Chief executive Bellens says media group will push to become 'clear European leader before mounting drive to develop 'US presence'
RTL Group chief executive Didier Bellens said yesterday that the primary objective for the European broadcaster after becoming the clear market leader in Europe was to build 'a global presence', starting with expansion into the US, writes Luke Satchell

Bellens told the Wall Street Journal that the company would initially concentrate on becoming number one in Europe, before embarking on a US push.

'We want to be the clear European leader in interactive television and become a global player, and to do that we will have to have a presence in the US,' he added.

RTL's route into the US however is unlikely to be a srtaightforward one as US FCC regulations restrict foreign companies from owning US TV networks.

Bellens said RTL was currently looking at ways of expanding its US film and TV production, and was working on a deal with 'a major American producer' to co-finance a slate of feature films.

He also said the company is preparing for the roll-out of interactive television services later this year, through its RTL New Media subsidiary. Bellens is expected to start pitching the service to cable TV operators later this summer.