Alternative LogoFormer logo until 13 September 2021
RTL Deutschland (formerly known as 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 June 14, 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 would get new logos and a new design.[4][5][6][7]
History
In 2000, Bertelsmann and Pearson had announced that they would be able to merge their television and radio stations and production companies.[8] This had 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 back in the 1990s.[10]
In 2007, television and content businesses in Germany had been 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, NTV, and other programs moved into a joint broadcasting center in Cologne-Deutz, in order to achieve synergy effects not only organizationally but also through physical proximity.[13][14][15] One example of successful cooperation between the companies of Mediengruppe RTL Deutschland is the streaming platform TV NOW.[16] Initially launched by RTL, other channels were successively added to the service.[17]
At Bertelsmann, Mediengruppe RTL Deutschland had established further partnerships with other divisions, such as for marketing (Ad Alliance)[18] and content production (Content Alliance).[19][20]
In 2021, it was announced that Gruner + Jahr and Mediengruppe RTL Deutschland intend to cooperate even more closely in the future.[21]
Businesses
Mediengruppe RTL Deutschland had positioned itself as a motion picture provider that conceives, produces, and plays out content independently of specific platforms. Its focus had traditionally been on traditional television; simultaneously, 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 had played an important role at Mediengruppe RTL Deutschland, too; NTV is one of the leading news channels in Germany. Over 700 employees work for the entire media group in journalistic functions at 11 German and 15 international locations.
Operations
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.[22] 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]
^"Bertelsmann und Pearson besiegeln Allianz". Die Welt (in German). 8 April 2000. p. 13.
^Uhlig, Andreas (8 April 2000). "Gründung eines europäischen Fernsehgiganten – Kooperation von Bertelsmann und Pearson". Neue Zürcher Zeitung (in German). p. 25.
^"Bertelsmann sichert sich die Vorherrschaft im TV-Geschäft". Handelsblatt (in German). 6 February 2001. p. 25.
^"RTL mit umfassender Dachmarke". Der Tagesspiegel (in German). 8 November 2007. p. 43.
^"Chronik" (in German). Mediengruppe RTL Deutschland. Retrieved 17 March 2021.
^Frangenberg, Helmut (16 September 2009). "Millionenpoker um RTL-Umzug". Kölner Stadt-Anzeiger (in German).
^"RTL zieht mit zwei Jahren Verspätung in sein neues Sendezentrum ein". Handelsblatt (in German). 15 December 2009. p. 24.
^Windrath, Martina (28 May 2010). "RTL sendet am 5. Juni das erste Mal aus Deutz". Kölnische Rundschau (in German).
^"RTL positioniert TV NOW als Streamingdienst". Rheinische Post (in German). 13 December 2018. p. 21.
^ abjoint venture with Amperwelle Studio München Programmanbietergesellschaft, Axel Springer AG, Burda, Studio Gong, m.b.t. Mediengesellschaft der bayerischen Tageszeitungen für Kabelkommunikation, Medienpool and Radio Bavaria Rundfunkprogrammgesellschaft.
^joint venture with Verlagsgesellschaft Madsack, Studio Gong Niedersachsen and Brune-Rieck-Beteiligungs.
^joint venture with Axel Springer, Heinrich Bauer Verlag, Lühmanndruck Harburger Zeitungsgesellschaft and Morgenpost Verlag.
^ abjoint venture with Amperwelle Studio München Programmanbietergesellschaft, Axel Springer AG, Burda, Studio Gong, m.b.t. Mediengesellschaft der bayerischen Tageszeitungen für Kabelkommunikation, Medienpool and Radio Bavaria Rundfunkprogrammgesellschaft.
^joint venture with Verlagsgesellschaft Madsack, Studio Gong Niedersachsen and Brune-Rieck-Beteiligungs.
^joint venture with Axel Springer, Heinrich Bauer Verlag, Lühmanndruck Harburger Zeitungsgesellschaft and Morgenpost Verlag.
€2,127 million[1] (2020)
