Europe’s largest commercial TV network, RTL, is launching a locally-focused streaming service to compete with Netflix’s global appeal.

Europe’s largest commercial TV network, RTL, is launching a locally-focused streaming service to compete with Netflix’s global appeal. Called RTL+, the service will offer more than 60,000 hours of video content, e-books from Penguin Random House, thousands of podcasts, digital magazine subscriptions, and some 73 million songs from French music streaming service, Deezer. RTL’s CEO notes, “the only thing [Netflix] is afraid of are the local players,” and this first-of-its-kind one-stop media shop will first focus on creating original content in Germany, which could serve as a model for other regions to compete with the big players. YPulse’s recent WE TV and Entertainment research found that more than nine in 10 young Europeans watch video content on streaming services, with the vast majority doing so weekly or more often. Ninety percent say streaming services have better shows / movies than cable, but Netflix is by far their favorite platform, setting RTL+ up for a tough battle. (THR)