RTL CBS appoints Asia boss

RTL and CBS have appointed Jonas Engwall CEO of their joint venture pay channels operation in Asia.

Engwall will run he JV from Singapore where as he has been based since January as senior VP, RTL Group Asia. Prior to the Singapore move, he has been in various strategy roles at Luxembourg-based broadcast group RTL. Before RTL he was at the Modern Times Group.

Andreas Rudas, RTL Group’s executive VP, regional operations and Reed Manville, CBS’ executive VP, international channels issued a joint statement: “Jonas has vast experience in international broadcasting, and a passion for television. He has been with RTL Group for many years and was instrumental in launching its first channel in India, BIG RTL Thrill..”

Engwall added: “Together with my team, I look forward to launching our two first channels, RTL CBS Entertainment HD and RTL CBS Extreme HD, across Asia.”

The partners announced last month that they would launch two channels in Asia.

The channels will have Asian first runs of reality programmes America’s Got Talent, Fear Factor and The X Factor USA; dramas Under The Dome, Elementary (pictured) and Beauty and the Beast and daily shows Entertainment Tonight and Late Show with David Letterman.

Separately, the CBS Chello Zone Channels UK joint venture has acquired the exclusive UK rights to US reality series Dog & Beth: On The Hunt. It has acquired the series from its producer and distributor Electus and will show it from early October on the CBS Reality channel.