Kabel Eins

What Kabel Eins does

Kabel Eins is a German free-to-air television channel founded in 1992 and headquartered in Unterföhring, Germany, operating under Seven.One Entertainment Group GmbH, part of the ProSiebenSat.1 Media SE conglomerate. The channel's programming mix centers on German documentary-soaps and report formats (Mein Lokal Dein Lokal, Trucker Babes, Rosins Restaurants, Willkommen bei den Reimanns, Achtung Kontrolle), US crime and action series (Castle, Blue Bloods, Criminal Minds, Navy CIS, The Mentalist, FBI franchises), classic US series (Das A-Team), and true crime documentaries (Homicide Hunter). Its audience is the German-speaking general consumer base, segmented further into ad-supported free viewers, paid subscription users (Joyn HD Paket, Joyn+ Paket), and adults requiring age verification for 16+/18+ content.

All Kabel Eins content is distributed exclusively through the Joyn streaming platform, a freemium product offering free live TV streaming and a video-on-demand library on the ad-supported tier, with paid add-ons for HD/UHD quality and expanded content. The platform's underlying technology stack includes DRM-protected video delivery via glomex Player, personalized recommendation algorithms, an AI chatbot for content discovery powered by Google Cloud Gemini, an automated customer-support chatbot from knowhere GmbH, and Algolia-powered search. Distribution is multi-channel: web (joyn.de), iOS, Android, Amazon Fire TV, Huawei AppGallery, Smart TVs, and Sky devices, with a unified 7Pass authentication layer shared across the ProSiebenSat.1 portfolio.

Kabel Eins monetizes through two primary streams: advertising — sold via SevenOne Media GmbH with both contextual and behaviorally targeted ad formats — and recurring subscriptions for Joyn HD and Joyn+ tiers, processed through Stripe, PayPal, Amazon Pay, SEPA via PPRO, and managed by Frisbii. An additional affiliate/referral channel drives paid-subscriber acquisition through third-party networks. The product-led growth motion is entirely self-serve: consumers stream for free without registration, optionally register via 7Pass for personalization and newsletter, and upgrade through in-app checkout. The contact surface includes press, privacy, customer service, cancellation, and three dedicated youth protection officers, reflecting the regulatory sensitivity of youth-protection content in the German market.

Name

Kabel Eins

Legal name

Kabel Eins

Website

https://kabeleins.de

Company type

Private

Founded year

1992

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Kabel Eins is a German free-to-air TV channel broadcasting docu-soaps, US crime series, and classic TV, distributed via the Joyn streaming platform to German-speaking consumers under the ProSiebenSat.1 Media SE group.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Television Broadcasting

NAICS

Television Broadcasting Stations (51612)

SIC

Television Broadcasting Stations (4833)

akta.pro industry

PRIMARYMPACACAA

Generalist Live Streaming Platforms (Multi-Category)

Media, Entertainment & Sports/Digital Media & Content Platforms (Online Video, Podcasts, Creators)/Live Streaming Platforms (Gaming/IRL)

Keywords

• Free-to-air television
• Video streaming platform
• Live TV streaming
• On-demand media library
• TV broadcasting services

Headquarters

HQ city

Unterföhring

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Digital Commerce or Content

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Advertising (Ad-Supported Free Tier): Free ad-supported streaming of Kabel Eins live TV and on-demand content. Joyn displays context-based and behaviorally targeted advertisements before and during content playback. Revenue is generated through programmatic and direct advertising sold via SevenOne Media GmbH. Both personalized (with consent) and non-personalized ads are served.
2. Subscription (Joyn HD & Joyn+): Paid subscription tiers (Joyn HD Paket and Joyn+ Paket) offering enhanced services such as HD and UHD video quality, and expanded content libraries. Subscriptions are billed monthly or on an annual basis. Revenue is collected via SEPA direct debit, credit card (via Stripe), PayPal, Amazon Pay, and other payment processors.
3. Affiliate & Referral: Joyn works with affiliate networks that earn commissions for referring new users who sign up for paid subscriptions. Click tracking IDs are used to attribute conversions and measure campaign success. This constitutes a referral/affiliate revenue stream.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Kabel Eins is a German free-to-air TV channel broadcasting docu-soaps, US crime series, classic TV shows, reality programming, and true crime documentaries. Its content is distributed via the Joyn streaming platform offering free live TV streaming and an extensive on-demand video library (Mediathek) of thousands of episodes. The platform operates on a freemium model with paid subscription add-ons (Joyn HD Paket for HD/UHD quality, Joyn+ for premium features) accessible across web, mobile, Smart TV, and streaming devices in the German-speaking market.

