RTL Group S.A.

Overview

RTL Group S.A. is a Luxembourg-based international media company with a corporate office in Cologne, Germany. It operates dozens of television channels and radio stations in Germany, France, and other European countries, along with national streaming platforms and content production through its Fremantle division.

Portfolio

• RTL Deutschland operates RTL and other German television channels.
• Groupe M6 operates television channels in France.
• Fremantle is a global content production and distribution company.
• RTL Group's streaming services include RTL+ in Germany and Hungary and M6+ in France, with more than 8 million paying subscribers combined.

Ownership

Bertelsmann, a German conglomerate based in Gütersloh, owns approximately 75 percent of RTL Group's shares. RTL Group is one of Bertelsmann's eight operating divisions and accounts for roughly one-third of Bertelsmann's revenue. RTL Group was established in its present form in 2000 through a combination of Bertelsmann, Groupe Bruxelles Lambert, and Pearson plc holdings; Bertelsmann became majority owner in 2001 and has since increased its stake.

History

RTL Group's roots trace to 1931, when Compagnie Luxembourgeoise de Radiodiffusion (CLR) was founded as one of the world's first private broadcasting companies. Bertelsmann merged its UFA television business with CLT to form CLT-UFA in 1997, and RTL Group was created in its current form in 2000. In June 2025, RTL Group announced the acquisition of Sky Deutschland for €150 million; the European Commission approved the deal without conditions in April 2026.

Leadership

• Clément Schwebig became chief executive officer of RTL Group in May 2026, succeeding Thomas Rabe.
• Björn Bauer is chief financial officer.

Location and contact info

Address
Luxembourg City, Luxembourg
Website
https://www.rtlgroup.com