US EditionRTL to Buy Sky’s German Unit as It Bids to Challenge US Streaming Giants
- RTL Group agreed in 2025 to acquire Sky Deutschland, Comcast's pay-TV platform in Germany, Austria, and Switzerland, for €150 million upfront.
- The deal follows Sky Deutschland's turnaround with strong performance and EBITDA progress, while regulatory approvals are expected by 2026.
- The merger will combine roughly 11.5 million paying subscribers and unite RTL's entertainment brands with Sky's premium sports rights and the WOW streaming service.
- RTL Group’s CEO Thomas Rabe described the merger as a game-changing move that combines leading entertainment and sports brands in Europe, offering a distinctive range of content spanning free-to-air, subscription, and streaming services, thereby strengthening their ability to compete with international technology and streaming companies.
- This acquisition marks RTL's largest deal since 2000 and is expected to generate €250 million in yearly cost savings within three years following the completion of the transaction, helping to reinforce European media markets.
54 Articles
54 Articles
Berliner Morgenpost
tlz.deOverall, RTL could cost the Sky takeover several hundred million euros. What the deal could fail now.
With the deal, RTL wants to expand its position in entertainment, sports and news in the German-speaking video market.
RTL buys Sky Deutschland in deal to take on US streaming giants
BERLIN: European broadcaster RTL Group said on Friday it would buy Sky Deutschland, in a deal that combines Sky’s sports and streaming offerings with RTL’s news and entertainment brands to create a business with 11.5 million paying subscribers. © New Straits Times Press (M) Bhd
der Standard AT
nachrichten.atRTL Group wants to offer the major streaming platforms Netflix and Amazon Prime Paroli. Competition authorities still have to agree to the acquisition
Tagesschau
RTL wants to take over the streaming service Sky Deutschland. The media group wants to compete mainly Netflix and Amazon Prime. It would be the biggest deal since 2000 for RTL.
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