The new thematic bouquet from German pay TV operator Premiere is taking shape. The platform, which will use the entavio encryption facilities of SES-Astra, is close to signing deals with both the RTL Group and ProSiebenSat1 to carry their new thematic channels.
The two contracts would bring RTL Living, RTL Crime, Passion, SAT1 Comedy and kabel eins classics into the fold. Earlier this year a deal was signed with Turner Broadcasting to carry the German language versions of Cartoon Network, TCM and Boomerang.
The total number of channels on the September 1st launch date is going to be twenty. Also planned are a kids channels and thematic channels about literature, music (concerts) and adult entertainment. After a Berlin judge prohibited Premiere from using the name Premiere Sky for the new service, a new name has as yet to be announced.