RTL Group#Technical Services

{{Infobox company

| name = RTL Group S.A.

| logo = RTL Hungary (2022) XII.svg

| former_names = Compagnie Luxembourgeoise de Radiodiffusion (1931–1954)
Compagnie Luxembourgeoise de Télédiffusion (1954–1997)
CLT-UFA (1997–2000)

| type = Public

| traded_as = {{FWB|RRTL}}
{{Luxembourg Stock Exchange|RTLL}}
MDAX component (RRTL)
LuxX Index component (RTLL)

| predecessor = Société Luxembourgeoise d'Études Radiophoniques (1929–1931)

| founded = {{Start date and age|1931|05|30|df=y}}

| hq_location_city = Kirchberg, Luxembourg
Cologne, Germany

| area_served = {{ubl|Europe|Worldwide (via Fremantle)}}

| key_people = {{ubl|Martin Taylor (chairman)|Thomas Rabe (CEO)}}

| industry = Mass media

| products = Television
Radio
Streaming
Content production
Digital services

| revenue =

| revenue_year =

| num_employees =

| num_employees_year =

| parent = Bertelsmann Capital Holding (76.28%)

| divisions = {{Unbulleted list|RTL Deutschland|RTL Nederland|Groupe M6 (48.26%)|Fremantle}} RTL Magyarország

| website = {{Official URL}}

| footnotes = [https://company.rtl.com/export/sites/rtlunited/.galleries/downloads/annual_reports/Annual-Report-2022.pdf Annual Report 2022]

}}

RTL Group S.A. ("Radio Télévision Luxembourg") is a Luxembourg-based international media conglomerate, with another corporate office in Cologne, Germany.{{Cite news |author=Christian Muller |title=RTL Group: Ein klares Bekenntnis zu Luxemburg |newspaper= Luxemburger Tageblatt |date=20 April 2012 |language=de}} The company operates 56 television channels and 36 radio stations in Germany, France and other European countries. It also offers national streaming platforms, content productions and a range of digital services. Important segments of RTL Group are RTL Deutschland, Groupe M6 and Fremantle.{{Cite web |title=Annual Report 2022 |url=https://company.rtl.com/export/sites/rtlunited/.galleries/downloads/annual_reports/Annual-Report-2022.pdf |access-date=10 May 2023 |publisher=RTL Group |language=en}}

The company, in its present form, was established by Bertelsmann, Groupe Bruxelles Lambert (GBL), and Pearson plc in 2000.{{Cite news|author=James Harding, Lutz Meier|title=Heute entsteht Europas größter TV-Konzern.|newspaper=Financial Times Deutschland|date=7 April 2000|page=1|language=de}} Over the years, Bertelsmann, a conglomerate based in the German city of Gütersloh, continued to increase its stake in RTL Group and currently owns just over 75% of the shares in the company after holding a stake of more than 90% in the past.{{Cite news|title=Bertelsmann stockt Anteil an RTL auf.|newspaper=Börsen-Zeitung|date=18 February 2000|page=9|language=de}} RTL Group is one of a total of eight divisions of Bertelsmann: It is responsible for more than a third of its revenue and a large share of its operating profit.{{Cite web|language=en|title=Annual Report 2019|publisher=Bertelsmann|access-date=15 June 2020|url=https://www.bertelsmann.com/media/investor-relations/annual-reports/annual-report-2019-financial-information-2.pdf|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200421082701/https://www.bertelsmann.com/media/investor-relations/annual-reports/annual-report-2019-financial-information-2.pdf|archive-date=21 April 2020|url-status=live}}

It is one of the founding members of the European Broadcasting Union.

History

File:RTL Group.svg

=Historical background=

The roots of RTL Group date back to the 1920s.{{Cite web|title=The History|language=en|publisher=RTL Group|access-date=15 June 2020|url=https://www.rtlgroup.com/files/pdf3/2019-historychronology.pdf|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200715130039/https://www.rtlgroup.com/files/pdf3/2019-historychronology.pdf|archive-date=15 July 2020|url-status=dead}} The company itself was established in 1931 as the Compagnie Luxembourgeoise de Radiodiffusion (known as CLR for short). It was one of the world's first private broadcasting companies. After the Second World War, the company ventured into the world of television broadcasting. It was renamed Compagnie Luxembourgeoise de Télédiffusion (CLT) to reflect this new service in 1954. Under the name RTL (for Radio Télévision Luxembourg), it went on to provide its private broadcasting services in several European countries.{{Cite book|author=Frank Sambeth|title=Das Corporate Center in der Medien- und Kommunikationsindustrie. Eine wertorientierte Analyse.|publisher=Deutscher Universitäts-Verlag|location=Wiesbaden|date=2003|isbn=978-3-322-81532-3|page=337|language=de}} When the European media markets were liberalised in the 1980s, television became increasingly important and started to overtake radio.

