RTL swoops in Hungary and the Netherlands

German broadcast group RTL has acquired seven Hungarian cable channels and taken a stake in the country’s RTL Klub channel. It has also taken full control of RTL Netherlands.

The broadcaster has acquired 31% of the shares in Hungarian entertainment channel RTL Klub, as well as 100% of Cool, Film Plus, Film Plus2, Reflektor, Prizma, Sorozat and Muzsika TV.

Andreas Rudas, executive vice-president regional operations and business development central and eastern Europe of RTL Group, said: “This transaction gives RTL Group the opportunity to implement its tried-and-tested strategy in Hungary: we will gain full control of our strong flagship RTL Klub and can now rapidly build a complementary family of channels. Given the ongoing audience fragmentation in the Hungarian TV market, this is essential to remain the leading television company of Hungary. RTL Group will continue its cooperation in Hungary with IKO Group on such important areas as production, and Tamás Rákosi will continue to be a Member of the Board of Magyar RTL zrt.”

RTL is also taking back the shares it doesn’t currently own in RTL Netherlands. The broadcaster said it had exercised an option that will see it take back the 26.3% minority shareholding Jon de Mol’s Talpa Media Holdings has in RTL Netherlands in exchange for 100% of the shares in Radio 538.

In addition, Talpa Media will also take over Radio 10 Gold and Slam FM from RTL Nederland. Both stations were acquired by RTL Nederland, in 2010 and 2011 respectively. In exchange, Talpa Media will reimburse RTL Nederland for the purchase prices paid.