RTL Group Sets Up Digital Hub

June 8, 2015 World Screen Top Stories

LUXEMBOURG: The RTL Digital Hub is a brand-new initiative from the RTL Group that will house a dedicated team to develop the company's investments in multi-channel networks and digital ad sales.

The team will be led by Marcel Reichart out of the U.S. and Europe as executive VP of RTL Digital Hub, in addition to his current role at Bertelsmann. Reichart will be working under the supervision of RTL Group’s co-CEOs, Anke Schäferkordt and Guillaume de Posch.

The RTL Digital Hub team will manage RTL Group’s portfolio of digital acquisitions and provide support for their further international expansion. The CEOs of BroadbandTV, StyleHaul and SpotXchange will continue to have full responsibility for their operations. The RTL Digital Hub will foster external partnerships, synergies with RTL Group’s broadcasters, its global production arm, FremantleMedia and with other divisions of Bertelsmann. In addition, the RTL Digital Hub will scan the market for further investments in the online video space.

Schäferkordt and de Posch said: “The creation of the RTL Digital Hub underlines our strategic goal to become a global force in online video and to further increase our presence in North America. With our recent investments in North America—BroadbandTV, StyleHaul and SpotXchange—we’ve reached critical mass in online video. Now we will bundle our efforts to develop our rapidly growing reach in this area into a more significant and profitable third pillar of RTL Group.

“We are very pleased that Marcel Reichart will lead the RTL Digital Hub. Marcel is deeply familiar with RTL Group’s digital businesses and entrepreneurial spirit and extremely well connected in the North-American and European digital media industry. Together with the CEOs of our digital businesses we look forward to working with him and the team which pioneered our digital investments.”

Reichart commented: “Having supported RTL Group’s successful online video strategy and digital investments in my current role, I am thrilled to now work even closer with the impressive entrepreneurs of the RTL Digital Hub portfolio and the RTL Group team to drive and create a fast-growing and innovative global leader in digital video. I am looking forward to contributing my digital and media industry insight and network as well as to further fostering synergies within RTL Group and Bertelsmann.”