The joint venture brings together two of the country’s largest independent television production groups. Banijay, through subsidiaries including EndemolShine Germany and Brainpool TV, produces formats such as Who Wants to Be a Millionaire?, TV total, The Masked Singer, Die Höhle der Löwen and Big Brother. All3Media, owned by RedBird Capital Partners, operates production companies including Filmpool Entertainment, whose credits include Berlin – Tag & Nacht, Judge Barbara Salesch, The Traitors, Undercover Boss and Auf Streife.

“In Germany, the joint venture will be the largest producer of general TV content for third parties by volume and will be particularly strongly positioned in shows and reality formats,” said Andreas Mundt, President of the Federal Cartel Office. “However, it will face only a small number of large broadcasting groups as customers, namely RTL, ProSiebenSat.1, ARD and ZDF, all of which are also capable of producing content through their own subsidiaries.”

The regulator found that the two companies have largely complementary strengths. While Banijay has a strong presence in prime-time programming, All3Media is more active in access prime-time and daytime productions.

The authority also noted that Germany’s leading broadcasters maintain substantial in-house production capabilities. Examples include ProSiebenSat.1’s production of Germany’s Next Topmodel and The Taste, and RTL’s production of Deutschland sucht den Superstar and Bauer sucht Frau. ARD and ZDF likewise produce a significant proportion of their content internally.

Independent competitors remain active in the market, including ITV Studios with I’m a Celebrity… Get Me Out of Here! and The Voice of Germany, Seapoint Productions with Let’s Dance, Warner Bros. ITVP Germany with The Bachelor, Leonine Studios with Klein gegen Groß and Constantin Entertainment with Shopping Queen.

The Federal Cartel Office approved the transaction during its initial review phase, based on findings from previous investigations into the television production sector, current market data and consultations with industry participants. According to the authority, the merger is not expected to result in a substantial restriction of competition.

The transaction has also been reviewed and approved in Austria and has been notified or filed in several other jurisdictions.

The deal is designed to accelerate the brand’s expansion into the mass market and is paired with the arrival of national football goalkeeper Manuel Neuer, who becomes both brand ambassador and strategic partner.

happybrush, founded in 2016, has built a portfolio ranging from electric toothbrushes for adults and children to toothpaste, floss, mouthwash and interdental products. The company has sold 25 million products and works with more than 40 retail partners, including dm, Rossmann and Müller.

The SevenVentures investment secures long‑term visibility across ProSiebenSat.1’s linear TV channels and digital platforms. A cross‑media campaign will run on TV, online, social media and at the point of sale, with Neuer fronting the campaign and contributing to product and brand development.

“As a professional athlete, I value health, quality and consistent daily routines highly. Oral health also plays an important role in this. happybrush combines effective technology, modern design and sustainability in a way that won me over straight away – as did the numerous awards the products have received. I am very much looking forward to playing an active part in shaping the brand’s future development and new products,” said Neuer.

Co‑founder Stefan Walter highlighted the dual role Neuer will play: “What we particularly value is that Manuel Neuer is not only involved as a brand ambassador, but also plays a strategic role in shaping happybrush. And together with SevenVentures as a strong media partner, we are generating the media reach needed to take the company to the next level.“

SevenVentures CEO Florian Hirschberger added: “With ProSiebenSat.1’s huge reach, we want to help happybrush further boost the company’s brand awareness across a broad market. In Manuel Neuer, happybrush has secured an exceptionally strong brand ambassador. We are thrilled about this partnership and look forward to our joint campaign.“

The transaction, which was first announced in June 2025, was unconditionally approved by the European Commission on 22 April 2026.

The move brings together two of the most recognisable media brands in German-speaking Europe, creating a business with around 12.3 million paying subscribers under the RTL, RTL+, Sky and WOW brands. The transaction is expected to generate €250 million in annual synergies within three years after closing, mostly cost synergies across all categories.

According to RTL Group, the acquisition of Sky Deutschland underscores the media company’s strategic focus on in-country combinations in Europe to strengthen local media players and enhance their ability to compete with global streaming platforms.

