RTL Television

What RTL Television does

RTL Television is Germany's largest private commercial broadcaster, founded in 1984 and operating as a subsidiary of Mediengruppe RTL through its operating entity RTL interactive GmbH, headquartered in Cologne. The company runs a portfolio of more than 15 free-to-air, pay-TV and specialty channels — including RTL, VOX, NITRO, RTLZWEI, ntv, SUPER RTL, RTLup, NOW!, RTL Crime, RTL Passion, RTL Living and GEO Television — and reaches German-speaking viewers in Germany, Austria and Switzerland across linear broadcast, web and mobile.

The company's core technology platform is RTL+, a direct-to-consumer streaming service launched in 2019 that aggregates live TV, on-demand series and films, reality shows, live sports (Bundesliga, NFL, UEFA Europa and Conference League, Oktagon MMA), podcasts and audiobooks. RTL+ is accessible via web and native apps on iOS, Android, Huawei, Fire TV and Apple TV, with subscription tiers ranging from €5.99/month (Basic) to €14.99/month (Musik) plus HBO Max bundles at €11.99 and €17.99/month. Adjacent digital products include RTL.de (news/entertainment portal), RTL Partnersuche (dating service via ICONY GmbH), RTL Spiele (browser gaming) and a broad set of affiliate/comparison verticals (credit cards, insurance, sports betting, casinos) that monetise the audience base.

RTL Television makes money through three principal streams: (1) advertising on its broadcast and digital channels, (2) recurring RTL+ subscriptions across multiple tiers and bundles, and (3) partner and affiliate services. It serves two primary customer segments — the broad German-speaking general-audience viewing market (with sub-segments of reality-TV enthusiasts, sports fans and family/children's viewers via TOGGO) and individual streaming subscribers — with a hybrid segmentation approach and a direct-to-consumer go-to-market complemented by cross-channel TV promotion. The company employs 5,001-10,000 staff and is privately held within the Mediengruppe RTL conglomerate.

Name

RTL Television

Legal name

RTL interactive GmbH

Website

https://rtl.de

Company type

Private

Founded year

1984

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

5,001–10,000 employees

Short description

RTL Television is Germany's largest private broadcaster, operating 15+ TV channels (RTL, VOX, NITRO, ntv, etc.) and the RTL+ streaming platform, serving German-speaking audiences with news, entertainment, reality TV and live sports across linear and D2C subscription models.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Commercial Television Broadcasting

NAICS

Television Broadcasting Stations (51612), Television Broadcasting Stations (516120), Radio and Television Broadcasting Stations (5161)

SIC

Television Broadcasting Stations (4833), Cable & Other Pay Television Services (4841)

akta.pro primary industry

Direct-to-Consumer (DTC) Network/Studio Streaming Channels (MPABAHAG)

akta.pro secondary industry

News OTT & Live News Streaming Channels (MPABAHAK)

Keywords

• Commercial television broadcasting
• Video streaming service
• Subscription video platform
• TV advertising sales
• Premium sports rights

Headquarters

HQ city

Kirchberg

HQ country

Luxembourg

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Digital Commerce or Content

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Advertising Revenue: RTL Television generates revenue through advertising on its broadcast television channels including RTL, VOX, NITRO, and others. The channels attract large audiences through popular programming including daily soaps, reality shows, and sports coverage.
2. RTL+ Streaming Subscription: Subscription-based streaming service offering live TV, on-demand series, films, sports, podcasts, and audiobooks. Multiple subscription tiers available from basic to premium with music package.
3. Partnership Services: Revenue from partner services including RTL Partnersuche dating service, gaming, and other partner offerings.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels9 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

RTL Television is a German private commercial broadcaster that distributes free-to-air and pay-TV channels including RTL, VOX, NITRO, RTLZWEI, ntv, SUPER RTL, RTL Crime, RTL Passion, and RTL Living, delivering entertainment, news, reality TV, daily soaps, documentaries, and live sports. The company also operates RTL+, a direct-to-consumer subscription streaming platform offering live TV, on-demand video series and films, live sports, podcasts, and audiobooks across web, mobile, and smart TV apps.

Product overview

RTL Television operates a multi-platform media portfolio centered around its flagship streaming service RTL+ alongside a network of free-to-air and pay-TV channels. RTL+ is the core streaming platform offering on-demand video (series, films, reality shows, documentaries), live TV streaming, sports, podcasts, and audiobooks through subscription tiers (Basic at €5.99, Premium at €9.99, Premium ad-free at €12.99, Musik at €14.99). The company's linear TV business spans RTL (flagship channel), VOX, NITRO, RTLup (free-to-air), and pay channels RTL Crime, RTL Passion, and RTL Living. Supplementary digital services include RTL.de (news/entertainment portal), RTL Partnersuche (dating service via ICONY partnership), RTL Spiele (online gaming), and the RTL+ App available across iOS, Android, Huawei, Amazon Fire TV, and Apple TV. Children's content is served through TOGGO plus channel and streaming section.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• RTL+: Streaming platform offering live TV, series, films, reality shows, sports, podcasts, and audiobooks
• TOGGO
• RTL+ Premium
• RTL+ Musik

