Total revenue grew by 7.2% (compared to the first three months last year) to €1.5bn, including a 15.8% gain in digital revenue, to €220m.

Thomas Rabe, the company’s CEO, said in a press release on 16 May that:

“RTL Group registered 1.15 million paying subscribers for its video-on-demand platforms in Germany and the Netherlands – up 59 per cent year on year.”

TV advertising was down in all its key markets, except France.

The Kirchberg-based company (which is owned by the German media giant Bertelsmann) also operates media properties in Belgium and Luxembourg, and owns Fremantle, which produces TV shows including the “Got Talent”, “Idol” and “X Factor” franchises.

The company confirmed its forecast for the full year, stating on Thursday that:

“RTL Group expects its total revenue for the fiscal year 2019 to grow moderately (+2.5 per cent to +5.0 per cent) excluding foreign exchange rate effects, driven by the Group’s digital businesses and Fremantle.

“RTL Group expects its reported EBITA to decrease moderately (-2.5 per cent to -5.0 per cent), reflecting investments into the broadcasters’ TV schedules and VOD services.”