104.6 RTL
104.6 RTL is a Berlin-based commercial FM radio station operated by RTL Audio Center Berlin GmbH, reaching 600,000+ daily and 1.2 million weekly listeners in Berlin and Brandenburg with music, news, comedy, and a flagship morning show, monetized through advertising, sponsorships, and live events.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1991
- HeadquartersBerlin, Germany
- Headcount—
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What 104.6 RTL does
104.6 RTL is a Berlin-based commercial radio station broadcasting on 104.6 MHz across Berlin and Brandenburg, operated by RTL Audio Center Berlin GmbH, a private limited company within the RTL Deutschland (RTL Group) portfolio. The station reaches 600,000+ listeners daily and 1.2 million weekly, built around a flagship morning show ("Morgencrew") currently transitioning from host Arno (35-year tenure) to Jan Lohan. Programming includes continuous music, local news and traffic updates, comedy segments, and interactive listener features (quiz games, prize draws, comedy submissions).
The core technology is FM radio broadcasting supplemented by a broad digital distribution layer: native iOS and Android mobile apps, a Smart TV application on Android TV/Google TV/Amazon FireTV, registration-free web streaming at 104.6rtl.com, Alexa voice assistant integration, and syndication through Radioplayer, TuneIn, RTL+ MUSIK, and Radioline. The audio portfolio extends beyond live radio via Hitfinder (music discovery), RTL+ Musik (a streaming service with over 80 genre-specific channels), and a podcast offering including the locally focused Potscast. The company also operates a live-event vertical — Stars for Free concerts, the GEOlino live family festival, and the Classic Open Air classical festival — which are co-produced with headline sponsors including Eurowings, Berliner Kindl Jubiläums Pilsener, and ALEXA Shopping Center.
The business model is advertising- and sponsorship-based with a freemium consumer proposition: all radio content, streaming, apps, and the VIP Club newsletter are free to listeners. Revenue is generated through (1) traditional broadcast and digital advertising, (2) sponsored in-program segments (e.g., HateAid awareness campaigns produced pro bono as public service announcements), and (3) event sponsorship with major Berlin brands. Management comprises four Geschäftsführer (Marc Haberland, Mike Bröhl, Dr. Nina Gerhardt, Jochen Frenzel). The station has won multiple Deutscher Radiopreis awards, including for Best Morning Show (consecutive) and a lifetime-achievement moderation prize for Arno.
104.6 RTL firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- 104.6 RTL
- Legal name
- RTL Audio Center Berlin GmbH
- Website
- https://104.6rtl.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1991
- Operating status
- Operating
- Short description
- 104.6 RTL is a Berlin-based commercial FM radio station operated by RTL Audio Center Berlin GmbH, reaching 600,000+ daily and 1.2 million weekly listeners in Berlin and Brandenburg with music, news, comedy, and a flagship morning show, monetized through advertising, sponsorships, and live events.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
104.6 RTL industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Commercial Radio Broadcasting
- NAICS
- Radio Broadcasting Stations (51611)
- SIC
- Radio Broadcasting Stations (4832)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Internet Radio & Streaming Broadcast Stations (Simulcast/Online-only) (MPAIAEAE)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Radio Streaming & Catch-Up Audio Platforms (MPAIADAJ), Radio Network Distribution & Programming Services (Syndicators, Format Providers) (MPAIAEAH)
Keywords
Where 104.6 RTL is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Berlin
- HQ country
- Germany
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices1 record
Markets served
104.6 RTL business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Advertising: The radio station generates revenue through traditional advertising, including sponsorships and promotional content within programming.
- Event Sponsorship: Partnerships with sponsors like Eurowings (GEOlino live), Berliner Kindl (Classic Open Air), and ALEXA shopping center for branded events and festivals.
- Sponsored Content: Sponsored segments and branded content integrated into programming, such as HateAid awareness campaigns produced for free.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Freemium | Monthly | Free tier - all content accessible |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels5 records
Marketing channels6 records
104.6 RTL product offering
Product offeringCore offering
104.6 RTL is a commercial radio station broadcasting on FM 104.6 MHz from Berlin and operating as RTL Audio Center Berlin GmbH. Its core offering is free-to-listener linear radio programming (music, morning show, comedy, news, contests) for the Berlin-Brandenburg audience, complemented by digital streaming via mobile app, Smart TV app, web, and the RTL+ Musik platform with more than 80 genre channels. Advertising sales and event sponsorships (including the Stars for Free concert series, GEOlino live family festival, and Classic Open Air) are the primary revenue-generating activities built on top of this audience.