RTL Group will provide an updated outlook for the full year 2026, including the full consolidation of Sky Deutschland for the period June to December 2026, upon the presentation of the group’s half-year results on 11 August 2026.

At closing, RTL Group has fully acquired Sky’s businesses in Germany, Austria and Switzerland, including customer relationships in Luxembourg, Liechtenstein and South Tyrol on a cash-free and debt-free basis.

At closing, the upfront cash consideration paid to Comcast, Sky’s parent company, amounted to €68 million, reflecting customary net working capital and debt-like item adjustments compared with the previously communicated €150 million, consistent with the cash-free and debt-free basis of the transaction. The final cash consideration remains subject to customary post-closing adjustments.

In addition, the transaction includes a variable consideration linked to RTL Group’s share price performance, as previously communicated. The variable consideration can be triggered by Comcast at any time within five years after closing, provided that RTL Group’s share price exceeds €36.26 (reflecting the originally communicated threshold of €41.00 adjusted for the dividend paid in May 2026 related to the sale of RTL Nederland, amounting to €4.74). The variable consideration remains capped at €377 million in total. RTL Group has the right to settle the variable consideration in RTL Group shares, cash, or a combination of both.

Industry observers view the acquisition positively, as RTL Group gains greater scale and stronger market positioning in its competition with global streaming giants such as Netflix, Disney+ and Amazon Prime Video. The combined company now has a broader portfolio spanning free-TV, pay-TV and streaming services, alongside premium sports rights.

Key challenges will include integrating the businesses, positioning premium content such as Bundesliga and Formula 1 live coverage across free-TV and subscription platforms, driving subscriber growth through cross-selling and upselling, and developing a long-term brand strategy, with many observers expecting that not all four consumer brands, RTL, RTL+, Sky and WOW, will remain in their current form.

With the acquisition now officially closed, the real work begins.

Cable TV revenue-generating units (RGUs) fell to around 1.01 million in the quarter, compared with 1.08 million a year earlier. According to the company, the development was partly influenced by the disposal of a non-strategic foreign signal footprint and a data-driven booking effect related to the fourth quarter of 2025.

Overall quarterly revenue nevertheless increased slightly by 0.6% year-on-year to €105.5 million as gains in broadband and telephony offset weakness in the TV business. Revenue from internet and telephony services rose 6.5% to €61.2 million, while internet RGUs increased 5.3% to around 746,000.

“We have made a good start to the year 2026. Our internet and telephony business continues to grow and remains the key driver of our development,” said Christoph Lüthe, CEO of Tele Columbus. “With the wholesale cooperation with 1&1 agreed in early May 2026, we are unlocking additional growth potential for our network. Over the remainder of the year, we will focus on sustaining this growth in our core business and on advancing our fibre roll-out in a targeted manner.”

The agreement with 1&1 is intended to open Tele Columbus’ fibre infrastructure to approximately 1.2 million additional households over time.

Tele Columbus reported preliminary EBITDA of €43.2 million for the first quarter, up 33% from €32.5 million in the prior-year period. Normalised EBITDA increased 13% to €44.2 million. The Berlin-based company attributed the earnings improvement to transformation and efficiency measures as well as lower personnel, marketing and direct costs.

Capital expenditure excluding leasing declined 49.8% year-on-year to €18 million as Tele Columbus continued a more selective investment approach focused on fibre expansion and network modernisation.

“The earnings development in the first quarter shows that our transformation and efficiency initiatives are taking effect,” said Tim Rhönisch, CFO of Tele Columbus. “We have noticeably improved our profitability and are at the same time investing in a more targeted manner – with a clear focus on fibre and network modernisation. We will maintain this course over the remainder of the year, combined with strict cost discipline and a targeted capital allocation.”

The bill, approved by the federal cabinet on 27 May 2026, has drawn cautious support from parts of the production sector, while the digital industry has voiced strong objections.

