Finance

Broadcasting group RTL reports lower Q1 revenue

Published by Global Banking & Finance Review

Posted on May 15, 2025

1 min read

· Last updated: January 23, 2026

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RTL Group Reports 2% Revenue Decline in First Quarter 2025

(Reuters) -European broadcaster RTL Group reported declining revenue for the first quarter of 2025 on Thursday, as it generated less from content production unit Fremantle and TV advertising.

The company, majority-owned by German media group Bertelsmann, said its quarterly revenue fell 2% year-on-year to 1.29 billion euros ($1.44 billion).

RTL confirmed its outlook for 2025, seeing revenue of around 6.45 billion euros and adjusted earnings before interest, taxes and amortization (EBITA) of around 780 million euros.

"If advertising revenue fell short of expectations, we would reduce costs accordingly," CEO Thomas Rabe said in a statement.

The company, which targets an operating profit of 1 billion euros within two to three years, reported a 29.1% spike in streaming revenue in the first quarter thanks to a higher number of paying subscribers.

It also confirmed its medium term target for Fremantle to reach an adjusted EBITA margin of 9% by 2026.

($1 = 0.8932 euros)

(Reporting by Klaus Lauer, writing by Tristan Veyet, editing by Milla Nissi-Prussak)

Key Takeaways

  • RTL Group's Q1 revenue fell 2% year-on-year.
  • Fremantle and TV advertising revenues declined.
  • Streaming revenue increased by 29.1%.
  • RTL maintains 2025 revenue outlook at 6.45 billion euros.
  • Target for operating profit is 1 billion euros in 2-3 years.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the main topic?
The main topic is RTL Group's financial performance in Q1 2025, highlighting a 2% revenue decline.
What caused the revenue decline?
The decline was due to reduced income from Fremantle and TV advertising.
How did streaming revenue perform?
Streaming revenue saw a significant increase of 29.1% in Q1 2025.

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