FREMANTLE HELPS RTL REVENUES REACH AN ALL-TIME HIGH AT €6.7BILLION

RTL posted its highest ever annual revenue of €6.65 billion ($7.44 billion) for 2019, its fifth consecutive year of hitting record revenues. The company reported an EBITDA of €1.16 billion ($1.3billion) and a 10% profit increase at €864 million, driven mainly by increasing sales from Fremantle. “Driven by the strong performances of our three largest business units, RTL Group achieved all financial goals in 2019,” RTL CEO Thomas Rabe said. 

RTL’s Digital revenues increased by 8.9% in 2019 at €1,073 million, which accounts for 16.1% of the group’s total income. Its streaming revenues from Germany's TV Now and Netherland's Videoland rose by 46.7% at €135 million. The number of viewing times between the two services increased by 31% and 45%, and the paying customer count was 1.44 million at the end of 2019, a 37% increase in one year. TV advertising claimed the highest share at 44.2%. RTL expects this year's revenue to grow by 2 to 3%.

According to RTL, Fremantle’s revenue rose 12% at €1.8 billion ($2 billion) last year and the producer’s EBITDA increased by 25% at €184M million ($205 million). Fremantle’s drama revenue grew 36% to €414M ($462M) and now serves as 23% of the producer’s total revenue. RTL’s earnings concluded that Fremantle’s growth was impacted by drama shows such as Starz’s "American Gods” and HBO’s "The New Pope.”