According to the office of Minister of State for Culture Wolfram Weimer, media providers will in future be obliged to invest at least 8% of their yearly revenue in the German film sector. The draft also includes sub‑quotas for German‑language works, independent producers, new productions and rules on fair rights allocation.

With the cabinet decision, the federal government’s doubled film‑funding budget of €250 million per year is now available. Combined with jury‑based cultural funding and contributions from the Filmförderungsanstalt (FFA), the federal level will provide more than €300 million annually, supplemented by state‑level funding schemes.

The bill, formally titled the Media Services Investment Obligation Act, also creates incentives for voluntary commitments beyond the basic quota. Providers investing at least 12% of their turnover would be allowed to deviate from certain detailed requirements. The aim, the ministry said, is to secure “significant commissions for the German film industry without disproportionately interfering with the business models of streamers and broadcasters”.

Finance Minister Lars Klingbeil said the reform was designed to strengthen European production: “Our goal is to bring more commissions to Germany and Europe. We want European content to be streamed, and we are supporting the work of independent producers.”

Weimer described the package as a “film booster” that would elevate Germany’s competitiveness as a production hub. He rejected allegations that the bill targeted US platforms: “It is not a ‘Netflix law’.” Domestic groups such as RTL Deutschland, ProSiebenSat.1 and the public broadcasters would also be subject to the rules. Providers failing to meet the quota would face compensatory payments collected by the FFA.

The Production Alliance, together with AG Dok, the German Film Academy and PROG Producers of Germany, welcomed the intention to strengthen investment in European works and improve competitiveness. They praised the planned support for independent producers and rights retention. However, they argued that the current draft “would not yet achieve the desired effect”.

They criticised the 8% quota as too low by European standards, noting that even the 12% opt‑out threshold remained below the average in comparable markets. For the most important European sales territory for international streaming platforms, this was an “astonishingly unambitious signal”.

Digital association Bitkom reiterated its opposition: “Instead of creating reliable incentives for high‑quality productions, the law in its current form would introduce rigid rules, additional bureaucracy and one‑sided burdens for video and streaming services,” criticised Bitkom Managing Director Bernhard Rohleder.

Sub‑quotas for new productions would interfere with editorial and business decisions, he argued, leading to content being shaped “not only by quality and audience interest, but also by regulatory requirements”. Germany needed “stronger stories, more creative excellence and better framework conditions, not more compulsion and fragmentation”.

Insolvency proceedings against Channel21 GmbH were opened on 27 May 2026, following the preliminary insolvency proceedings initiated on 23 March 2026, according to the company, adding that operations will be discontinued on 31 May after efforts to secure a long-term solution for the business failed.

“Despite intensive efforts to secure business operations in the long term and create economic prospects, no viable continuation solution could be realised within the available time,” Channel21 said in a statement.

The closure marks the end of a restructuring process launched earlier this year. In March, Channel21 confirmed that the District Court of Hanover had appointed lawyer Dr Stefanie Zulauf as provisional insolvency administrator after the company filed for preliminary insolvency proceedings due to a difficult market environment and structural changes in the teleshopping sector.

At the time, Channel21 said day-to-day operations would continue unaffected while management worked with the provisional administrator on a restructuring concept intended to stabilise the business and safeguard jobs.

Founded in 2001 as RTL Shop, the broadcaster underwent several ownership changes before rebranding as Channel21 in 2008. The company described itself as Germany’s third-largest teleshopping channel, distributing mainly own-brand products in categories including beauty, health, jewellery, household, kitchen and garden.

According to the company, Channel21 reaches around 95% of German TV households via satellite, cable and DTT distribution platforms and has attracted more than three million customers since 2010.

In the statement, Channel21 thanked employees, customers, business partners and supporters for their trust and cooperation.

Group revenue came in at €422.7 million, down 0.8% year on year and in line with guidance, as the company navigated a highly competitive broadband market and structural pressure on cable TV. Growth in internet and telephony services continued to underpin performance, with revenues in the segment rising 13.1% to €235.3 million.

