RTL Group Sells Belgian Operations

RTL Group has sealed a deal to sell RTL Belgium to DPG Media and Groupe Rossel for €250 million ($298 million).

The deal includes three free-TV channels—RTL-TVI, Club RTL and Plug RTL—radio stations, the RTL Play streaming service and news website RTLInfo.be.

The deal is expected to close in the fourth quarter of this year, pending regulatory approval. RTL Group took full ownership of the Belgian business in December of last year, after having held a majority interest for more than three decades.

“DPG Media and Groupe Rossel are strong cross-media companies that are well equipped to accelerate RTL Belgium’s digital transformation,” said Elmar Heggen, COO and deputy CEO of RTL Group. “The sale is in line with our strategy and the best strategic option for RTL Belgium, its dedicated employees and our shareholders.”

Heggen added, “Today, RTL Belgium stands for audience proximity, independent information, pluralism of opinion and high-quality
entertainment. We are looking forward to the continued cooperation with RTL Belgium, for example with our technical service provider BCE in Luxembourg and the streaming technology company Bedrock.”