RTL Deutschland is to acquire Gruner + Jahr’s German publishing business in a €230 million agreement.
The new business will include popular titles including as Stern, Brigitte, Geo, Capital, Schöner Wohnen, Eltern and Art.
A joint editorial team with more than 1,500 journalists will now work together on new projects including high-end documentary series for families from Geo and the new TV format Stern Investigativ.
In a press conference on Friday RTL CEO Thomas Rabe said the agreement would create a “cross-media champion”. It follows a series of deals across Germany, France, the Netherlands and Belgium including the merger of TF1 and M6 into a single media outlet.
Rabe hinted that a merger with ProSiebenSat.1 could be within the company’s sights, though he said the current round of consolidation would need to be completed first.
In RTL Group’s first half results, paying subscribers for RTL Group’s streaming services in Germany and the Netherlands increased by 72 per cent to more than 3 million.
Group revenue increased by 35.8 per cent to €1,610 million, TV advertising revenue up 65.0 per cent, following increases in France, the Netherlands. Hungary and Croatia.