In the 1980s, Belgian and French media companies made up the majority of the shareholders of CLR and CLT.{{Cite book|language=de|editor=Hans J. Kleinsteuber, Torsten Rossmann|title=Europa als Kommunikationsraum. Akteure, Strukturen und Konfliktpotentiale.|publisher=Verlag Leske + Budrich|location=Opladen|date=1994|isbn=978-3-322-92529-9|page=159}} The following decades witnessed repeated conflicts for domination within the company and among its subsidiaries.{{Cite news|language=de|title=Machtkampf um Privatsender. RTL/CLT klagt gegen Burda und Bertelsmann.|newspaper=Handelsblatt|date=9 August 1995|page=12}}{{Cite magazine|title=Sprung nach vorn|language=de|magazine=Der Spiegel|date=14 August 1995|access-date=15 June 2020|url=https://www.spiegel.de/spiegel/print/d-9206622.html}} In the 1990s, Bertelsmann ultimately came out on top after having gradually increased its stake in the German television channel RTL.{{Cite news|author=Michael Rediske|title=Eurofernsehen aus Gütersloh|language=de|newspaper=Die Tageszeitung|date=4 April 1996|page=3}} Following a legal dispute with RTL/CLT,{{Cite magazine|language=de|title=Skurriler Streit|magazine=Der Spiegel|date=23 January 1995|access-date=15 June 2020|url=https://www.spiegel.de/spiegel/print/d-9158406.html}} Bertelsmann announced plans to merge the television businesses of UFA to form the joint venture CLT-UFA in April 1996.{{Cite magazine|title=Teuflisch intelligent|magazine=Der Spiegel|date=8 April 1996|access-date=15 June 2020|url=https://www.spiegel.de/spiegel/print/d-8905730.html|language=de}} A merger agreement was signed on 8 July 1996.{{Cite web |title=CLT-UFA: contract completed |url=http://www.bertelsmann.de:80/bag/englisch/news/news/news/080796.html |publisher=Bertelsmann |date=8 July 1996 |access-date=21 May 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/19970117041305/http://www.bertelsmann.de:80/bag/englisch/news/news/news/080796.html |archive-date=17 January 1997 |url-status=dead}} It was approved by the CLT board of directors on 5 December,{{Cite web |title=Final Approval of CLT-UFA Merger by CLT Board of Directors |url=http://www.bertelsmann.de/bag/englisch/news/news/news/clt051296.html |publisher=Bertelsmann |date=5 December 1996 |access-date=21 May 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/19970117042151/http://www.bertelsmann.de/bag/englisch/news/news/news/clt051296.html |archive-date=17 January 1997 |url-status=dead}} and the formation of CLT-UFA was completed on 14 January 1997.{{Cite web |title=CLT-UFA: Largest European Entertainment Enterprise Officially Introduced |url=http://www.bertelsmann.de/bag/englisch/news/news/news/140197.html |publisher=Bertelsmann |date=14 January 1997 |access-date=21 May 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/19970117032628/http://www.bertelsmann.de/bag/englisch/news/news/news/140197.html |archive-date=17 January 1997 |url-status=dead}} As a result, German television channels such as RTL Television and VOX and international broadcasting services, including M6 in France, were all brought together under one roof.{{Cite news|title=Ein Wachstums-Schub für den Fernseh-Zwerg|newspaper=Saarbrücker Zeitung|language=de|date=9 July 1996}}

