RTL Group, the leading European entertainment network, today announced that it acquires 31 per cent of the shares in the country’s market-leading channel, RTL Klub, plus 100 per cent of a portfolio of seven cable channels Cool, Film+, Film+2, Reflektor, Prizma, Sorozat+, Muzsika TV.

The acquired portfolio of cable channels is one of the country’s most attractive Hungarianlanguage cable channel families and includes the strong channel brands Film+ and Cool.

The transaction is subject to regulatory approval.

Andreas Rudas, Executive Vice President Regional Operations & Business Development Central and Eastern Europe of RTL Group, says: “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.”