Product overview

Kabel Eins is a German free-to-air TV channel producing documentary-soaps, reality shows, US crime series, and knowledge programming. Its content is distributed through the Joyn streaming platform, which offers a free ad-supported tier with live TV streaming and video-on-demand access to full episodes. Paid subscription add-ons include Joyn HD Paket for high-definition viewing and Joyn+ for enhanced features. The platform provides access across multiple devices including web, mobile apps, Smart TVs, and streaming devices.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Kabel Eins Live-Stream Free live TV streaming of the Kabel Eins channel, allowing viewers to watch the current broadcast in real-time on any device via the Joyn platform. Available to German-speaking viewers.
• Kabel Eins Mediathek Video-on-demand library containing thousands of episodes from Kabel Eins shows including documentaries, US crime series, crime dramas, docu-soaps, and reality TV. New episodes become available shortly after TV broadcast.
• Joyn HD Paket Subscription add-on providing Kabel Eins in HD (High Definition) quality with enhanced picture resolution via the Joyn platform. UHD (Ultra-High Definition) available for selected shows.
• Joyn+ Paket Premium subscription tier offering enhanced services and extended content features through the Joyn platform, available with monthly or annual billing.

Quantifiable outcome

• Thousands of on-demand episodes available at any time across all Kabel Eins shows
• +2 more outcomes

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration19 records

AI capability2 records

Feature4 records

Partnerships

15 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Seven.One Entertainment Group GmbHcoreOthersSeven.One Entertainment Group GmbH is the operating company behind Joyn and the parent broadcaster of Kabel Eins. All Kabel Eins content is distributed exclusively through the Joyn platform operated by Seven.One Entertainment Group. The company is based in Unterföhring, Germany, and manages the full streaming service, content licensing, and platform operations.
• Apple App StorecoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorJoyn distributes its streaming app through the Apple App Store, enabling iOS users to download and access Kabel Eins content on iPhones, iPads, and Apple TV devices. App Store distribution is a key channel for mobile user acquisition.
• Google Play StorecoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorJoyn distributes its Android app through Google Play, enabling Android smartphone and tablet users to access Kabel Eins live streaming and on-demand content. Google Play is a primary distribution channel for the Android user base.
• Amazon Appstore (Fire TV)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorJoyn is available on Amazon Fire TV devices and distributed via the Amazon Appstore. Users can also sign in using their Amazon account credentials. Amazon Pay is accepted as a payment method for Joyn subscriptions purchased through Fire TV.
• Huawei AppGalleryminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorJoyn is distributed through Huawei's AppGallery, enabling access for Huawei device users who do not use Google Play Services.
• Stripe Payments EuropecoreTechnology or IntegrationStripe processes credit card payments for Joyn subscriptions. Credit card data is transmitted directly to Stripe, which handles payment processing. Stripe also performs fraud prevention and product development analytics. Payment data is not stored by Joyn.
• PayPal (Europe)coreTechnology or IntegrationPayPal is offered as a payment method for Joyn subscriptions. Payment data is transmitted directly to PayPal, which may share data with credit reporting agencies for identity and credit checks.
• PPRO Payment ServicescoreTechnology or IntegrationPPRO handles SEPA direct debit payments for Joyn subscriptions. Account verification is performed by Tink AB via bank login. PPRO acts as a payment processor for recurring subscription billing.
• Google Cloud / Gemini AIcoreTechnology or IntegrationJoyn's AI chatbot for content recommendations and information is powered by Google Cloud's Gemini AI model. User queries are anonymized and hashed before being sent to Google Cloud for processing. The chatbot delivers personalized video recommendations and answers questions about Joyn content.
• knowhere GmbHcoreTechnology or Integrationknowhere GmbH provides the automated customer support chatbot that answers product-related questions about Joyn usage, account management, subscriptions, payments, and cancellations. It acts as a data processor within the EU, storing chat logs for 90 days and performing statistical analysis for chatbot optimization.
• glomex GmbHcoreTechnology or Integrationglomex GmbH provides the video player used on certain Joyn services. It handles playback of video content and display of advertising. glomex and Joyn are jointly responsible for data collection on the end device and transmission to further recipients. Selected advertising partners are integrated via glomex.
• Amazon PaycoreTechnology or IntegrationAmazon Pay is an accepted payment method for Joyn subscriptions. Users are redirected to Amazon's website to authorize payment. Amazon may perform a credit check. Joyn receives only confirmation of payment success or failure.
• SkyminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorJoyn is accessible on Sky devices. Sky users can log in with their Joyn account, and Joyn content is surfaced on the Sky platform with recommendations and playback position sync. Fully watched videos are stored on Sky hardware for 450 days, and recently started videos for 30 days, to personalize recommendations.
• 7Pass (ProSiebenSat.1 Digital Data GmbH)coreTechnology or Integration7Pass is the centralized authentication service used for Joyn account registration and login. All Joyn users must create a 7Pass account. 7Pass is an offering of ProSiebenSat.1 Digital Data GmbH and operates under its own terms and privacy policy.
• SevenOne Media GmbHcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerSevenOne Media GmbH is the advertising arm of Seven.One Entertainment Group. It handles the sale of advertising inventory within Joyn, including personalized and non-personalized ads served before and during content playback. It connects with third-party agencies that place cookies for behavioral targeting.

