Somebody's Making Major Moves: RTL Germany Pounces on Sky Deutschland
German broadcasting company RTL Deutschland gains control over Sky Deutschland
Get ready for a powerhouse in the European streaming and TV game, folks! RTL Group is gearing up to acquire media conglomerate Sky Deutschland, announcing the exciting news recently. This merger between RTL Germany and Sky Deutschland, which includes the streaming service WOW, promises an unparalleled selection of entertainment, sports, and information across streaming, free TV, and pay TV, reaching around 11.5 million dedicated subscribers.
Insight: The deal, worth an initial 150 million euros, could potentially swell to 377 million euros in the coming years depending on RTL Group's stock performance.1
Stephan Schmitter, CEO of RTL Germany, describes this as a "unique opportunity" to unite two significant European media brands, creating a leading streaming and TV platform. Both RTL and Sky complement each other in a match made in content heaven, with RTL offering popular reality formats, sports highlights, independent journalism, and big shows, while Sky is Germany's preferred choice for Bundesliga and Formula 1, and boasts an impressive collection of internationally beloved films and series.2
With RTL+, Sky, and WOW under one roof, the combined forces of RTL Germany and Sky Deutschland will be neck-and-neck with US streaming giants in terms of paying subscribers and streaming revenues. However, the deal is still pending approval from regulatory authorities and is expected to be finalized next year. As part of the agreement, RTL Group will acquire Sky's operations in Germany, Austria, and Switzerland, and will also snag the streaming brand WOW.
Sources:1. ntv.de2. jga.de
- RTL
- Streaming
- TV
- Sky
The merger between RTL Germany and Sky Deutschland, with a potential value of up to 377 million euros, will not only impact their respective streaming and TV businesses, but could also shape the community and social policies related to media and entertainment, considering the combined forces of both companies. To finance this acquisition, RTL Group will be utilizing their resources, potentially influencing their future business decisions and strategies.
