Revenues at Bertelsmann’s Luxembourg-based RTL Group, a media big which owns Fremantle, dipped 5.2% to €6.2 billion ($6.7 billion) for the monetary yr 2023.
The firm attributed this to decrease TV promoting income and decrease Fremantle income. The firm’s EBITA (earnings earlier than curiosity, taxes and amortization) slid to €782 million, down from €922 million in 2022.
Fremantle, RTL’s content material arm, had a powerful yr from an awards perspective, with its Element Pictures producing Golden Globe, BAFTA and Oscar winner “Poor Things.” However, income fell from €2.3 billion to €2.2 billion and EBITA from €162 million to €139 million. RTL is concentrating on full-year income of €3 billion for Fremantle by 2025/2026.
There was excellent news on different fronts. RTL Group’s household of TV channels in Germany elevated its lead over most important business competitor ProSiebenSat1 to five.8 share factors, the best lead within the final 10 years, the corporate mentioned. Paying subscribers for RTL Group’s streaming companies in Germany, Hungary and France have been up 30.5% to five.6 million and streaming income up 72.6% to €283 million. Distribution income was steady at €331 million (2022: €332 million).
The firm additionally mentioned that following the envisaged disposal of the Dutch streaming service Videoland and the investments in M6+ in France, it has up to date the targets for its streaming companies RTL+ in Germany, M6+ in France and RTL+ in Hungary. By 2026, RTL goals to succeed in some 9 million paying subscribers and €750 million of streaming income. The group plans to extend its content material spend to €500 million and to change into worthwhile by 2026.
Thomas Rabe, CEO of RTL Group, mentioned: “In 2023, we demonstrated the resilience of our businesses in a particularly challenging environment. As announced, we invested through the cycle. We grew our streaming services, extended our market leadership positions, in particular in Germany, and released globally acclaimed content. The second half of 2023 was one of the most profitable half-years in the history of RTL Group despite weak advertising markets and significant investments, enabling us to pay an attractive dividend. Our shareholders will also benefit in 2025 from the value crystallised by the expected sale of RTL Nederland for €1.1 billion. Our strategic framework remains unchanged. It will continue to guide us in 2024: to strengthen our core businesses, to grow our streaming and content businesses, and to build alliances and partnerships.”