RTL Rtl Group

RNS Number:5647Y
RTL Group
8 February 2001

                           News release
                                 
                                                               8 February 2001

RTL Group launches German homeshopping channel RTL SHOP

Joint operation between RTL Group affiliates / 362 new jobs in 2001

Luxembourg, February 8, 2001 - RTL Group will launch the German TV
homeshopping channel RTL SHOP on March 1st. The new shopping channel will be
broadcast 24 hours a day via the Astra 1 A satellite. In addition, RTL SHOP
will produce a homeshopping window for Germany's leading commercial channel,
RTL Television. RTL SHOP's shareholders are RTL Television (55 per cent) and
its online and interactive subsidiary, RTL NEW MEDIA (25 per cent), and the
French TV group M6 (20 per cent), in which RTL Group also has a participation.
The investment for the launch of RTL SHOP amounts to EUR 33 million. Breakeven
is expected after three years.

RTL SHOP will position itself as an innovative and exclusive provider of
quality products, including fitness equipment, beauty products, kitchenware,
jewellery, consumer electronics and computer games as well as RTL-related
merchandise, travel and financial services. Initially, the channel will carry
six hours of live programming each day. This will be extended to sixteen hours
as soon as possible thereafter. RTL SHOP will also be accessible through the
Internet and teletext.

As from February 12th, RTL SHOP will launch a homeshopping window on RTL
Television. In comparison to the 24-hour channel itself, the shopping window
will have a stronger emphasis on entertainment. Similar shopping windows will
follow on other RTL Group channels, VOX and RTL II. Discussions regarding a
daily window are also underway with the music channel Onyx.

Logistical and technical services will be provided by the Bertelsmann Services
Group, a subsidiary of Bertelsmann's Arvato AG. Bertelsmann Services Group is
an international leader in the area of complex logistical solutions.

RTL SHOP will directly employ 60 persons and create a total of around 360 jobs
in the region of Nordrhein-Westfalen in 2001. Over time, projected growth in
activity should result in around 1000 new jobs. Heinz Scheve, former head of
Human Resources of RTL Television, has been appointed managing director of RTL
SHOP.

Ewald Walgenbach, Chief Operating Officer of RTL Group, explains "By joining
the new generation of thematic broadcasters, we are further strengthening our
RTL brand, with a view to digital and interactive TV. RTL SHOP is an excellent
example of RTL Group's strategy as a pan-European player: building families of
brands and channels; extending these families by launching complementary
services; and leveraging the tremendous cross promotion potential that results
from these activities. Furthermore, we are strengthening our buying power
throughout Europe and sharing our know-how between countries and group
companies."

RTL Television's Managing Director, Gerhard Zeiler said, "Through RTL SHOP, we
are entering a very promising market with high growth rates and a revenue
potential of EUR 1 Bio in Germany alone. The new venture also opens up great
potential for synergy - its complementary nature to the activities of RTL
MEDIA will strengthen our position in e-commerce. In this way, RTL SHOP is
creating a basis for further diversification into the digital world."



For further inquiries:

RTL Group

Markus Payer

Tel: (352) 421 42 5020

markus.payer@rtl-group.com



RTL Television

Ingrid Haas

Tel: (49) 221 456 4301

ingrid.haas@rtl.de




Finsbury

Julius Duncan

Tel: (44) 207 251 3801

julius.duncan@finsbury.com

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