KabelKiosk adds RTL Group HD channels

Eutelsat’s KabelKiosk, Germany’s cable headend-in-the-sky, has announced the immediate launch of the RTL HD and Vox HD channels from Mediengruppe RTL Deutschland.

The addition to KabelKiosk of both channels follows the signing of an agreement between Eutelsat Germany and Mediengruppe RTL Deutschland, which was announced in Berlin at Eutelsat Germany’s annual reception on January 21. With their launch in KabelKiosk, RTL HD and Vox HD will be available for the first time in HD quality for digital cable networks in Germany. KabelKiosk’s German cable partners will immediately be able to offer the new option to their subscribers via Eutelsat’s Eurobird 9A satellite.

“The development of television will be closely associated with the quality and enhanced experience brought by HDTV”, said Martina Rutenbeck, managing director of Eutelsat Germany. “We are delighted to welcome RTL HD and Vox HD onto the KabelKiosk platform as we believe their compelling content will be a real driving force for the success of HDTV in Germany. The launch of this new offer is further evidence of our commitment to innovating new products that contribute to powering digitisation of cable networks in Germany.”

Andre Prahl, a member of the management board of the RTL subsidiary CBC (Cologne Broadcast Centre), and in charge of channel distribution at Mediengruppe RTL Deutschland added: “HDTV represents added value that truly inspires the audience. We really appreciate the opportunity to offer RTL HD and Vox HD to the first cable customers via Eutelsat’s KabelKiosk.”

KabelKiosk’s HD offer will progressively expand over the next months to up to ten German and international channels. The package will offer a choice of free and pay content to partners and customers, opening up the future of HDTV for independent network operators and the housing industry.