=Growth and stock market launch=

CLT-UFA not only grew organically but also increased in size due to a number of acquisitions.{{Cite magazine|title=CLT-UFA im Kaufrausch|language=de|magazine=Der Spiegel|date=3 January 2000|access-date=15 June 2020|url=https://www.spiegel.de/spiegel/print/d-15348764.html}} In the year 2000, Bertelsmann and Pearson announced plans to merge their television, radio, and production activities.{{Cite news|title=Bertelsmann und Pearson besiegeln Allianz.|newspaper=Die Welt|language=de|date=8 April 2000|page=13}} The two companies joined forces to create RTL Group, Europe's leading network of television channels and radio stations with a global content business,{{Cite news|author=Andreas Uhlig|title=Gründung eines europäischen Fernsehgiganten Kooperation von Bertelsmann und Pearson.|newspaper=Neue Zürcher Zeitung|date=8 April 2000|page=25|language=de}} which was rebranded FremantleMedia in 2001 (now called Fremantle).{{Cite news|author=Jason Deans|title=Pearson TV revives Thames TV brand|newspaper=The Guardian|date=21 August 2001|access-date=3 July 2020|url=https://www.theguardian.com/media/2001/aug/21/pearson.broadcasting|language=en}} This merger was designed to provide a strong European response to U.S. media dominance.{{Cite magazine|author=Gunhild Freese|title=Die europäische Antwort|magazine=Die Zeit|date=13 April 2000|access-date=15 June 2020|url=https://www.zeit.de/2000/16/200016.bertelsmann_.xml/komplettansicht|language=de}}

RTL Group was first listed on the London Stock Exchange{{Cite news|language=de|title=RTL Group ab 26. Juli an der Börse Europäischer Medienkonzern um Bertelsmann und Pearson TV.|newspaper=Der Tagesspiegel|date=6 July 2000|page=24}} on 26 July 2000.{{Cite news|author=Doris Grass|title=Schwacher Börsenstart von RTL Group|language=de|newspaper=Financial Times Deutschland|date=27 July 2000|page=17}}{{Cite news|author=G. Friedrich, S. Spohr|title=Baywatch in London|language=de|newspaper=Telebörse|date=13 July 2000|page=49}} The existing shell of Audiofina,{{Cite news|author=Andreas Grafemeyer|title=Börsengänge werden nicht zur Regel.|language=de|newspaper=Börsen-Zeitung|date=18 January 2001|page=10}} which was already a listed company, was used to simplify the administrative effort involved in the stock market launch.{{Cite news|author=Lutz Meier|language=de|title=RTL Group ist Londoner Börse|newspaper=Financial Times Deutschland|date=5 July 2000|page=5}} The issue price of the RTL Group share was calculated based on the closing prices of Audiofina in Luxembourg and Brussels.{{Cite news|language=de|author=Andreas Hoffbauer|title=RTL Group holt sich Kapital an der Börse.|newspaper=Handelsblatt|date=6 July 2000|page=15}} The RTL Group share consequently replaced the Audiofina listing.

=Acquisition by Bertelsmann=

Although Bertelsmann initially only held a minority share in RTL Group, the German conglomerate managed by Thomas Middelhoff set its sights on playing a leading role within the group.{{Cite news|author=Lutz Meier|title=Bertelsmann pocht auf die Führung der neuen TV-Gruppe.|magazine=Financial Times Deutschland|date=10 April 2000|language=de|page=6}} After exchanging shares with the Groupe Bruxelles Lambert (GBL) in 2001, Bertelsmann achieved its goal of becoming the majority shareholder of RTL Group and thus secured a leading position in the European television market.{{Cite news|author=Roland Mayrl|title=RTL sendet mehrheitlich für Bertelsmann.|newspaper=Wirtschaftsblatt|date=6 February 2001|page=1|language=de}}{{Cite news|title=Bertelsmann sichert sich die Vorherrschaft im TV-Geschäft.|newspaper=Handelsblatt|date=6 February 2001|page=25|language=de}}

