RBN signs joint venture with Europe's RTL for TV channels

Anil Ambani’s Reliance Broadcast Network (RBN) has signed an equal joint venture with Luxembourg-based RTL Group SA, to launch two theme-based channels.

RTL is part of Europe’s largest media firm, Bertelsmann AG, and has a market cap of $15.5 billion (Rs 69,900 crore). The company operates over 40 television channels and 33 radio stations across 10 countries in Europe.

“RTL will launch two channels with multi-lingual content. One channel will be built around reality shows, while the other will be based on extreme action and sports, and target male viewers,” said Tarun Katial, CEO, RBN.

The JV is planning to roll out the first channel under the new partnership by the middle of the current calendar year, he said.

The JV will also give RBNL access to RTL’s library of content produced by its group production house, FremantleMedia Ltd. This includes shows such as The X Factor, American Idol and America’s Got Talent, and their various regional franchises. RBNL would aim to air these shows on the new channels to be launched with RTL. It would also look at producing its own local versions of these internationally successful formats at some point, said Katial.

“Many channels air reality shows that enjoy high viewership. India lacked a 24-hour reality channel and the association with RTL is aimed to fill that gap,” he added.

RBNL and RTL will also explore the option of getting into regional entertainment, especially in Hindi.

This is RBN’s second major international partnership signed in the past 12 months. In August last year, it signed an agreement with US-based CBS Studios International to launch a bouquet of three English language general entertainment channels, BIG-CBS Prime, BIG –CBS Spark and BIG-CBS Love.