RTL takeover of Sky Deutschland will lead to significant job cuts, sources say (updated)

Bertelsmann SE & Co KGaA

23/04/2026 14:14

Adds more earlier comments from CEO, European Commission approval, context on the takeover

By Klaus Lauer

BERLIN, April 23 (Reuters) - European broadcaster RTL's AUDK.LU takeover of pay-TV firm Sky Deutschland is expected to lead to significant job cuts, with a three-digit number of positions likely to be affected, according to two sources familiar with the matter.

RTL plans to eliminate overlapping functions after the acquisition, the sources said, citing duplication in areas such as human resources, marketing or administration between RTL’s headquarters in Cologne and Sky Deutschland's base in Munich.

RTL and Sky declined to comment.

RTL CEO Thomas Rabe told Reuters on Wednesday that jobs would be cut but gave no details. "We will be very fair," he said.

The European Commission late on Wednesday approved RTL’s takeover of Sky Deutschland without conditions, despite earlier concessions offered by RTL in the advertising market.

The EU antitrust authority said the deal would not significantly reduce competition in television advertising, the acquisition of sports and entertainment rights or streaming services.

"This is a big day for us and for the media market in Europe as a whole," Rabe had told Reuters, adding that the deal, announced in June 2025, is expected to close on July 1.

The merger aims to combine sports and entertainment offerings to better compete with U.S. streaming groups such as Netflix NFLX.O, Disney DIS.N and Amazon Prime AMZN.O. RTL would gain access to Sky’s sports rights, including Germany’s Bundesliga, the English Premier League and Formula 1, while Sky's streaming service WOW will transfer to RTL.

The deal is expected to generate 250 million euros ($292 million) in annual synergies within three years, mainly through cost savings.

RTL Deutschland last year announced plans to cut around 600 full-time jobs as it shifts its focus towards streaming. Sky Deutschland employs about 2,000 staff, mainly in Munich.

RTL, majority owned by Bertelsmann BTGGg.F, operates commercial TV networks in Germany and France, and accounts for around a third of the German conglomerate's revenue.

($1 = 0.8561 euros)

 (Reporting by Klaus Lauer and Cian Muenster. Editing by Matthias Williams and Mark Potter)

 ((Cian.Muenster@thomsonreuters.com;))