.png)
As the global TV landscape continues to shift, European broadcasters are scrambling to adapt to a new reality dominated by streaming giants like Netflix and YouTube. In a bid to stay relevant, traditional TV companies are merging and consolidating at an unprecedented rate. The latest example of this trend is RTL Group, Europe's largest television company, which has just released first-half 2026 figures showing a significant pivot to streaming.
Background & Context
For years, European TV companies have been struggling to cope with declining traditional advertising revenues and fierce competition from online streaming platforms. In response, they have been turning to digital ad and streaming subscription models to stay afloat. This shift has led to a wave of consolidation, with major players like ITV and ProSiebenSat.1 changing hands in recent months.
RTL Group, which owns production giant Fremantle and is itself a subsidiary of German media conglomerate Bertelsmann, is no exception. The company has been investing heavily in its streaming platforms, including RTL+ in Germany and M6+ in France. These moves are part of a broader strategy to build scale and compete with the global streaming giants.
Key Details
According to RTL Group CEO Clement Schwebig, the company's streaming businesses are now a major driver of profitability. "The transformation is already far advanced," he says. "Streaming is no longer an investment story for RTL Group, it is a profitability story." The company's first-half 2026 figures show a 27.2% increase in revenue growth in the streaming division, up to $345 million (€299 million).
Schwebig outlined RTL's strategy for survival in a transforming TV business, emphasizing the need for a hybrid model that combines free TV, pay TV, and streaming. "The future is not linear versus streaming," he says. "The future is exclusive, local content distributed across every platform where our audiences want to spend their time." This approach allows RTL to reach its audiences on multiple platforms, from traditional TV to streaming services like Netflix and Amazon Prime.
What Experts Say
The shift to streaming is a crucial turning point for European TV companies, says media analyst David Waterman. "RTL's pivot to streaming is a key example of the industry's broader trend towards digitalization," he says. "To stay competitive, European broadcasters need to build scale and adapt to changing viewer habits." Waterman notes that while the shift to streaming is a major challenge for traditional TV companies, it also presents opportunities for innovation and growth.
Key Takeaways
- European TV companies are merging and consolidating at an unprecedented rate in a bid to stay relevant in a streaming-dominated market.
- RTL Group's first-half 2026 figures show a significant pivot to streaming, with a 27.2% increase in revenue growth in the streaming division.
- The company's CEO, Clement Schwebig, emphasizes the need for a hybrid model that combines free TV, pay TV, and streaming to reach audiences on multiple platforms.
- RTL's strategy is part of a broader trend towards digitalization in the TV industry, driven by changing viewer habits and the rise of streaming giants like Netflix and YouTube.
What This Means For You
The shift to streaming has significant implications for everyday viewers. As traditional TV companies adapt to a new reality, they will need to invest in digital platforms and create content that resonates with online audiences. This means more original programming, more interactive content, and more opportunities for viewer engagement.
For viewers, this means a more diverse and dynamic TV landscape, with a wider range of choices and a greater emphasis on local content. As the industry continues to evolve, it's clear that the future of TV is hybrid – and it's up to viewers to decide which platforms and services will thrive in this new landscape.
English (US) ·