RTL Television
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.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1984
- HeadquartersKirchberg, Luxembourg
- Headcount5,001–10,000
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingDigital Commerce or Content
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.
RTL Television firmographics
Firmographics- 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
RTL Television industry classification
Industry- 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
Where RTL Television is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Kirchberg
- HQ country
- Luxembourg
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices1 record
Markets served
RTL Television business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Digital Commerce or Content
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- 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.
- 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.
- Partnership Services: Revenue from partner services including RTL Partnersuche dating service, gaming, and other partner offerings.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Subscription | Monthly | RTL+ Basic - Entry-level streaming subscription |
| Subscription | Monthly | RTL+ Premium with limited advertising |
| Subscription | Monthly | RTL+ Premium ad-free |
| Subscription | Monthly | RTL+ Music package - full entertainment bundle |
| Subscription | Monthly | RTL+ Premium & HBO Max Bundle with advertising |
| Subscription | Monthly | RTL+ Premium & HBO Max Bundle ad-free |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels9 records
Marketing channels4 records
RTL Television product offering
Product offeringCore 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.
Companies that use RTL Television
Customer profileNamed customers1 record
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
RTL Television technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
RTL Television partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
One partnership is on record.
- Sunny Side of the DocminorRTL 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
RTL Television competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect 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
RTL Television social profiles
Digital presenceRTL Television financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
RTL Television leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles2 records
RTL Television subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries12 records
RTL Television funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
RTL Television M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about RTL Television
What does RTL Television do?
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.
Is RTL Television a public or private company?
RTL Television is a private company. It is classified as corporate owned and is currently operating.
When was RTL Television founded?
RTL Television was founded in 1984. It employs 5,001 to 10,000 people.
Where is RTL Television based?
RTL Television is headquartered in Kirchberg, Luxembourg, in the Europe region.
How does RTL Television make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Advertising Revenue is the primary driver. The others are RTL+ Streaming Subscription and partnership Services.
Who are RTL Television's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are ProSiebenSat.1 Media, Joyn, Sky Deutschland and DAZN. Broad incumbents are ARD, ZDF, Netflix Germany, Amazon Prime Video Germany and Disney+ Germany. Paramount+ Germany is listed as an emerging player.
Does RTL Television have an API?
No public API is recorded for RTL Television.
What industry is RTL Television in?
RTL Television's product category is Commercial Television Broadcasting. Its primary akta.pro industry code is MPABAHAG, Direct-to-Consumer (DTC) Network/Studio Streaming Channels, with a secondary code of MPABAHAK, News OTT & Live News Streaming Channels. Its NAICS code is 51612 and its SIC code is 4833.