RTL Group announced a major restructuring initiative confirming plans to cut up to 600 jobs at its German division, RTL Deutschland, as the broadcaster shifts focus from traditional television to digital and streaming. The layoffs, representing approximately 20% of RTL Deutschland’s workforce, are part of a broader strategy to streamline operations and accelerate digital transformation amid worsening linear TV advertising markets.
According to reports from Reuters, the move comes as RTL faces structural changes in viewer behavior and advertising spend, both of which have eroded the profitability of legacy television. RTL Group CEO Thomas Rabe said the decision was driven by “a significant deterioration in the TV advertising markets in 2023,” adding that the group had “no choice but to adapt” by reducing costs and focusing on growth in streaming.
The restructuring follows a period of ongoing losses at RTL Deutschland. The company reported an EBITA loss of €24 million in the first half of 2023, while RTL Group as a whole downgraded its full-year outlook, citing weak advertising trends in core markets like Germany and France. In response, RTL has sharpened its focus on its streaming platform RTL+ and committed to achieving profitability in streaming by 2026.
Under the new strategy, RTL will consolidate linear and digital content teams, streamline marketing operations, and implement a unified editorial approach across TV and digital. The company has indicated that there will be increased collaboration between RTL Deutschland and RTL Group’s digital units, with more efficient workflows and content monetization across platforms.
As part of the transformation, RTL Group also reaffirmed its strategic priority of building national streaming champions in core markets. RTL+ in Germany and Hungary’s RTL+ (formerly RTL Most) will continue to receive investment, while the company expands cross-platform advertising solutions and AI-driven content recommendations.
The decision reflects a growing trend across Europe’s media landscape, where traditional broadcasters are under pressure to evolve amid stiff competition from global streamers. RTL’s swift workforce reduction and pivot to streaming signal its intent to remain a key player in the evolving digital entertainment space.