The European broadcasting giant is now aiming to generate higher revenues in 2021, thanks in particular to a rebound in advertising and streaming revenues. (Photo: Romain Gamba/Maison Moderne)

The European broadcasting giant is now aiming to generate higher revenues in 2021, thanks in particular to a rebound in advertising and streaming revenues. (Photo: Romain Gamba/Maison Moderne)

RTL Group generated a profit of €929m in the first half of the year, a record for the audiovisual giant, which has raised its forecasts in response to the nearly sixfold increase in half-year profits compared to 2020.

The company's revenue rose 13.7% to €3bn, with adjusted pre-tax profit (Earnings before interest, taxes, and amortisation – EBITA) of €483m, up 87% year-on-year.

"Adjusted Ebita and group profit grew strongly, driven by the recovery of the TV advertising markets and growth in our content production and streaming," said , CEO of the Luxembourg and Cologne-based multinational, in a statement.

The drivers of advertising and streaming

Revenue generated by television advertising rose by 65% in the second quarter. Over the whole of the first half of the year, the number of paying subscribers to the group's streaming services exceeded 3m (+72%).

The first half of the year was also marked by major consolidation measures in the group's key markets, such as Germany and the Netherlands, but also in France--where the sale of M6 to TF1 was launched--and Belgium--where its subsidiary was sold to two press groups.

In this context, RTL Group has raised its revenue outlook to €6.5bn for the current financial year, €300m more than previously anticipated (the same for its adjusted Ebita moving from €975m to  €1.05bn).

The company is also counting on its international content business, Fremantle, which has had a new international factual content division since last May to boost its activity. Its parent company is aiming to achieve a turnover of €3bn by 2025.

The time has come to reposition our RTL brand with a new identity and a clear set of principles.

Thomas Rabe, CEO, RTL Group

"The time has come to reposition our RTL brand with a new identity and a clear set of principles," said the CEO, who cited positive leisure time and independent journalism in a press release. He also announced an "international redeployment of the brand in 2022", guided in particular by the rebranding of TV Now as RTL+ on the German side.

RTL Group employs 590 people in Luxembourg, according to Statec.

This article in French on Paperjam and has been translated and edited for Delano.