ProSiebenSat.1 Media and Media group RTL Germany plan open channel, central platform for web-based TV content
Munich, August 6, 2010. ProSiebenSat.1 Media AG and media group RTL Germany GmbH are planning to form a joint venture to run an open technical platform offering time-shifted retrieval of web-based TV content via RTL interactive GmbH. The new companys offering is aimed at German and Austrian private and public TV channels. The platform is intended to enable participating providers to make their content, such as complete series, films, shows or news broadcasts, available to Internet users in a central, web-based offering and present it in a dedicated area on the platform. Internet users will be able to retrieve all the content as a stream, free of charge, seven days after TV transmission. Individual TV channels will continue to be responsible for marketing the content. The setting up and operation of the platform is subject to the approval of the responsible body, the European Commissions Directorate General for Competition. The application for approval is to be submitted today.
For the first time, the new platform will give Internet users the ability to retrieve time-shifted TV content via a central and clearly organised Internet platform tailored to the German and Austrian markets. The platform will strengthen competition in the German and Austrian market and is intended to help to put participating TV channels in a strong position to compete with international Internet offerings.
ProSiebenSat.1 Media AG and RTL interactive GmbH are planning to set up a joint venture to operate the platform. The JV will provide participating channels the necessary technical services for using such a platform, such as hosting and streaming. The joint venture companys remit will therefore consist solely in the technical provision of the platform. TV channels will be independently responsible for the editorial control and marketing of their own offering areas on the platform. The joint venture company will be paid by the respective TV channels for their use of the technical infrastructure and services. It will be organisationally independent of the shareholders.