RTL Group has reported exceptional progress in its streaming sector, surpassing seven million paying subscribers during the first quarter of 2025. This represents an impressive 18.5% year-on-year growth, totaling 7.1 million subscribers across its platforms in Germany, France, and Hungary. This subscriber surge fueled a remarkable 29.1% increase in streaming revenue, reaching €111 million for the quarter.
This significant growth in the streaming sector effectively counterbalanced the 4% decline in traditional TV advertising revenue, which amounted to €507 million. In contrast, digital advertising revenue experienced a substantial 28.8% increase, totaling €103 million. The group's overall advertising revenue remained stable at €685 million.
The group's total revenue for the quarter reached €1.292 billion, a minor decrease compared to the €1.318 billion recorded during the same period in the previous year. This slight dip is mainly attributed to lower content revenue from production subsidiary Fremantle and the reduced income from TV advertising. “RTL Group had a solid start into 2025. Paying streaming subscribers were up 18%, exceeding the seven million mark. Streaming and digital advertising revenue each grew by 29%, offsetting lower TV advertising revenue. We are firmly on track for streaming profitability in 2026,” stated CEO Thomas Rabe.
Aligned with its strategic goals, RTL Group projects its full-year 2025 adjusted EBITA to increase to approximately €780 million. This projection is driven by the ongoing expansion in streaming and digital advertising revenues. Furthermore, the company anticipates securing regulatory approvals for the sale of RTL Nederland to DPG Media in the second quarter of 2025, further reinforcing its concentration on core markets and digital transformation.