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RTL Deutschland

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RTL Deutschland GmbH
FormerlyMediengruppe RTL Deutschland (2007–2021)
Company typeDivision
Founded2007; 17 years ago (2007)
Headquarters
Cologne
,
Germany
Key people
  • Stephan Schäfer
  • Matthias Dang (CEOs)
  • Alexander Glatz
  • Julia Reuter
ProductsTelevision, broadcasting, content production
RevenueIncrease €2,127 million (2020)
ParentRTL Group
Divisions
Websitecompany.rtl.com
Footnotes / references
[1]
Alternative logo
Former logo until 13 September 2021

RTL Deutschland (previously Mediengruppe RTL Deutschland) is a German media company based in Cologne, North Rhine-Westphalia.[2] It was founded in 2007 as a holding company for the German television, broadcasting and content production businesses of the RTL Group, which is majority-owned by Bertelsmann.[3]

On 14 June 2021 it was announced that the Mediengruppe RTL Deutschland would be renamed in September 2021 as part of a re-branding to RTL Deutschland. In this context, both the company and the broadcaster RTL got new logos and a new design.[4][5][6][7]

History

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In 2000, Bertelsmann and Pearson announced that they would merge their television and radio stations and production companies.[8] This created RTL Group, based in Luxembourg, as a leading European media company.[9] RTL's activities in Germany were also affected by this merger; Bertelsmann had gradually increased its stake in the German television broadcaster RTL in the 1990s.[10]

In 2007, television and content businesses in Germany were bundled under the umbrella of Mediengruppe RTL Deutschland.[11] The company introduced a new brand identity and bundled digital competencies.[12]

In 2009, RTL, VOX, N-tv, and other channels moved into a joint broadcasting center in Cologne-Deutz, to achieve synergy effects not only organizationally but also through physical proximity.[13][14][15] An example of cooperation between RTL Deutschland companies is the streaming platform RTL+ (originally launched as TV NOW).[16] Initially launched by RTL, other channels were successively added to the service.[17]

In February 2019, RTL Deutschland and their parent company RTL Group announced that they've sold their German film production and distribution company Universum Film to New York-based American global investment firm Kohlberg Kravis Robertsn (KKR) who owns Munich-based German film distribution company Tele Munchen Group and had plans to merge TMG with Universum to create a German entertainment production company.[18][19]

At Bertelsmann, Mediengruppe RTL Deutschland established further partnerships with other divisions, such as for marketing (Ad Alliance)[20] and content production (Content Alliance).[21][22]

In 2021, it was announced that Gruner + Jahr and Mediengruppe RTL Deutschland intend to cooperate even more closely in the future.[23]

On 6 August 2021, RTL Deutschland announced their acquisition of Gruner + Jahr for €230 million euros (excluding without debt). They aimed to merge Gruner + Jahr (and its "G+J" brand) with RTL Deutschland by the end of 2021. The deal was completed on 1 January 2022 when Gruner + Jahr became a division of RTL Deutschland and was renamed RTL Publishing.

Businesses

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RTL Deutschland conceives, produces, and plays out tv content for various platforms. Its focus has traditionally been on broadcast television but its online platforms and those operated by third parties have become increasingly important.

Noteworthy entertainment channels are RTL and VOX, among others. Both continuously achieve high market shares in all target groups. The majority of their programming consists of self-developed formats and in-house productions, supplemented by international series and shows. News and documentaries play an important role at RTL Deutschland, too; NTV is one of Germany#s leading news channels. More than 700 employees work for the entire media group in journalistic functions at 11 German and 15 international locations.

