RTL Group Delivers Streaming Gains

While its overall revenues were down by 3.2 percent amid a weaker TV ad market and lower revenues at Fremantle, RTL Group highlighted the progress of its digital transformation in the first half as streaming revenues rose by 27 percent.

“In the first half of 2025, we made key steps to accelerate the transformation of RTL Group,” said CEO Thomas Rabe. “We grew our streaming revenue by almost 30 percent, renewed our successful distribution partnership with Deutsche Telekom until 2030 and announced the acquisition of Sky Deutschland. Following a long regulatory review, we closed the sale of RTL Nederland to DPG Media. Our shareholders will benefit from the sale via an expected dividend of €5 per share, payable in 2026.

“Over the past five years, we have focused RTL Group’s portfolio on our biggest business units. We have generated proceeds from disposals of more than €2.7 billion with high cash returns to our shareholders. We are confident to significantly increase our operating profits in the coming years, driven by improved macroeconomic conditions in Germany, streaming profitability and synergies from the Sky Deutschland acquisition, when approved by the regulators.”

Group revenues were down 3.2 per cent to €2.8 billion, with ad revenues at €1.4 billion, a 2.6 percent decline. TV ad revenues fell by almost 7 percent to €1.02 billion, but digital ad revenues gained by 27.1 percent to €230 million.

Fremantle posted revenues of €905 million, a 5.4 percent drop, mainly due to lower U.S. revenues as the year-ago period was boosted by an America’s Got Talent spin-off.

Streaming revenues increased by 27 percent to €235 million, driven by a higher number of paying subscribers, increased subscription prices in Germany and advertising revenue gains on RTL+ in Germany and M6+ in France. Paying subs at RTL+ in Germany increased by 13.7 percent to 6.4 million, while M6+ reported 28.0 million average monthly active users, a 35 percent increase.

Total group profit decreased to €59 million, mainly due to one-time effects.