Over the years, Bertelsmann increased its stake in RTL Group to more than 90%.{{Cite news|author=Petra Münster|title=RTL Group zu 90 Prozent bei Bertelsmann|newspaper=Neue Zürcher Zeitung|date=20 March 2002|page=25|language=de}} Bertelsmann's initial aim was to acquire full ownership of RTL Group to reduce administrative costs, but this plan failed in 2007 due to uncertainties in Luxembourg law.{{Cite news|author=Thomas Clark|title=RTL Group bleibt vorerst an der Börse.|magazine=Financial Times Deutschland|date=20 March 2002|page=5|language=de}}{{Cite news|title=Übernahme: Bertelsmann will RTL endlich ganz.|magazine=Der Spiegel|date=4 December 2007|access-date=15 June 2020|url=https://www.spiegel.de/wirtschaft/uebernahme-bertelsmann-will-rtl-endlich-ganz-a-521219.html|language=de}}{{Cite news|author=Tina Kaiser|title=Bertelsmann will RTL doch nicht komplett kaufen.|newspaper=Die Welt|date=21 December 2007|page=11|language=de}} The conglomerate responded by altering its strategy, and in 2013, it sold a minority interest in RTL Group on the Frankfurt Stock Exchange{{Cite news|title=Börsenschwergewicht: RTL-Aktie kommt auch nach Frankfurt.|newspaper=Handelsblatt|date=4 April 2013|access-date=15 June 2020|url=https://www.handelsblatt.com/finanzen/maerkte/boerse-inside/boersenschwergewicht-rtl-aktie-kommt-auch-nach-frankfurt/8017910.html|language=de}}{{Cite news|title=Börsengang: Verhaltener Start für RTL|newspaper=Wirtschaftswoche|date=30 April 2013|access-date=15 June 2020|url=https://www.wiwo.de/finanzen/boerse/boersengang-verhaltener-start-fuer-rtl/8144376.html|language=de|archive-date=26 January 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230126140810/https://www.wiwo.de/finanzen/boerse/boersengang-verhaltener-start-fuer-rtl/8144376.html|url-status=dead}} to finance the growth of Bertelsmann and especially its digital transformation.{{Cite news|title=Verkauf von RTL-Aktien: Bertelsmann nimmt 1,4 Milliarden Euro ein.|newspaper=Handelsblatt|date=29 April 2013|access-date=15 June 2020|url=https://www.handelsblatt.com/finanzen/maerkte/aktien/verkauf-von-rtl-aktien-bertelsmann-nimmt-1-4-milliarden-euro-ein/8140096.html|language=de}} Media reports responded positively to the secondary listing of RTL Group and the resulting availability of shares open to external investors.{{Cite news|author=Andreas Wolf|title=RTL hat auch für Anleger etwas zu bieten.|newspaper=Wirtschaftsblatt|date=13 June 2013|page=15|language=de}}

=Recent developments=

RTL Group was already responsible for a large part of the revenue and profit of Bertelsmann in 2001.{{Cite web |title=Geschäftsbericht 2000/01|publisher=Bertelsmann|access-date=15 June 2020 |url= https://www.bertelsmann.de/media/investor-relations/geschaeftsberichte/geschaeftsbericht-2001.pdf |language=de |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20140706041522/https://www.bertelsmann.de/media/investor-relations/geschaeftsberichte/geschaeftsbericht-2001.pdf |archive-date=6 July 2014 |url-status=live}} In the new structure of Bertelsmann, introduced in 2016, the company maintained its position as an important division.{{Cite news |author=Henrik Mortsiefer |title= Bertelsmann stellt sich breiter auf |newspaper=Der Tagesspiegel |location= Berlin |date=23 March 2016 |page=16 |language=de}} Since April 2019, Thomas Rabe, chairman and chief executive officer of Bertelsmann, has also simultaneously been at the helm of RTL Group.{{Cite news |title=Bertelsmann-Chef Rabe führt künftig auch RTL |magazine=Der Spiegel |location= Hamburg |date=1 April 2019 |access-date=15 June 2020 |url= https://www.spiegel.de/wirtschaft/unternehmen/bertelsmann-chef-thomas-rabe-fuehrt-kuenftig-auch-rtl-a-1260698.html |language=de}} Under his management, the company is pursuing the objective of strengthening its core businesses, establishing local streaming services and further developing advertising technologies.{{Cite news |author=Annette Becker |title=Chef der RTL Group tritt ab – Bertelsmann-CEO übernimmt |newspaper=Börsen-Zeitung |date=2 April 2019 |page=16 |language=de}} Fostering its alliances and partnerships with other companies in the European media industry also plays an important role in the current strategy of RTL Group.{{Cite magazine |author=Steffen Klusmann, Thomas Schulz |title=Allein schaufeln wir nur unser eigenes Grab |magazine=Der Spiegel |location= Hamburg |date=16 March 2019 |page=78 |language=de}}{{Cite news |author=Marc Bartl |title=Thomas Rabes Traum von der RTL-ProSiebenSat.1-Hochzeit |website=Kress News |date=17 February 2020 |access-date=24 June 2020 |url= https://kress.de/news/detail/beitrag/144539-thomas-rabes-traum-von-der-rtl-prosiebensat1-hochzeit.html |language=de}}

