Super RTL
Super RTL is a Cologne-based German free-to-air television channel, founded in 1995 and operated by RTL Group SA, that broadcasts daily evening entertainment — movies, US series, and themed film collections — to German-speaking viewers, monetized through advertising and supplemented by streaming on RTL+.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1995
- HeadquartersCologne, Germany
- Headcount101–250
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingDigital Commerce or Content
What Super RTL does
Super RTL is a Cologne-based German free-to-air television network, founded in 1995 and operating as a subsidiary of Luxembourg-headquartered RTL Group SA. The channel broadcasts daily from 20:15 to midnight, programming a mix of German-language films, US television series (notably Bones, Lucifer, and CSI: Miami), themed movie collections (including a nine-film Royal Romance series), family films, and music documentaries. Super RTL is also distributed as a live and on-demand channel within the broader RTL+ streaming platform (plus.rtl.de), enabling cross-platform consumption within the RTL Group ecosystem alongside sister channels NITRO, RTL Up, RTL Crime, RTL Passion, and RTL Living.
The channel's core technology stack centers on linear broadcast distribution plus streaming video delivery via RTL+, supported by a web presence at rtl-super.de and social channels on Instagram (@rtl_super) and Facebook (@superrtl). Content is structured into curated 'blocks' — Super Serien for US crime and drama series, Super Movies for films and themed collections, and time-branded franchises such as Royal Romance — designed to drive predictable appointment viewing in the late-evening slot. International content, such as the French animated series 'Submarine Jim' licensed from Xilam Animation, supplements the catalog alongside German domestic productions.
Super RTL operates a purely advertising-funded business model, monetizing its German-speaking audience through spot advertising during programming breaks. The channel does not disclose subscription or transactional pricing, consistent with its free-to-air positioning. Its primary customer segment is German evening-TV viewers seeking entertainment programming; its principal commercial counterparties are brand advertisers and rights licensors. As a wholly portfolio-owned subsidiary of RTL Group SA, with no independent funding or public listing, Super RTL is strategically run as an integrated broadcast-plus-streaming asset within the larger European media conglomerate rather than as a standalone revenue entity.
Super RTL firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Super RTL
- Legal name
- Super RTL
- Website
- https://superrtl.de
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1995
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 101–250 employees
- Short description
- Super RTL is a Cologne-based German free-to-air television channel, founded in 1995 and operated by RTL Group SA, that broadcasts daily evening entertainment — movies, US series, and themed film collections — to German-speaking viewers, monetized through advertising and supplemented by streaming on RTL+.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Super RTL industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Television Broadcasting
- NAICS
- Television Broadcasting Stations (516120)
- SIC
- Television Broadcasting Stations (4833)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Direct-to-Consumer (DTC) Network/Studio Streaming Channels (MPABAHAG)
Keywords
Where Super RTL is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Cologne
- HQ country
- Germany
- HQ region
- Europe
Markets served
Super RTL business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Digital Commerce or Content
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Supply Chain, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales
Revenue model
- Broadcast Television Advertising: Super RTL generates revenue primarily through television advertising, airing commercials during programming breaks to reach its German audience viewing movies and US series.
- Broadcasting Rights Licensing: The channel acquires and licenses broadcasting rights for content, including animation series like 'Submarine Jim' from Xilam Animation, providing programming content to its viewers.
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels2 records
Marketing channels2 records
Super RTL product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Super RTL operates a German free-to-air television channel broadcasting entertainment programming daily from 20:15 to midnight, featuring movies, US television series, music documentaries, and international animation content. Content is delivered through linear television broadcast and supplemented by on-demand streaming via the RTL+ platform, reaching German-speaking audiences seeking evening entertainment.
Product overview
Super RTL operates as a German free-to-air television channel under RTL Deutschland, offering a unified broadcast and streaming experience through its core RTL Super TV channel and the RTL+ streaming platform. The product portfolio centers on curated entertainment content organized into distinct offerings: Super Movies (featuring films and themed collections like the Royal Romance series of romantic TV movies), Super Serien (US television series including Bones, Lucifer, and CSI: Miami), and music documentaries. Content is delivered via linear broadcast (daily from 20:15) and on-demand streaming, with programming spanning German-language productions, US imports, and international acquisitions like the French animation series Submarine Jim.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- RTL Super TV Channel German free-to-air television channel broadcasting daily from 20:15 to midnight with movies, US series, music documentaries, and themed entertainment programming targeted at German-speaking audiences.
- RTL+ Streaming Platform Over-the-top streaming service that provides live TV streaming and on-demand access to RTL Super content, including catch-up viewing of movies and series, accessible via plus.rtl.de.
