Two of the four Dutch RTL channels will be available on UPC nets in an HD simulcast from October onwards. The cabler will carry also the catch-up TV service RTL Gemist on its VOD platform.
The HD simulcasts will begin with RTL7 and RTL8. The two channels broadcast mainly TV series and movies, of which HD versions are available. During the day, RTL7 broadcasts the business news programming block RTL-Z. The flagship channel RTL4 and RTL5 will follow suit from early 2010.
RTL programming from the current online service RTL Gemist will also be available on the UPC digital platform. In addition, RTL and UPC say they will use the platform for promotion of new programmes and series with a special preview functionality. Viewers will be able to see new episodes of TV series and programmes before they are aired on one of the RTL channels.
At the moment, UPC only broadcasts HD version of the three Dutch public channel Nederland 1, 2 and 3. The catch-up TV service Uitzending Gemist is also available on the platform.
Until now, RTL Gemist was available as a pilot on the FTTH network of Lijbrandt Telecom.
