Austrian broadcaster ServusTV will shut down its linear TV channel in Germany at the end of the year.
“Servus TV will set its focus in Germany on digital distribution via the video platform ServusTV On from 2024 onwards,” a spokesperson confirmed to German industry magazine DWDL. “In future, ServusTV will focus more strongly on its home market, where the programming of Austria’s largest commercial broadcaster will continue to be distributed linear and digital.”
Despite attractive sports rights, documentaries and originals, the channel operated by Red Bull Media House was never able to really gain a foothold in Germany, unlike in Austria. Most recently, ServusTV’s average viewer market share in Germany amounted to 0.45% (viewers aged 14 and over).
After the death of Red Bull founder and billionaire Dietrich Mateschitz last year, there was speculation as to how long the energy drink and sports lifestyle group would be able to afford its costly adventure ServusTV Deutschland.