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• VOX: RTL Group free-to-air channel with a comparable entertainment mix of US series, crime dramas, and lifestyle programming. Targets a similar German general-audience demographic and competes for the same ad spend via its parent group's media sales arm.
• SAT.1: Sister free-to-air channel under Seven.One Entertainment Group / ProSiebenSat.1, distributed via Joyn with the same freemium model. Competes for the same German-speaking general entertainment audience with overlapping entertainment, scripted series, and reality content categories.
• ARD: Consortium of German public broadcasters with national free-to-air channel Das Erste and the ARD Mediathek streaming platform. Direct competitor to Kabel Eins for mass-market German viewers, advertising-free funded by mandatory fees, pressuring ad-supported private channels.
• RTL+: Streaming platform from RTL Group offering live TV and on-demand access to RTL, VOX, and other German free-to-air channels. Direct competitor to Joyn for streaming distribution of German free-to-air content with freemium and paid tiers, mirroring Kabel Eins' Joyn distribution model.
• RTL: Germany's leading private free-to-air TV channel, owned by RTL Group. Direct competitor to Kabel Eins for German-speaking viewers, advertising budgets, and premium entertainment content; also operates its own RTL+ streaming platform analogous to Joyn.
• ZDF: Germany's largest public broadcaster with a national free-to-air channel and ZDF Mediathek streaming platform. Competes with Kabel Eins for German-speaking viewers, prime-time entertainment slots, and digital on-demand consumption.
• Sixx: Direct sister channel under Seven.One Entertainment Group / ProSiebenSat.1, distributed via Joyn. Targets a similar German-speaking female-skewing entertainment audience with reality, lifestyle, and US series, overlapping with Kabel Eins' positioning.
• ProSieben: Direct sister channel under the same Seven.One Entertainment Group / ProSiebenSat.1 umbrella, distributed through the identical Joyn platform. Same target audience (German-speaking general entertainment viewers), same business model (free ad-supported streaming with Joyn HD/Joyn+ upsell), and same parent infrastructure.

Broad incumbents

• Netflix Germany: Global streaming incumbent with a strong German subscriber base. Competes with Joyn/Kabel Eins for viewer attention and entertainment spend with a far larger original content budget, expanding German-language original production to localize.
• Amazon Prime Video Germany: Global streaming service bundled into Amazon Prime, including US series and originals that overlap with Kabel Eins' US crime/action catalog. Competes for the same German entertainment audience with much larger content and marketing budgets.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/kabeleins
• Facebookfacebook.com/kabeleins
• Instagraminstagram.com/kabel_eins
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/kabel-eins

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

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 Kabel Eins