RTL Group strikes Disney deal to take full control of Germany’s Super RTL

RTL Group has struck a deal to take full ownership of German FTA network brand Super RTL, which had been operated as a joint venture with Disney.

RTL Deutschland has entered into a binding agreement with Disney-owned BVI Television Investments to acquire the outstanding 50% of Super RTL that it does not already own.

Financial details have not been revealed, while the transaction is subject to approval from competition authorities in Germany and Austria.

Super RTL was founded in 1995 and has operated as a joint-venture of RTL Group and Disney ever since. It has evolved into a digital entertainment company that distributes content via linear TV, RTL-owned streaming service TV Now, and other outlets.

RTL said that the deal will support its growth plan for TV Now, adding that it is “another step in RTL Group’s strategy to consolidate across its existing European broadcasting footprint.”

The deal comes after a period of acquisitions for the group. In 2019, its French business Groupe M6 acquired free-to-air kids tv channel Gulli along with five pay TV networks from Lagardère.

The group also recently tied up a deal in Belgium to pick up the outstanding shareholdings in RTL Belgium’s TV and radio businesses, taking its ownership in the business to 100%.