Broadcaster RTL bets on streaming shift as M&A activity picks up in Europe
RTL Group
plans to speed up its business transformation, betting on the planned
Sky Deutschland
acquisition to drive
streaming growth
and offset declines in TV advertising and demand for traditional media, it said on Friday.
RTL has been expanding its streaming platforms and strengthening its content production in response to evolving consumer habits and competition from digital rivals, including Netflix and Amazon's Prime Video.
Over the past five years, it has generated more than 2.7 billion euros ($3.1 billion) by disposing assets not aligned with this strategy. "I believe there will inevitably be further handovers and licensing in Europe," CEO Thomas Rabe told reporters in a call after RTL published its half-year results.
"We are no longer competing nationally or locally, but rather with global platforms."
During the first half of 2025, RTL renewed its distribution partnership with
Deutsche Telekom
until 2030 and agreed to buy Sky Deutschland.
Rabe said RTL was in talks with the European Commission, which is responsible for reviewing the proposed merger that would combine Sky's sports and streaming offerings with RTL's news and entertainment brands.
The deal is part of an increasingly active M&A landscape in European media. RTL's German rival ProSiebenSat.1 on Wednesday abandoned its resistance and recommended its shareholders accept the latest public takeover offer from Italy's MFE-MediaForEurope .
"We have submitted initial documents to the Commission and have also received initial questions," he said. The regulatory approval and closing of the transaction are expected in 2026.
Takeovers in the TV industry have repeatedly failed in Germany and other European countries due to objections from regulators who fear the dominance of individual broadcasting groups.
RTL's half-year revenue fell 3.2% to 2.78 billion euros ($3.24 billion), missing analysts' consensus, weighed down by lower revenue from ads and content production.
That decline was partly offset by 27% growth in streaming revenue that reached 235 million euros.
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They do not necessarily reflect News18's views. tags : Narendra Modi view comments Location : New Delhi, India, India First Published: August 13, 2025, 12:56 IST News opinion Opinion | India's Tariff Diplomacy: Strategic Autonomy In Fractured Global Order Disclaimer: Comments reflect users' views, not News18's. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
