The RTL Group has been named by a German newspaper as a possible strategic partner to bail out debt-ridden Kinowelt Medien.

In addition, Munich-based Sueddeutsche Zeitung quoted a Kinowelt spokesman as saying that the company was "currently in talks with various possible strategic partners" and "first results" of the negotiations could be expected in "three to four weeks", although he declined to reveal the names of the companies being courted by Kinowelt.

Speculation about Kinowelt's future was given added fuel as, in common with several other listed media companies, the concern's share price recovered some ground following the departure of Thomas Haffa from the board of EM.TV on July 25. Kinowelt's share price improved from an all-time low of Euro 1.72 to Euro 2.60 by the end of trading on Friday July 27.