Operations

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Mediengruppe RTL Deutschland GmbH operates as a limited liability company (Gesellschaft mit beschränkter Haftung). Its corporate purpose essentially extends to looking after the overarching interests of the individual companies, as well as all related activities.[24] The holding generates a large part of its revenues from advertising. In addition, there is revenue from licenses for content conceived and produced on behalf of third parties; subscriptions to offerings such as TV NOW account for another share.[1]

Notes and references

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  1. ^ a b "Annual Report 2020" (PDF). RTL Group. Retrieved 6 April 2021.
  2. ^ "Mediengruppe RTL Deutschland" (in German). Kommission zur Ermittlung der Konzentration im Medienbereich (KEK). Retrieved 17 March 2021.
  3. ^ Hein, David (7 November 2007). "RTL führt neue Dachmarke in Deutschland ein". Horizont. Retrieved 17 March 2021.
  4. ^ GmbH, DWDL de. "RTL bestätigt neuen Markenauftritt - und zeigt erstes Bewegtbild". DWDL.de.
  5. ^ GmbH, DWDL de. "Hofer, Hunde, Zuckerbäcker: RTL schüttelt sich". DWDL.de.
  6. ^ GmbH, DWDL de. "Rebranding am Montag: So sieht das neue RTL Deutschland aus". DWDL.de.
  7. ^ "RTL Deutschland". company.rtl.com.
  8. ^ "Bertelsmann und Pearson besiegeln Allianz". Die Welt (in German). 8 April 2000. p. 13.
  9. ^ Uhlig, Andreas (8 April 2000). "Gründung eines europäischen Fernsehgiganten – Kooperation von Bertelsmann und Pearson". Neue Zürcher Zeitung (in German). p. 25.
  10. ^ "Bertelsmann sichert sich die Vorherrschaft im TV-Geschäft". Handelsblatt (in German). 6 February 2001. p. 25.
  11. ^ "RTL mit umfassender Dachmarke". Der Tagesspiegel (in German). 8 November 2007. p. 43.
  12. ^ "Chronik" (in German). Mediengruppe RTL Deutschland. Retrieved 17 March 2021.
  13. ^ Frangenberg, Helmut (16 September 2009). "Millionenpoker um RTL-Umzug". Kölner Stadt-Anzeiger (in German).
  14. ^ "RTL zieht mit zwei Jahren Verspätung in sein neues Sendezentrum ein". Handelsblatt (in German). 15 December 2009. p. 24.
  15. ^ Windrath, Martina (28 May 2010). "RTL sendet am 5. Juni das erste Mal aus Deutz". Kölnische Rundschau (in German).
  16. ^ "RTL positioniert TV NOW als Streamingdienst". Rheinische Post (in German). 13 December 2018. p. 21.
  17. ^ Kolkmann, Thomas (6 July 2020). "TVNOW – Mediathek & Streaming-Dienst von RTL, VOX, ntv & Co" (in German). GIGA. Retrieved 17 March 2021.
  18. ^ Wiseman, Andreas (25 February 2019). "KKR Continues German Spree With Acquisition Of Key Film Distributor Universum". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved 21 December 2024.
  19. ^ Clarke, Stewart (25 February 2019). "KKR Buys Universum Film, Continues to Build German Business". Variety. Retrieved 21 December 2024.
  20. ^ Scharrer, Jürgen (21 May 2019). "Digitalvermarktung: Was hinter der Partnerschaft von Ad Alliance und Media Impact steckt". Horizont (in German). Retrieved 18 June 2019.
  21. ^ "RTL und Gruner + Jahr bündeln Vermarktung". Neue Westfälische (in German). 1 July 2016. p. 6.
  22. ^ Germis, Carsten (29 January 2019). "Bertelsmann bündelt sein Geschäft in Kreativ-Allianz". Faz.net (in German). Retrieved 17 March 2021.
  23. ^ Lipinski, Gregory (10 February 2021). "Stehen RTL und Gruner + Jahr vor Großfusion?". Meedia (in German). Retrieved 17 March 2021.
  24. ^ "Mediengruppe RTL Deutschland GmbH (AG Köln, HRB 62896)". Unternehmensregister (in German). Bundesanzeiger Verlag. Retrieved 17 March 2021.
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