Corporate affairs

RTL Group S.A. is the parent company of the entire corporate group. Its legal form is a société anonyme, a public limited company under Luxembourg law. It was entered into the Luxembourg Trade Register on 29 March 1973. The company's main corporate objective is to develop audio-visual media and to lead and manage other companies active in the same field.{{Cite web|title=RTL Group S.A.|website=Registre de Commerce et des Sociétés|access-date=15 June 2020|url=https://www.lbr.lu/|language=fr, en, de|archive-date=2 July 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200702165754/https://www.lbr.lu/|url-status=dead}}

The key indicators of the RTL Group are (as at the financial year ending 31 December):{{Cite web |title=RTL Fundamentalanalyse {{!}} KGV {{!}} Kennzahlen |url=https://www.boerse.de/fundamental-analyse/RTL-Aktie/LU0061462528 |access-date=7 March 2024 |website=boerse.de |language=de}}

class="wikitable" style="text-align:center;"

!Year

!Revenue (€m)

!Net Profit (€m)

!Number of employees

2017

|6,373

|739

|11,011

2018

|6,505

|668

|10,809

2019

|6,651

|754

|10,809

2020

|6,017

|492

|10,598

2021

|6,637

|1,301

|10,861

2022

|7,224

|673

|12,975

In the 2022, the revenue mainly came from advertising (40.5% television, 2.7% radio), content production (22.6%), digital activities (17.1%) and platform businesses (6.1%).

=Listing=

RTL Group S.A. currently has a share capital of €191,845,074. It is divided into 154,742,806 shares without nominal value, which are traded on the Luxembourg{{Cite web|title=RTL Group|publisher=Bourse de Luxembourg|access-date=15 June 2020|url=https://www.bourse.lu/security/LU0061462528/7453|language=fr}} and Frankfurt{{Cite web|title=RTL Group|publisher=Börse Frankfurt|access-date=15 June 2020|url=https://www.boerse-frankfurt.de/equity/LU0061462528|language=de}} Stock Exchanges. RTL Group S.A. shares are included in the German MDAX,{{Cite web |date=10 March 2022 |title=Änderungen im März 2022 in der DAX-Familie |url=https://www.wallstreet-online.de/nachricht/15164546-wichtig-aenderungen-maerz-2022-dax-familie |access-date=10 May 2023 |website=wallstreet-online.de |language=de}} a stock index for midcap companies. They are also included in the SXMP, a sector index for the European media industry.{{Cite web|title=SXMP|website=STOXX Indices|access-date=15 June 2020|url=https://www.stoxx.com/index-details?isin=EU0009658640|language=en}}

Bertelsmann holds more than 75% of the shares in RTL Group S.A. The second-largest shareholder is Silchester International Investors, a British investment company based in London, which has a stake of around 5%. This shareholding forms part of the group's free float, which has a stable value of between 20 and 25%.{{Cite web|title=Unternehmensprofil: RTL|website=Börse Online|access-date=15 June 2020|url=https://www.boerse-online.de/unternehmensprofil/rtl|language=de|archive-date=15 June 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200615185248/https://www.boerse-online.de/unternehmensprofil/rtl|url-status=dead}}

=Management=

The highest authority of RTL Group S.A. is its board of directors,{{Cite web|title=Board of Directors|publisher=RTL Group|access-date=15 June 2020|url=https://www.rtlgroup.com/en/about_us/board/board-of-directors.cfm|language=en}} in which the power to manage and control the group's business is vested. The Board of Directors has 13 members; there are currently eleven men and two women serving on the Board. Martin Taylor is the chairman of the board of directors; the other members are Carsten Coesfeld, Thomas Götz, Elmar Heggen, Immanuel Hermreck, Bernd Hirsch, Bernd Kundrun, Guillaume de Posch, Thomas Rabe, Jean-Louis Schiltz, Rolf Schmidt-Holtz, James Singh, Alexander von Torklus and Lauren Zalaznick.

