RTL Group, a European media powerhouse, reported robust streaming growth for the first half of the year, with a 3.9% increase in revenue, reaching €2.9 billion ($3.3 billion). In contrast, earnings from its linear TV and Fremantle content segments declined.
Following its acquisition of Sky Deutschland from Comcast in June, RTL has bolstered its revenue base. The company now projects its 2026 revenue to be between €7.1 billion and €7.2 billion ($8.20 billion-$8.32 billion), an increase from its earlier forecast of €6.1 billion to €6.2 billion made in March.
This acquisition will lead to the merger of Sky Deutschland with RTL+, forming a streaming platform with 12.4 million paid subscribers across Germany, Austria, and Switzerland. RTL’s streaming portfolio also encompasses M6+ in France.
The company reported an adjusted EBITDA of €239 million ($275 million) for the January-June period, marking an almost 50% rise from the previous year.
“Our streaming operations are proving highly profitable,” stated RTL Group CEO Clément Schwebig. “Both streaming revenue and paid subscriptions are growing dynamically. Consequently, streaming is expected to contribute approximately €100 million ($115 million) to our full-year operating profit,” he continued. Schwebig also highlighted that RTL has secured the position as the third largest player in the German-speaking streaming market, describing the Sky Deutschland deal as “transformational” for the group.
The increase in streaming revenue has offset declines in RTL’s traditional TV business, where advertising revenue decreased by 4%, and Fremantle’s production operations saw a 7.7% year-on-year drop to $964 million (€835 million). However, Schwebig anticipates Fremantle’s revenues will rise by year’s end, fueled by new shows like the “Baywatch” reboot set to premiere in the U.S. on Fox in January 2027, and the thriller “Kill Jackie,” featuring Catherine Zeta-Jones, which HBO Max acquired for key European markets ahead of its fall 2026 release, following earlier distribution agreements with Prime Video and AMC+.
Schwebig noted that Fremantle will continue to invest heavily in intellectual property development, acquiring small and medium-sized production companies with strong IP portfolios, and deploying artificial intelligence throughout the company’s value chain.
