Inhalt
Digital Development
The Media Group RTL Germany is pursuing its successful brand strategy in TV through new, digital methods of transmission and by offering new choices to the viewer.
As the world moves into a digital future, the Media Group RTL Germany is amongst the vanguard: in January 2006, the Media Group RTL Germany was the first major broadcaster to begin feeding a digital signal into the German cable networks. This means that viewers in all the German federal states can now receive RTL Television, VOX, RTL II, Super RTL and n-tv as digital programs via cable. The plan is that programs will continue to be broadcast as analog, unencrypted transmissions via cable in parallel with digital transmission until the end of 2009. RTL programs are additionally available in several regions via DVB-T, nationally via satellite (Astra) as both analog and digital signals, as well as in IPTV format via the DSL networks of T-Com, Telekom Austria, Hansenet and Arcor.
Customers of T-Mobile and Vodafone mobile can also download RTL services via the UMTS mobile data network standard as loop. Via the mobile TV channel RTL MobileTV, RTL series such as "Alarm für Cobra 11" and the ice-skating soap "Alles was zählt" are broadcast unabridged, whereas info formats are specially condensed, e.g. as 60-second news bulletins. Since March 2008, the digital niche channels RTL Crime, Passion and RTL Living have been available via Vodafone mobile. The n-tv live stream is also available via T-mobile.
New choices for viewers
With the launch of clipfish.de in mid 2006, the Media Group RTL Germany became the first TV broadcaster in Germany to operate a stand-alone website where users could upload their own home-produced short films and showcase them to the public. Unlike YouTube, Clipfish focuses on content that is 'Made in Germany'. Far more than other platforms, Clipfish has an eye for user creativity and talent. Since spring 2008 Clipfish has been intensifying the integration of professionally produced content. In addition to exclusive RTL content, Clipfish partners now have the opportunity of setting up channels with their own professionally produced moving-image content, which can be designed quickly, easily and individually using a flexible, modular system.
Specially selected RTL programs in DVD quality, series from the archives, preview function and download opportunities around the clock – all of this is available from RTLNOW.de, the video-on-demand service from RTL on the web. This mainly free-of-charge viewer service was launched in February 2007 with premium titles "CSI Miami" and "Gute Zeiten, schlechte Zeiten"; since then, further programming highlights have been added to the mix. Since mid 2009, VOX viewers can watch many of their favorite programs round the clock via VOXNOW.de. All VOX home-produced formats as well as several further programs are made available on this video on demand portal.
Since early 2008, the Media Group RTL Germany has been a shareholder in the internet start-up company wer-kennt-wen.de. The rapid growth of this social networking site can be gauged from the number of members. Whereas in late 2006 this consisted merely of friends, acquaintances and colleagues of the two founders, it has since become the leading social network in Germany according to AGOF.
Early in 2007, n-tv launched its interactive TV service n-tv plus. This provides the classic n-tv format with an additional interactive functionality. As well as the option of calling up extra information about the current TV program and a 'just missed' function, the viewer also has on-demand access to current broadcasts and video clips plus informative charts and polls. Furthermore, there is an archive where viewers can easily research programs, videos and clips. And last but not least, the user interface of n-tv plus can be personalized, enabling viewers to configure the news and stock market ticker themselves and thus receive only the news and stock market output that is of special interest to them individually.
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