The operational business of RTL Group is headed by Thomas Rabe (Chief Executive Officer, CEO), Elmar Heggen (Chief Operating Officer, COO and Deputy CEO) and Björn Bauer (Chief Financial Officer, CFO).{{Cite news|title=RTL Group: neuer Finanzvorstand, neue Führungsstruktur und gute Halbjahreszahlen|website=Meedia|date=28 August 2019|access-date=15 June 2020|language=de|url=https://meedia.de/2019/08/28/rtl-group-neuer-finanzvorstand-neue-fuehrungsstruktur-und-gute-halbjahreszahlen/}} Together they form the executive committee of RTL Group S.A.,{{Cite web|title=Executive Committee|publisher=RTL Group|access-date=15 June 2020|url=https://www.rtlgroup.com/en/about_us/management/executive-committee.cfm|language=en}} which is supported by the group management committee and operations management committee. The management boards of RTL Group are based in Luxembourg and Cologne, Germany.{{Cite news|author=Thomas Lückerath|title=Viva Colonia: Konzernführung der RTL Group zieht nach Köln.|website=DWDL|date=28 August 2019|access-date=15 June 2020|url=https://www.dwdl.de/nachrichten/73746/viva_colonia_konzernfuehrung_der_rtl_group_zieht_nach_koeln/|language=de}}

=Corporate headquarters=

The headquarters of RTL Group, according to trade law, is located in the so-called "RTL City", which is located at Boulevard Pierre Frieden in the Kirchberg quarter in Luxembourg City.{{Cite news|title=Luxemburg: Das Großherzogtum bietet eine Menge Vorzüge als Medienstandort. Kann das kleinste Land der EG ein Exporteur in Sachen "Broadcasting" sein?|newspaper=Handelsblatt|date=29 August 1989|page=14|language=de}} Bertelsmann initially planned to sell the complex and lease it back in 2017{{Cite news|author=Uwe Mantel|title=RTL Group verkauft ihre neue Firmenzentrale.|website=DWDL|date=30 March 2017|access-date=15 June 2020|url=https://www.dwdl.de/nachrichten/60819/rtl_group_verkauft_ihre_neue_firmenzentrale/|language=de}} but ultimately decided to delay the transaction for an indefinite period.{{Cite news|author=Michel Thiel|title=Verkauf von RTL City verzögert.|newspaper=Luxemburger Wort|date=30 August 2017|access-date=15 June 2020|url=https://www.wort.lu/de/business/rtl-group-verkauf-von-rtl-city-verzoegert-59a6619856202b51b13c267b|language=de}} Besides the Luxembourg headquarters, there is another corporate office located in Deutz, Cologne, North Rhine-Westphalia.

Divisions

RTL Group operates television channels, radio stations, streaming platforms, content production, a range of digital services and advertising sales. All of its business activities are assigned to 14 areas. The main segments of RTL Group are Mediengruppe RTL Deutschland, Groupe M6, Fremantle and RTL Nederland. We Are Era, RTL Hungary, RTL Luxembourg and other businesses are part of another segment, as is the Group's minority interest in Atresmedia, a leading Spanish media company.{{Cite news|author=Volker Scharninghausen|title=RTL Group: Atresmedia in Spanien steigert Konzerngewinn.|website=New-Business|date=9 March 2020|access-date=24 June 2020 |url= https://www.new-business.de/medien/detail.php?nr=751595|language=de}}

=RTL Deutschland=

RTL Deutschland is based in Cologne and operates the free-to-air channels RTL Television, VOX (entertainment), RTLup, RTL Nitro, VOXup, and ntv (news), along with holding a significant stake in RTLZWEI. Most of these channels have Austrian and Swiss versions for the insertion of nation-specific advertising. It also offers pay-TV channels such as RTL Crime, RTL Living, RTL Passion and GEO Television. The company additionally operates a streaming service under the name RTL+ (formerly TV Now).

Advertising space for RTL Deutschland is sold by the advertising company Ad Alliance, which also works with other Bertelsmann companies and further partners. RTL Deutschland is also part of Bertelsmann's Content Alliance.