Products and services

• RTL+ Streaming Platform Subscription streaming platform offering on-demand video (series, films, reality shows, documentaries), live TV streaming, live sports, podcasts, and audiobooks. Available via web and native apps on iOS, Android, Huawei, Amazon Fire TV, and Apple TV for German-speaking subscribers in the DACH region.
• RTL+ Basic Subscription Entry-level RTL+ subscription tier priced at €5.99 per month providing streaming access to RTL content with basic features for individual subscribers.
• RTL+ Premium Subscription Premium RTL+ subscription tier priced at €9.99 per month with reduced advertising and exclusive content access, with an ad-free version available at €12.99 per month.
• RTL+ Musik Subscription RTL+ subscription tier priced at €14.99 per month bundling full video content library with ad-free access to podcasts and audiobooks for individual subscribers.
• RTL Television Channel Flagship German free-to-air television channel featuring news, entertainment shows, dramas, reality TV, daily soaps, and sports programming distributed via cable and satellite.
• VOX Channel German free-to-air television channel owned by RTL Television, focused on crime dramas, documentaries, lifestyle programming, and home design shows.
• NITRO Channel German free-to-air television channel featuring action series, crime programs, motorsports, and MMA content including Oktagon MMA coverage.
• SUPER RTL / TOGGO plus Channel Children's programming channel and streaming section within RTL+ featuring animated series, kids shows (including Pokémon, PAW Patrol), and family entertainment for child audiences.
• RTL Crime Channel Pay-TV channel focusing on crime series and thrillers for German-speaking audiences.
• RTL Passion Channel Pay-TV channel featuring romantic and dramatic series content.
• RTL Living Channel Pay-TV channel focused on home design, interior decoration, and lifestyle programming.
• ntv News Channel German news channel providing current affairs, breaking news, and business coverage.
• RTL Partnersuche Dating Service Dating and partner search service operated in partnership with ICONY GmbH, enabling users to find and connect with singles across various German cities.

Named customers1 record

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• Sunny Side of the DocminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 22 June 2026RTL Television is participating as one of approximately 60 new decision-makers at the 37th Sunny Side of the Doc international documentary marketplace in La Rochelle, France. The event runs June 22-24 and features networking opportunities for broadcasters and streaming platforms in the documentary/content sector.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• ProSiebenSat.1 Media: Germany's other major private broadcaster group operating free-to-air channels (ProSieben, SAT.1, Kabel Eins, sixx) and the Joyn streaming platform. Directly comparable to RTL Television in channel portfolio structure, ad-supported model, and bundled streaming offering targeting German-speaking audiences.
• Joyn: ProSiebenSat.1's DTC streaming platform offering free and premium tiers with live TV and on-demand content. Direct competitor to RTL+ with overlapping German content strategy and subscription pricing tiers targeting the same audience.
• Sky Deutschland: Pay-TV and streaming provider in Germany (and Austria/Switzerland) with a heavy focus on Bundesliga and live sports rights. Direct competitor for premium sports subscribers and a counter-bidder on the same Bundesliga, NFL, and UEFA rights RTL holds.
• DAZN: Global sports-focused streaming service with a strong German subscriber base and live-sports rights portfolio. Direct competitor for premium sports subscribers and a likely counter-bidder on key rights that anchor RTL+.

Broad incumbents

• ARD: Consortium of German public broadcasters funding non-ad-driven (or limited-ad) TV, radio, and digital content. Competes for the same German audience and ad budget, particularly in news and major entertainment, with the structural advantage of public funding.
• ZDF: Germany's national public broadcaster with flagship news, entertainment, and sports programming funded primarily through public means. Direct competition for audience share and programming talent in the German TV market.
• Netflix Germany: Global SVOD leader with a substantial German subscriber base and growing slate of German-language originals. Competes with RTL+ for streaming subscription share and production investment in German content.
• Amazon Prime Video Germany: Global SVOD and live-sports rights holder (Bundesliga in Germany in prior cycles) competing directly with RTL+ for subscribers, sports rights, and German-language content investment.
• Disney+ Germany: Global SVOD competing for German streaming subscribers and offering premium entertainment and family/kids content that overlaps with SUPER RTL and TOGGO plus.

Emerging players

• Paramount+ Germany: Recently launched/expanded SVOD in Germany via Paramount's content portfolio, competing with RTL+ for streaming subscribers and entering the same German-language commissioning market.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/rtlde
• YouTubeyoutube.com/c/RTLPlus
• Facebookfacebook.com/RTLplus
• Instagraminstagram.com/rtlplus/?hl=de
• TikToktiktok.com/@rtlplus
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/rtl-nord

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Subsidiaries12 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about RTL Television