New Delhi: Anil Ambani-led Reliance Broadcast Network Ltd (RBNL) on Sunday said it has entered into an agreement with RTL Group, a leading European entertainment network, to launch thematic television channels in India.
“RTL Group and RBNL (through its subsidiaries), announced the signing of a joint venture (JV) agreement to launch thematic television channels in India through an equally owned, joint venture company,” RBNL said in a statement.
The RTL Group is majority-owned by German media conglomerate Bertelsmann. It has 40 television and 33 radio stations in 10 countries.
The initial scope of the investment will include two English-speaking thematic TV channels, a reality channel with international content, mainly from RTL Group’s production arm FremantleMedia; and a channel primarily targeting male viewers with action-oriented content.
“This joint venture brings Europe’s leaders into India and RBNL is proud to be at the core of creating a revolution in the Indian English entertainment space,” RBNL CEO Tarun Katial said.
This is RBNL’s third major international partnership signed in the last one year.
In March, RBNL entered into a JV agreement with RTL Group to launch general entertainment channels in English.
RBNL signed an agreement with US-based CBS Studios International in August to launch a bouquet of three English language general entertainment channels, one of which, BIG-CBS Prime, is already on air. RBNL operates FM radio (Big FM) and television channels (Big CBS).