=RTL Nederland=

RTL Nederland (formerly the Holland Media Group) is a Dutch company based in Hilversum. Its television channels RTL 4, RTL 5, RTL 7, RTL 8, RTL Z, RTL Crime, RTL Lounge and RTL Telekids all have licences issued by Luxembourg. RTL Nederland also operates the streaming service Videoland. In June 2021 Talpa Network and RTL Nederland announced an intent to merge; RTL is to hold 70% and Talpa is to hold 30% in the new company, pending approval by the Dutch ACM and the European Commission.{{Cite web |last=Andreeva |first=Nellie |date=23 June 2021 |title=RTL Group & John De Mol's Talpa Network Merge Broadcast & Other Media Operations In Netherlands |url= https://deadline.com/2021/06/rtl-group-john-de-mol-talpa-network-merge-netherlands-1234779788/ |access-date=11 July 2021 |website=Deadline }} In January 2022 the Netherlands Authority for Consumers and Markets stated that it could not approve the merger as of yet and that further investigation to the consequences of price, quality and innovation was necessary.{{Cite web |last=Duin |first=Roelf Jan |date=28 January 2022 |title=Nog geen groen licht voor fusie Talpa en RTL |url= https://www.parool.nl/gs-bc51cb56 |access-date=13 March 2022 |website=Het Parool |location= Amsterdam |language=nl-NL}} On 30 January 2023 the Authority announced that it would not approve the merger, citing that the merged company would become too powerful.{{Cite web |date=30 January 2023 |title=Streep door fusie Talpa en RTL, 'consument zou de rekening betalen' |url=https://nos.nl/artikel/2461807-acm-zet-streep-door-fusie-talpa-en-rtl-consument-betaalt-rekening |access-date=30 January 2023 |website=nos.nl |language=nl}} In December 2022, it was announced that the RTL Group was considering selling its Dutch TV station RTL Nederland. After merger plans failed in 2023, it was officially announced in December that RTL Group was selling RTL Nederland for 1.1 billion euros to DPG Media; the sale is set to close by mid-2024.{{Cite press release |title=RTL Group to sell RTL Nederland to DPG Media |date=15 December 2023 |url=

https://media.rtl.com/meldung/RTL-Group-to-sell-RTL-Nederland-to-DPG-Media/?__locale=en |access-date=25 July 2024 |publisher=RTL Group |location= Cologne}}

=Groupe M6=

The headquarters of the Groupe M6 media holding company are based in Neuilly-sur-Seine in Paris. The company operates the television channels 6ter, M6 and W9, the channels Paris Première and Téva, as well as children's channel Gulli.{{Cite news |author=Julian Clover |title=M6 completes acquisition of Lagardère TV Business |language=en |url= https://www.broadbandtvnews.com/2019/09/03/m6-completes-acquisition-of-lagardere-tv-business/ |website=Broadband TV News |date=3 September 2019 |access-date=12 July 2020}} These channels are joined by radio stations such as RTL Radio France , RTL2 and Fun Radio and the streaming service 6play. Salto, a joint streaming service by France Télévisions, Groupe M6 and TF1,{{Cite news |author=François Bougon |title=Salto, l'anti-Netflix de France TV, TF1 et M6, est annoncé pour 2020. |newspaper=Le Monde |location= Paris |date=13 August 2019|access-date=24 June 2020 |url= https://www.lemonde.fr/actualite-medias/article/2019/08/13/l-arme-anti-netflix-de-france-tv-tf1-et-m6-verra-le-jour-debut-2020_5498935_3236.html |language=fr}} was tested and shut down in March 2023.{{Cite news|author=Séverine Rouby|title=Salto, l'anti-Netflix tricolore (FranceTV, TF1, M6), recrute des centaines de testeurs pour être fin prêt à l'automne. |newspaper=La Tribune |date=1 June 2020 |access-date=24 June 2020 |url= https://www.latribune.fr/technos-medias/medias/salto-l-anti-netflix-tricolore-francetv-tf1-m6-recrute-des-centaines-de-testeurs-pour-etre-fin-pret-a-l-automne-849136.html |language=fr}}{{Cite web |last=Thomson |first=Stuart |date=27 March 2023 |title=France's Salto Shuts Down |url=https://www.digitaltveurope.com/2023/03/27/frances-salto-shuts-down/ |website=Digital TV Europe}} Groupe M6 subsidiaries M6 Film, M6 Studio, SND and Studio 89 Productions are among the best-known production and film rights companies in the French-speaking world. Although RTL Group only owns a minority interest in Groupe M6, it controls the listed company and consolidates it in its balance sheet. On 18 May 2021, Groupe M6 and Groupe TF1 announced that they had begun negotiations to merge.{{Cite web|last=Tartaglione|first=Nancy|date=18 May 2021|title=France's TF1 & M6 Enter Exclusive Merger Negotiations To Create $4B Media Giant|url=https://deadline.com/2021/05/france-tf1-m6-merger-1234759054/|access-date=22 November 2021|website=Deadline|language=en-US}} On 16 September 2022, the merger was officially abandoned.{{cite news |title=Proposed merger between TF1 and M6 group abandoned, companies say |url=https://www.reuters.com/markets/deals/proposed-merger-between-tf1-m6-group-abandoned-companies-say-2022-09-16/ |access-date=16 September 2022 |work=Reuters |date=16 September 2022}} On 22 September 2022, Thomas Rabe, CEO of RTL Group's parent company, Bertelsmann confirmed that Groupe M6 is up for sale, after the failed merger with TF1 Group.{{cite news |title=Billionaires prepare for new battle over French broadcaster M6 |url=https://www.ft.com/content/2faae647-bee7-42d6-856b-4a414f0b06df |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20221210/https://www.ft.com/content/2faae647-bee7-42d6-856b-4a414f0b06df |archive-date=10 December 2022 |url-access=subscription |access-date=24 September 2022 |work=Financial Times |date=22 September 2022}} On 3 October 2022, RTL Group confirmed that they wouldn't be selling their stake in Groupe M6.{{cite news |title=Bertelsmann's RTL scraps plan to sell stake in French TV Group M6 |url=https://www.reuters.com/business/media-telecom/exclusive-bertelsmanns-rtl-group-scraps-plan-sell-stake-french-tv-group-m6-2022-10-03 |access-date=6 October 2022 |work=Reuters |date=3 October 2022}}

