Cologne and Unterföhring – Job cuts at RTL are entering the next phase following the acquisition of Sky Deutschland. Around 500 full-time equivalent positions are set to be eliminated by the end of 2027, with the group planning to cut the majority of these roles as early as 2026. The move aims to eliminate redundant structures and reduce costs. RTL expects to achieve annual synergies of 250 million euros within three years. Since full-time equivalents can comprise multiple part-time staff members, significantly more than 500 employees could be affected; however, RTL intends to avoid compulsory redundancies as far as possible.
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Sky acquisition expected to generate €250 million in annual savings
RTL Group completed its acquisition of Sky Deutschland on June 1, 2026, following unconditional approval from the EU Commission. As a result, the group now brings together around 12.4 million paid subscriptions across the German-speaking region. Furthermore, RTL is now consolidating free-to-air TV, pay-TV, streaming services, and key sports rights under one roof.
However, the integration is not solely aimed at growth. RTL intends to reduce content and operating costs while eliminating redundant structures. Plans also call for a greater consolidation of responsibilities. According to the company, the job cuts at RTL will affect both major locations; RTL told DWDL that the reductions are expected to be distributed roughly equally between Cologne and Unterföhring.
Job cuts at RTL follow the elimination of 600 previous positions
For employees in Cologne, this new round of cost-cutting measures comes shortly after a significant reduction in staff. RTL had already cut around 600 jobs as part of its “Shift 2026” program. According to WDR, RTL News alone lost approximately 230 jobs. With these new plans, the total number of eliminated full-time positions—or full-time equivalents—rises to around 1,100.
At Sky, meanwhile, a major consolidation is beginning immediately following the change of ownership. RTL intends to leave some expiring contracts unrenewed and keep open positions vacant. The company is also negotiating further measures with works councils. Consequently, the trade union Ver.di anticipates that more than 500 individual employees will ultimately be affected.
Traditional TV advertising revenue continues to decline
The job cuts at RTL coincide with a fundamental shift in the media business. In the first half of 2026, group revenue rose by 3.9 percent to 2.89 billion euros. However, RTL achieved organic growth of only 0.1 percent. At the same time, revenue from traditional TV advertising fell by 4.0 percent, whereas digital advertising revenue increased by 10.9 percent.
The streaming business is growing much faster; streaming revenues rose by 27.2 percent in the first half of the year. Additionally, the number of paying subscribers for RTL+ and M6+ climbed by 20.7 percent to 8.7 million. Nevertheless, RTL is simultaneously pursuing rigorous cost-cutting measures. Following the acquisition of Sky, the company plans to integrate programming, technology, and organizational structures more closely.
However, trade unions are criticizing the impact on employment and journalistic structures. Ver.di points to the jobs previously cut and expects more than 500 employees to be directly affected. The German Journalists’ Association (DJV) has also warned of a potential loss of journalistic expertise. RTL, however, remains committed to the goal of carrying out the workforce reduction in a socially responsible manner. Nevertheless, for Cologne and Unterföhring, the merger entails a further significant reduction in staff numbers.
Author: Blackout News
Sources: dwdl (18.09.26) – taz (18.09.26) – EXPRESS (17.09.26)