that it was looking to move into the Asian market.

The company, which currently operates 46 channels in 11 countries across Europe, will initially launch two English-language channels, a reality network and a male skewing action channel.

The joint venture will see the new entity have access to content from FremantleMedia’s library, which includes the Idols, Got Talent and X Factor formats as well as scripted programming.

RTL chief executive Gerhard Zeiler said yesterday following the company’s financial results: “We in advanced discussions with our partners in Asia and in particular, India. There’s an opportunity to launch something in the not too distant future.”

Indian broadcaster Reliance operates two channels – BIG CBS Prime and BIG CBS Love – through a joint venture with Hollywood studio CBS and is launching youth skewing network BIG CBS Spark later this month.