The acquisition combines RTL Deutschland and Sky Deutschland, along with Sky’s streaming service WOW, creating a stronger position in streaming, free TV, and pay TV.
With this merge, the media group hopes to better compete with global streaming giants by bringing together Sky’s premium sports rights – including Bundesliga, DFB-Pokal, Premier League, and Formula 1 – and RTL’s entertainment and news brands on RTL+, free TV, and pay TV. RTL+ and WOW are currently among the fastest-growing streaming offers in Germany.
The purchase price is €150 million in cash plus a variable component of up to €377 million, linked to RTL Group’s share price performance over the next five years.
If approved, RTL Group will fully acquire Sky’s operations in Germany, Austria, and Switzerland, including customer relationships in Luxembourg, Liechtenstein, and South Tyrol, on a cash and debt-free basis.
Both companies will keep their headquarters – RTL in Cologne and Sky in Munich – but will operate as one major media group.
