RTL grabs Sky Deutschland for 150 million euros – what now?

RTL grabs Sky Deutschland for 150 million euros – what now?

What's brewing in the media landscape sounds like a huge success. RTL Deutschland has officially announced that it will take over Sky Deutschland for 150 million euros. This deal was announced on Friday, June 27, 2025 and could have far-reaching effects on the German streaming market. CEO Stephan Schmitter described the purchase as a “unique opportunity” to create a leading platform for streaming and TV. The takeover is currently being examined more closely by the antitrust authorities in order to examine the competitive conditions. And that is necessary because RTL Group is planning serious financial steps as part of the deal.

In addition to the fixed payment of 150 million euros, RTL even has the option of adding up to 377 million euros if the RTL Group's share value rises to 70 euros. The price is currently around 31.70 euros. Approval from the competition authorities is also pending because the Bertelsmann Group, which holds 75 percent of RTL, exceeds the sales threshold of 5 billion euros. An exciting preliminary banter for RTL, which aims to properly polish up the streaming area.

Streaming potential and market shares

If everything is approved, companies like RTL, RTL+, Sky and the streaming service WOW could soon operate under a common roof. In total, the new company would then have around 11.5 million paying subscribers in the streaming area. RTL expects not only a “streaming boost” from the takeover, but also annual synergy effects of an estimated 250 million euros within three years. An interesting business model that could significantly increase the competitive pressure on providers like ProSiebenSat.1 Media.

The talk of the takeover didn't happen without reason; RTL was previously confronted with competition concerns regarding its collaboration with ProSiebenSat.1 Media. All the more exciting that RTL has now found a strong partner in Sky whose potential they intend to leverage.

Need for regulation in the streaming sector

ComputerBase reports, the first steps were taken to combat allegations of manipulation. The EU Parliament's Culture Committee has discussed proposals to improve remuneration standards for artists and the handling of streaming platforms. In doing so, the EU wants to show responsibility and protect diversity and the rights of artists.

In the future, streaming platforms should disclose their algorithms and recommendation tools to ensure transparent handling. This initiative could have a lasting impact on the industry and particularly benefit smaller artists who have often been neglected so far.

A storm is moving through the media and streaming landscape, and it remains exciting to see how things will develop. Whether RTL can actually finalize the purchase and what impact this will have on the entire industry will become clear in the coming months.