“Tele Columbus showed a solid operational performance in 2025 despite a persistently challenging market environment. We are growing consistently upon our strengths – in the internet and telephony business on our own infrastructure. Overall, we have selectively expanded the footprint of our gigabit and fibre-optic capabilities,” said CEO Christoph Lüthe.

Internet access was a key driver for the group. The company’s internet customer base increased to 742,000 revenue-generating units (RGUs), up 5.7% year on year, while average revenue per user rose sharply to €21.31 from €17.99.

However, the TV business remained under pressure following regulatory changes. The abolition of cable TV fees in ancillary rental costs, which took effect in July 2024, continued to weigh on customer numbers. Cable TV RGUs declined 6% to 1.03 million, while premium TV subscribers fell to around 486,000 from 508,000 a year earlier.

As a result, the total customer base declined 3.7% to 1.33 million, driven primarily by the contraction in the TV segment, even as internet customers increased.

On the infrastructure side, Tele Columbus continued to prioritise fibre deployment and network modernisation, while tightening investment discipline. Capital expenditure fell sharply to €173.9 million from €263.2 million in 2024, a drop of 33.9%, reflecting more selective project execution and changes in capitalisation of project expenses.

Despite the lower spend, the company expanded its high-speed network footprint. The number of gigabit-capable households rose by around 180,000, while fibre-to-the-home (FTTH) connected households increased to 230,000, up from 188,000 a year earlier.

Profitability was under pressure in 2025. Normalised EBITDA declined 9.7% to €168.4 million, affected by higher non-capitalised project expenses and the absence of a positive prior-year effect from reversed provisions for signal costs.

Reported EBITDA fell 7.5% to €128.1 million. Lower marketing, legal and consultancy costs partially offset the impact of higher project expenses, as key transformation and migration activities were largely completed, according to the company.

Altice France has extended the exclusivity period granted to Bouygues Telecom, Orange and the iliad Group until June 5 as discussions continue over a potential break-up deal for the company’s telecoms assets.

The three operators submitted a revised joint offer on April 17 valuing the Altice France assets under consideration at an enterprise value of €20.35 billion.

The initial exclusivity period had been due to expire on May 15.

In a brief statement, Altice France said discussions with the consortium remained “constructive”, although it cautioned there was still no certainty an agreement would be reached.

The proposed transaction would represent one of the biggest restructurings of the French telecoms market in years.

As previously reported by Broadband TV News, Patrick Drahi’s Altice group has been under pressure to reduce debt following the sharp rise in interest rates and wider financial challenges facing the group.

Any agreement would likely involve the division of SFR assets between Bouygues Telecom, Orange and Free, potentially reshaping competition in the French mobile and broadband sectors.

The talks have been closely watched across the wider European telecoms industry because they could reduce the number of major mobile operators in France and potentially trigger significant regulatory scrutiny from both French and European competition authorities.

Sky and ITV are understood to be closing in on a deal that would reshape the UK television market, with industry sources suggesting an agreement could be reached within weeks.

The proposed transaction would see Sky acquire ITV’s Media & Entertainment division — including the ITV channel portfolio and ITVX streaming service — while ITV shareholders retain ownership of ITV Studios, the production arm behind shows including Love Island, I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out of Here! and The Voice.

According to ITV News, negotiations between the parties have intensified in recent weeks, with growing confidence on both sides that key commercial terms are being resolved.

The proposed £1.6 billion (€1.86 billion) transaction was first revealed last November, but talks have proved complex because of the need to untangle ITV’s broadcast and production operations after decades of integration.

Under the structure currently under discussion, ITV Studios would continue supplying programming to ITV channels under long-term content agreements. Those arrangements are expected to cover flagship entertainment and drama brands including Coronation Street and Emmerdale.

The deal would also reportedly involve elements of Sky’s production interests moving into ITV Studios, including assets connected to Love Productions, producer of The Great British Bake Off.

For Sky, the transaction would significantly expand its free-to-air television footprint at a time when traditional pay-TV faces mounting pressure from streaming competitors including Netflix, Disney+ and YouTube.

