RTL Group


RTL acquires Nordic online video network for $15m

RTL has fully acquired Nordic multiplatform video network United Screens for a price of SEK 120 million US$15 million). RTL said the deal, which was announced today and closed on January 2, would expand its footprint as “the leading European media company in online video”. As part of the deal RTL said it also plans […]

ProSiebenSat.1 wants new PSB regime & funding

German broadcaster ProSiebenSat.1 has called for public funding to be made available to commercial networks to support public service broadcasting that can “reach a larger number of young people”. Proposing what it described as Medienordnung 4.0 – or ‘Media Regulations 4.0’ – the broadcaster said that it hoped to prompt a discussion about the realignment […]

RTL finds Habets successor in Netherlands

European broadcaster RTL Group has found a successor for Bert Habets at its Dutch operation. With former RTL Nederland chief executive Habets recently upped to co-CEO of the wider RTL business, Sven Sauvé has been promoted. The current Dutch COO will take over as CEO on July 1. He will chair RTL Nederland’s executive management […]

Fremantle ups investment in MCN Divimove

FremantleMedia has upped its investment in European multichannel network Divimove. Thought RTL Group-owned Fremantle’s stake remains at 75%, the new cash ensures Divimove founders Brian Ruhe, Philipp Bernecker and Sebastiaan van Dam remain in their respective CEO, marketing and audience posts for another two years. This is in stark contrast to RTL’s strategy with another […]

Revenues down, profit up at FremantleMedia

FremantleMedia has posted a full-year EBIDTA profit increase, but a slight decrease in revenues. The RTL-owned producer and distributor has been acquiring content companies – and yesterday invested more cash into European MCN business Divimove – and produced more hours in 2016 than the previous year. The producer and distributor’s 2016 prodco investments included buying […]

Habets replacing Schäferkordt as RTL CEO

Anke Schäferkordt is stepping down as co-CEO of RTL Group, with the pan-European broadcaster’s Dutch boss Bert Habets filling her role. Schäferkordt will remain in charge of RTL Deutschland, the group’s largest operation, while RTL Nederland chief Habets will step into the chief exec role, working alongside existing co-CEO Guillaume de Posch, who remains in […]

Fremantle taking Germany RTL shows global

FremantleMedia International is taking hundreds of hours of programming from Mediengruppe RTL Deutschland, a stablemate within the RTL Group, to the global market. FremantleMedia’s sales arm has closed a deal to represent RTL Deutschland’s library of finished programming, plus rights to future commissions and show formats. These previously went out through Germany-based distributor Global Screen. […]

Brexit strategies

The United Kingdom’s decision to leave the European Union is one of the most seismic changes for international television in living memory. Jesse Whittock asks what it means for the industry. The UK has always been a leader in international production and distribution. It is credited, among other things, with helping to develop and fine-tune […]

RTL launching international channel

A new RTL Group entertainment channel, aimed at German speakers and ex-pats around the world, is due to launch on January 18. RTL International is due to debut in countries including Canada, Australia, South Africa, Namibia, Israel and Georgia in the coming weeks, and will roll out in the US in February. The channel will […]

A+E Networks UK poaches RTL exec for COO post

Dean Possenniskie’s first major move since taking over at A+E Networks UK is the appointment of a COO and the promotion of Heather Jones to senior VP, content and creative. Possenniskie replaced Tom Davidson as managing director for the A+E Networks business in Europe, the Middle East and Africa last month, and has now named […]