=Fremantle=

The head office of Fremantle (formerly FremantleMedia) is located in London. The company, which operates in 27 territories, creates, produces and distributes content for broadcasters of RTL Group (including TV channels and streaming platforms) and other clients, for example Amazon Prime Video and Netflix. It not only produces films and series (for example Deutschland 86) but also shows. Fremantle has attracted global attention with its casting shows such as Got Talent and Idols, which have been adapted in a multitude of countries worldwide, and owns popular game shows like The Price Is Right and Family Feud.

Former divisions

RTL Group or its predecessors previously operated or owned stakes in other TV channels or channel families, including RTL Belgium, RTL9, Channel 5, REN TV, RTL Croatia, RTL 7, and TVI.

The headquarters of RTL Belgium are in Brussels in the so-called "RTL House". Core of its business activities are the television channels RTL-TVI and related channels such as RTL Club and RTL Plug. These also have licences issued by Luxembourg, causing some issues.{{Cite news |url= https://www.100komma7.lu/article/aktualiteit/qui-controle-les-chaines-de-rtl-belgique?pd=article |title=Qui contrôle les chaînes de RTL Belgique? |date=20 June 2018 |website=www.100komma7.lu |lang=fr}} RTL Belgium additionally operates radio stations such as Bel RTL. Almost all of its services are provided in French. In June 2021, it was announced that RTL Belgium would be sold for €250 million to DPG Media and Rossel, pending regulatory approval.{{Cite press release |title=RTL Group sells RTL Belgium to DPG Media and Groupe Rossel |url= https://www.rtlgroup.com/en/press_releases/2021/rtl-group-sells-rtl-belgium.cfm |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20210703152505/https://www.rtlgroup.com/en/press_releases/2021/rtl-group-sells-rtl-belgium.cfm |archive-date=3 July 2021 |access-date=11 July 2021 |url-status= dead |date=28 June 2021 |publisher=RTL Group |location= Luxembourg }} The sale was effectuated on 31 March 2022.{{cite web |url= https://advanced-television.com/2022/04/01/rtl-closes-rtl-belgium-sale/ |title=RTL closes RTL Belgium sale |date=1 April 2022 |access-date=10 May 2023}} In March 2023, RTL Belgium renounced its Luxembourgish status to become fully Belgian.{{cn|date=July 2024|reason=No convenient sources to show when channels switched to be Belgian-owned, other than logo updates}}

Controversies

Observers have repeatedly criticised RTL Group for having "missed the boat in the streaming era".{{Cite news|title=Der eisige Winter der deutschen TV-Aktien. Kommentar zum Kursverfall bei P7S1 und RTL Group.|website=Meedia|date=27 February 2020|access-date=15 June 2020|url=https://meedia.de/2020/02/27/kommentar-zum-kursverfall-bei-p7s1-und-rtl-group-der-eisige-winter-der-deutschen-tv-aktien/|language=de}} Thomas Rabe, chairman and chief executive officer of Bertelsmann, has responded to this criticism by campaigning for the deregulation of the highly competitive television market to enable the establishment of national alternatives to the "giants of Silicon Valley".{{Cite news|author=Gerald Braunberger, Georg Meck|title=Die Leute lesen wieder mehr.|newspaper=Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung|date=15 February 2020|url=https://www.faz.net/aktuell/wirtschaft/rtl-und-bertelsmann-chef-thomas-rabe-im-interview-16635948.html|access-date=15 June 2020|language=de}}