Product overview
104.6 RTL is a Berlin-based radio station operated by RTL Audio Center Berlin GmbH, offering a multi-platform audio entertainment portfolio. The core product is its live broadcast radio station (104.6 RTL) featuring music, morning shows (Morgencrew), traffic updates, and comedy segments (Comedys). Supporting this are digital streaming services including Hitfinder for music discovery and RTL+ Musik with over 80 genre-specific streaming channels. Interactive elements include games (Quizwoch, Jan oder janicht), prize contests (Gewinnspiele), and a VIP Club membership. Distribution extends via Smart TV app (Android TV/Google TV), mobile apps (iOS/Android), and aggregator platforms including Radioplayer, TuneIn, Radioline, and Alexa. The company also organizes live events such as Stars for Free concerts, GEOlino live family festival, and Classic Open Air classical music festival.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- 104.6 RTL Live Radio Free, ad-supported linear FM radio broadcast on 104.6 MHz for the Berlin and Brandenburg mass-market adult audience, also available via the station's website for free streaming.
- RTL+ Musik Music streaming service operated as part of the RTL+/RTL Deutschland ecosystem providing 80+ genre-focused music channels to consumers across multiple devices.
- 104.6 RTL Mobile App Mobile application for iOS and Android that enables listeners to stream 104.6 RTL live radio and access station content on the go.
- 104.6 RTL Smart TV App Application for Smart TVs that allows viewers to listen to 104.6 RTL live radio via the connected TV interface.
- Stars for Free Live concert event series organised by 104.6 RTL, offering listeners free or branded live music experiences in the Berlin-Brandenburg region, monetised via sponsorships.
- GEOlino live Family Festival Family festival event hosted by 104.6 RTL in cooperation with GEOlino, targeting children and families and sold/sponsored as a branded live experience.
- Classic Open Air Open-air classical music festival run in cooperation with Klassik Radio, providing 104.6 RTL listeners with a live classical music experience and serving as a sponsorship property.
- 104.6 RTL VIP Club Newsletter Email-based VIP club newsletter for 104.6 RTL listeners providing station news, contest access and VIP benefits related to concerts and festivals.
Companies that use 104.6 RTL
Customer profileSegments2 records
Ideal customer profiles2 records
104.6 RTL technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
104.6 RTL partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Eight partnerships are on record, tiered core, minor and strategic.
- EurowingscoreEurowings serves as the sponsor for GEOlino live family festival, a major annual event held at the Gärten der Welt in Berlin on July 25, 2026. Eurowings enables families to attend the event with relaxed travel arrangements.
- ALEXA Shopping CenterminorALEXA shopping center at Alexanderplatz in Berlin sponsors the VIP Shopping event with Jan Lohan from the morning show. Prize includes 100 Euro shopping vouchers for winners.
- Berliner Kindl Jubiläums PilsenercoreBerliner Kindl Jubiläums Pilsener sponsors the Classic Open Air festival at Gendarmenmarkt from July 9-14, 2026. The beer brand represents Berlin culture and accompanies the festival as the presenting sponsor.
- HateAidstrategic104.6 RTL partnered with HateAid to raise awareness for digital violence and human rights in digital spaces. The station produced and airs free public service announcement spots for HateAid, leveraging its reach of 600,000 daily and 1.2 million weekly listeners.
- Google (Android TV, Google TV)core104.6 RTL developed and distributes its app through Google Play Store on Android TV and Google TV platforms, enabling Smart TV access to live radio and additional music channels.
- Apple (iOS)core104.6 RTL offers its mobile application through Apple's iTunes App Store for iOS devices.
- Amazon (Alexa, FireTV)core104.6 RTL is available through Amazon Alexa voice assistant and FireTV devices, enabling hands-free and Smart TV listening.
- RTL+ MUSIKcore104.6 RTL is integrated into RTL+ MUSIK streaming platform alongside numerous genre-specific music channels.
