RTL Group expects streaming unit to turn profit in 2026

By Cian Muenster and Emanuele Berro

March 12 (Reuters) - European broadcaster RTL Group RRTL.DE expects its streaming business to be profitable in 2026, it said on Thursday, as the company aims to reduce losses incurred through aggressive expansion.

The VOX broadcaster expects streaming business operating profit to be between 25 million euros ($28.87 million) and 50 million euros in 2026, after almost hitting break-even in the fourth quarter of 2025.

The firm expects total full-year profit of around 725 million euros, despite economic weakness in Germany and other European economies. It reported an 8% year-on-year decline in 2025 adjusted operating profit of 661 million euros, beating a company-provided consensus estimate of 652 million euros.

RTL is expected to complete the acquisition of Sky Deutschland this year, taking it to the third spot in Germany's streaming market, significantly ahead of Disney's DIS.N service, but behind Netflix NFLX.O and Amazon.com's AMZN.O Prime Video.

“We have been living with economic weakness in Germany for years, and it hasn’t stopped us from expanding our streaming business. That’s why we’re very confident we will reach our streaming targets this year," RTL CEO Thomas Rabe said in a media call.

RTL is proposing a dividend of 5.50 euros per share, buoyed by its sale of RTL Nederland in July.

($1 = 0.8660 euros)