- Royal Romance Film Collection Themed collection of nine romantic TV movies broadcast on RTL Super, including titles such as Mein Sommerprinz, Prinzessin wider Willen, Royal Rendezvous Prinzessin gesucht, Für immer Prinzessin, Ein Prinz im Paradies, Roadtrip ins royale Herz, Ein ganz gewöhnlicher Prinz, and Die Prinzessin und ihr Bodyguard.
- Submarine Jim (Broadcast Content) French animated series produced by Xilam Animation featuring the character Submarine Jim, licensed for broadcast in Germany through Super RTL as part of international content acquisition. Broadcast partners include France Télévisions, BBC UK, and Cartoon Network Latin America & SE Asia.
Companies that use Super RTL
Customer profileNamed customers3 records
Segments1 record
Ideal customer profiles1 record
Super RTL technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Super RTL partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Two partnerships are on record, tiered core.
- Xilam AnimationcoreXilam Animation, a French animation studio, has secured a broadcast deal with Super RTL for their series 'Submarine Jim'. The series was showcased at the Annecy International Animation Film Festival with creator Frédéric Martin hoping to replicate the cult success of Xilam's late-1990s hit Space Goofs.
- RTL+coreSuper RTL content is available for streaming on the RTL+ platform (plus.rtl.de), allowing viewers to watch Super RTL live TV and on-demand content online. The partnership enables cross-promotion between the broadcast channel and streaming service.
Scale indicators1 record
Recent moves5 records
Expansion highlights4 records
Super RTL competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- RTL: The flagship German free-to-air TV channel from RTL Group, Super RTL's sister channel. Comparable as a German-language entertainment broadcaster operating under the same parent conglomerate with shared content and RTL+ streaming integration.
- VOX: German free-to-air entertainment channel owned by RTL Group. Directly competes with Super RTL for the same German evening entertainment audience with overlapping US-series and movie programming.
- ProSieben: Major German free-to-air entertainment channel from ProSiebenSat.1, competing head-to-head for primetime movie and US-series viewers in the same 20:15+ timeslot that Super RTL targets.
- SAT.1: German free-to-air entertainment channel from ProSiebenSat.1 Media. Directly comparable as an ad-supported German broadcaster airing movies and US series in evening primetime.
- Kabel Eins: German free-to-air entertainment channel from ProSiebenSat.1 that competes with Super RTL for movie, series, and themed entertainment audiences in Germany.
- RTL Zwei: German free-to-air entertainment channel owned by RTL Group alongside Super RTL. Most direct operational peer as a sister channel with shared distribution, parent-group content library, and RTL+ streaming integration.
Broad incumbents
- ZDF: Germany's largest public broadcaster, competing for the same primetime entertainment audience as Super RTL via its main channel and digital platforms, with significantly broader programming scope.
- ARD Das Erste: German public-service national broadcaster offering free-to-air entertainment, movies, and series in the same evening window that Super RTL targets, with much wider content scope.
Regional players
- TF1: France's leading private free-to-air entertainment channel from Bouygues/Groupe TF1. Comparable as a European free-to-air entertainment broadcaster with ad-supported model and movie/series programming, operating in a different national market.
- ITV1: UK's largest commercial free-to-air broadcaster. Comparable as an ad-supported entertainment channel airing movies and US imports, with similar linear-plus-streaming (ITVX) hybrid model to Super RTL/RTL+.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Super RTL social profiles
Digital presenceSuper RTL financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Super RTL leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Super RTL funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Super RTL M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A1 record
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Super RTL
What does Super RTL do?
Super RTL operates a German free-to-air television channel broadcasting entertainment programming daily from 20:15 to midnight, featuring movies, US television series, music documentaries, and international animation content. Content is delivered through linear television broadcast and supplemented by on-demand streaming via the RTL+ platform, reaching German-speaking audiences seeking evening entertainment.
Is Super RTL a public or private company?
Super RTL is a private company. It is classified as corporate owned and is currently operating.
When was Super RTL founded?
Super RTL was founded in 1995. It employs 101 to 250 people.
Where is Super RTL based?
Super RTL is headquartered in Cologne, Germany, in the Europe region.
How does Super RTL make money?
Two revenue lines are on record. Broadcast Television Advertising is the primary driver. The others are broadcasting Rights Licensing.
Who are Super RTL's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are RTL, VOX, ProSieben, SAT.1, Kabel Eins and RTL Zwei. Broad incumbents are ZDF and ARD Das Erste. Regional players are TF1 and ITV1.
Does Super RTL have an API?
No public API is recorded for Super RTL.
What industry is Super RTL in?
Super RTL's product category is Television Broadcasting. Its primary akta.pro industry code is MPABAHAG, Direct-to-Consumer (DTC) Network/Studio Streaming Channels. Its NAICS code is 516120 and its SIC code is 4833.