The proposed acquisition would combine ITV’s scale in advertising-funded broadcasting with Sky’s subscription television, broadband and streaming operations.

Industry observers believe the logic behind the deal lies in creating a larger UK-based media player capable of competing more effectively with global technology and streaming platforms.

The transaction would also further strengthen Sky’s streaming ambitions. ITVX has become one of the UK’s largest ad-supported streaming services, while Sky continues repositioning itself as an aggregation platform combining its own services with third-party apps including Netflix and HBO Max.

However, the deal is expected to face regulatory scrutiny.

The Competition and Markets Authority, Ofcom and the Department for Culture, Media and Sport would all likely examine the transaction closely, particularly around advertising concentration, public service broadcasting obligations and news plurality.

One sensitive issue concerns ITV’s 40% stake in ITN, which supplies news programming not only for ITV, but also Channel 4 and Channel 5. Questions are expected over whether Sky and Comcast could exert excessive influence over multiple UK television news providers.

According to ITV News, Sky is prepared to commit to maintaining ITV’s public service broadcasting obligations through to 2034, including requirements covering regional news, current affairs and UK-originated programming.

The proposed deal also arrives amid broader structural pressures across UK broadcasting.

Linear advertising revenues continue to face long-term decline, while both ITV and Sky are investing heavily in streaming and digital distribution. ITVX recently reported record monthly streaming performance, while Sky has doubled down on premium sport, extending its Formula 1 rights in the UK until 2034.

Sources close to the discussions argue the combined business would represent “a good-sized player in a world of giants”, capable of defending UK broadcasting against growing international competition.

Eutelsat says strong growth from OneWeb-powered connectivity services continues to offset structural declines in its video business, as the satellite operator reaffirmed its full-year guidance following third quarter results.

Third quarter revenues reached €293 million, up 3.1% on a like-for-like basis, while revenues from the company’s four operating verticals rose 0.9% to €283.7 million.

Connectivity revenues increased 15.3% year-on-year to €155.7 million, driven by a 65% rise in LEO-related activity. By contrast, video revenues declined 13.3% to €128 million, impacted by sanctions on Russian channels and the associated loss of contracts on the Express AT1 and AT2 satellites.

The results further underline Eutelsat’s ongoing transition from a traditional broadcast satellite operator towards a connectivity-focused business built around the OneWeb low-earth orbit constellation.

Government services revenues rose 11.8% to €50.4 million, supported by continued activity in Ukraine and growing demand from non-US government customers.

Mobile connectivity revenues climbed 27% to €45 million, with aviation remaining a key growth area. During the quarter, Japan Airlines selected a multi-orbit inflight connectivity system combining GEO services with OneWeb LEO capacity through partner SES. Eutelsat said around 600 aircraft are now operating with its OneWeb-enabled connectivity systems, while 15 airlines have committed to deployments.

In maritime, the company expanded agreements with Singapore-based Can Marine and India’s Station Satcom, with more than 1,000 vessels now in the deployment pipeline for OneWeb services.

The company also confirmed the successful completion of its €5 billion refinancing strategy, including a €1.5 billion senior notes issuance finalised in March. Net leverage is expected to fall to around 2.7x EBITDA by year-end following the December 2025 capital increase.

Despite ongoing pressure in video, Eutelsat maintained its full-year targets, forecasting operating vertical revenues broadly in line with FY 2024-25 and LEO revenues growing by around 50% year-on-year.

Management also reiterated longer-term ambitions for revenues of €1.5-1.7 billion by FY 2028-29, with EBITDA margins reaching at least 65%.

The company acknowledged that traditional video broadcasting remains under pressure, though executives pointed to recent renewals in MENA and Latin America, including agreements with Viewsat, Cadena Tres and PCTV, as evidence that core broadcast neighbourhoods continue generating significant cash flow.

Eutelsat said the broader B2B connectivity market is expected to continue growing at double-digit rates over the longer term, primarily driven by expansion of LEO services.