Scale indicators4 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights6 records
104.6 RTL competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- Spotify: Global audio streaming incumbent competing for the same advertiser audio budgets and listener attention in the Berlin/Brandenburg and broader German market. Not a direct broadcast competitor but exerts structural pressure on local radio listenership and ad share.
- Energy Deutschland: Multi-market German commercial radio network combining AC/Hitradio formats, digital streaming apps, and event/franchise extensions. Closely comparable business model (ad-supported, multi-platform, morning shows, events) at a national-network scale.
- Antenne Bayern: Germany's largest private commercial radio broadcaster, AC/Hitradio format with broad multi-channel streaming portfolio. Comparable business model (ad-supported, multi-platform distribution, morning show brand) but Bavaria-focused rather than Berlin-focused.
Regional players
- fritz (rbb): Public young-adult station operated by Rundfunk Berlin-Brandenburg, broadcasting into the same Berlin/Brandenburg region with a youth-leaning music and entertainment format. Comparable audience demographic but publicly funded versus 104.6 RTL's commercial model.
- radioeins (rbb): Public broadcaster for Berlin/Brandenburg running alternative music, news, and cultural programming. Operates in the exact same regional market as 104.6 RTL and competes for a sizeable share of Berlin listeners during morning and drive-time slots.
Direct peers
- BB Radio: Berlin/Brandenburg commercial radio competitor; same geographic footprint and broadly similar Hitradio-style format competing for the same daily driver audience.
- 89.0 RTL: Another RTL Group German commercial radio station broadcasting into a major regional market. Direct sister-station peer: same parent (RTL Deutschland), same Hitradio AC-leaning brand architecture, similar morning show format, comparable multi-platform streaming distribution via RTL+ MUSIK.
- 105'5 Spreeradio: Berlin commercial radio station running a comparable adult contemporary format with morning show-led programming and digital streaming extensions. Directly competes for the same Berlin listeners and the same regional advertising budget.
- rs2 (Radio Berlin Südwest): Berlin/Brandenburg regional commercial radio broadcaster with adult-oriented music programming and multi-platform distribution including app and Smart TV streaming. Direct in-market competitor with overlapping advertiser pool.
- Radio B2 (Schlagerradio): German commercial radio broadcaster with a music-led, ad-supported model and multi-platform distribution. Comparable in core radio advertising/streaming business model though focused on Schlager rather than AC/Hitradio.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat3 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
104.6 RTL social profiles
Digital presence104.6 RTL financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
104.6 RTL leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles4 records
104.6 RTL funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
104.6 RTL 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 104.6 RTL
What does 104.6 RTL do?
104.6 RTL is a commercial radio station broadcasting on FM 104.6 MHz from Berlin and operating as RTL Audio Center Berlin GmbH. Its core offering is free-to-listener linear radio programming (music, morning show, comedy, news, contests) for the Berlin-Brandenburg audience, complemented by digital streaming via mobile app, Smart TV app, web, and the RTL+ Musik platform with more than 80 genre channels. Advertising sales and event sponsorships (including the Stars for Free concert series, GEOlino live family festival, and Classic Open Air) are the primary revenue-generating activities built on top of this audience.
Is 104.6 RTL a public or private company?
104.6 RTL is a private company. It is classified as corporate owned and is currently operating.
When was 104.6 RTL founded?
104.6 RTL was founded in 1991.
Where is 104.6 RTL based?
104.6 RTL is headquartered in Berlin, Germany, in the Europe region.
How does 104.6 RTL make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Advertising is the primary driver. The others are event Sponsorship and sponsored Content.
Who are 104.6 RTL's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are Spotify, Energy Deutschland and Antenne Bayern. Regional players are fritz (rbb) and radioeins (rbb). Direct peers are BB Radio, 89.0 RTL, 105'5 Spreeradio, rs2 (Radio Berlin Südwest) and Radio B2 (Schlagerradio).
Does 104.6 RTL have an API?
No public API is recorded for 104.6 RTL.
What industry is 104.6 RTL in?
104.6 RTL's product category is Commercial Radio Broadcasting. Its primary akta.pro industry code is MPAIAEAE, Internet Radio & Streaming Broadcast Stations (Simulcast/Online-only), with a secondary code of MPAIADAJ, Radio Streaming & Catch-Up Audio Platforms. Its NAICS code is 51611 and its SIC code is 4832.