RTL Group Increases Presence Across All Digital Platforms

By Robert Briel for Broadband TV News

RTL Group said it developed its strong and rapidly growing presence across all digital platforms. In the first nine months of 2014 RTL Group’s catch-up TV services and websites, including the Youtube MCN Broadband TV, attracted a total 24.4 billion online video views, up 159% year-on-year.

FremantleMedia’s more than 175 Youtube channels attracted 6.2 billion views, up 34.8% year-on-year. For the full year, RTL Group expects to more than double its online video views to around 40 billion. The group continued its investments into digital capabilities and footprint. With the acquisition of StyleHaul RTL Group further accelerates its presence in the online video space.

“Given our high cash flows and strong financial position, we won’t wait for the economic condition to improve, but invest today in new growth drivers for RTL Group,” said Anke Schäferkordt and Guillaume de Posch, Co-Chief Executive Officers of RTL Group, in a joint statement.

“This year, we will invest more than €240 million in rapidly growing digital businesses – while also launching new channels and further diversifying our content production arm. This is the highest investment level for acquisitions since 2005. With the recent acquisitions of SpotXchange and StyleHaul, we have made strategically important progress to make RTL Group a global force in online video and online video advertising.”

With 900 million video views per month, StyleHaul is the leading multi-channel network on Youtube for fashion, beauty and lifestyle.

FremantleMedia North America’s recently-launched digital content studio, Tiny Riot, has partnered with BroadbandTV on a multi-year original programming deal spanning entertainment, gaming and music content.

In September, RTL Group completed the acquisition of a 65% majority stake in the programmatic video advertising platform SpotXchange; the investment significantly strengthens RTL Group’s global scale across the entire online video advertising market and adds new technology- and data-based competencies.

In September, RTL Interactive in Germany acquired Econa Shopping for €27.5 million. Econa operates curated advice and recommendation platforms for online shopping such as Sparwelt.de. It is the most significant acquisition in the history of RTL Interactive.

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