From left: Max Orgonyi, Moritz von Nagel, Andreas Lang, Antonia Lang, Jan Niklas Ries, Nicolas Schreiber

The new structure is led by Chief Transformation & AI Officer and Managing Director Max Orgonyi, who oversees the merger with Sky, the group‑wide transformation and AI agenda, and the strategic development of the corporate portfolio, including M&A.

He is supported by Moritz von Nagel, Senior Vice President Portfolio Transformation, and Andreas Lang, Senior Vice President Business Transformation, both of whom join from Sky. Senior Vice President Integration Antonia Lang, who has spent the past year preparing the merger, completes the core integration team.

The group will play a central role in achieving the strategic and synergetic goals of the merger, including the development of a unified windowing strategy across platforms, the design of a fully integrated organisation and the delivery of €250 million in annual synergies within three years, according to RTL Deutschland.

To strengthen the company’s AI capabilities, Jan Niklas Ries has been appointed Vice President AI.

In addition, Nicolas Schreiber becomes Senior Vice President Strategy, responsible for the long‑term strategic development of RTL Deutschland. His remit includes identifying new partnerships, growth areas and business opportunities, and advancing the corporate strategy with a particular focus on sport, live entertainment and new revenue models. He reports directly to CEO Stephan Schmitter and has a dotted‑line reporting link to Orgonyi.

Schmitter said the new structure was designed to equip RTL Deutschland for its next phase of development. “As the leading entertainment company in the German‑speaking world, we want and need to position ourselves optimally in all areas and set standards. With Max Orgonyi and his team for transformation, integration, AI and M&A, as well as Nico Schreiber for the strategic development of our company, we are building the capabilities that will be decisive for the next stage of RTL Deutschland’s evolution,” he said.

According to Orgonyi, the combination of RTL and Sky creates a rare opportunity in the European media market. “RTL now has – together with Sky – an almost unique opportunity to compete on equal footing with the major US platforms in one of the world’s most important media markets. To do this successfully, we will implement an ambitious transformation agenda, including the delivery of €250 million in annual synergies and the consistent use of artificial intelligence across the entire value chain,” he said.

Frequency has appointed James Smith as General Manager, Monetization as the streaming television technology provider looks to expand its advertising and revenue capabilities.

Smith joins the Los Angeles-based company from Amagi, where he led the company’s global advertising business. Prior to that, he managed Meta’s global entertainment and streaming advertising portfolio and held senior digital media roles at Disney and Sony.

The appointment comes as Frequency increases its focus on helping FAST, OTT, connected TV and virtual MVPD operators improve revenue generation and advertising performance. It follows the recent launch of the company’s In-Scene Advertising product, which creates advertising inventory within live and streamed television content.

Blair Harrison, founder and CEO of Frequency, said the next phase of streaming television would be defined not only by audience growth but by the industry’s ability to monetise those audiences more effectively.

“The next chapter of streaming isn’t about creating more ad inventory, it’s about creating better inventory,” added Jon Cohen, Chief Revenue Officer at Frequency.

Smith said Frequency’s position within the streaming television ecosystem, combined with its channel distribution network and technology platform, provided an opportunity to help content owners extract greater commercial value from their services.

Frequency provides SaaS-based channel creation, management and distribution services for broadcasters, studios and content owners. The company says its platform is used by media companies including Amazon MGM Studios, Hearst Television, Red Bull Media House, BBC Studios and Sony Pictures Entertainment, with channels distributed across more than 200 platforms worldwide.

Smith will represent the company at The Stream TV Show in Denver later this month and at Cannes Lions in France, where Frequency plans to meet with content owners, distributors and advertisers to discuss streaming television monetisation strategies.

Schäfer has held this position at the commercial subsidiary of German public broadcaster ZDF since 1 July 2022.

According to the company, Schäfer and Co-Managing Director Karoline Meichsner-Sertl have reorganised the ZDF Studios Group in recent years, focusing on stronger synergies across its operations, more efficient workflows and the implementation of digital processes.

“Under the leadership of Markus Schäfer, ZDF Studios has been given a clear strategic direction in recent years. The group has established itself as a significant production and distribution partner with an international presence. The integration of production, distribution and digital business models has been continuously advanced. I am delighted that Markus Schäfer will continue to pursue this course over the next five years,” said Norbert Himmler, Director-General of ZDF and Chairman of the Supervisory Board of ZDF Studios.

Schäfer added: “Our goal is clear: to position the ZDF Studios Group even more strongly as a relevant content and distribution partner. Together with Karoline Meichsner-Sertl and our colleagues across the entire group, we have succeeded in expanding our capabilities in the creation and exploitation of outstanding programmes. At the heart of this is closer connectivity within the Group, combined with a clear market and customer focus to unlock further growth potential. We have created the right structures for this – now it is a matter of using them consistently and driving them forward in a targeted manner.”

Headquartered in Mainz, ZDF Studios operates more than 30 subsidiaries and affiliated companies across production, distribution and media services. The group manages programme distribution, international co-productions, licensing and merchandising activities, and holds the world’s largest inventory of German-language television programming.

Prima Group is creating a dedicated streaming division as it looks to accelerate the development of its prima+ platform and wider digital products.

Jan Wykrytowicz, currently director of VOD and non-advertising revenues, will become Chief Streaming Officer from June 1.

The Czech broadcaster said the new division reflects streaming’s role as a strategic priority alongside Prima’s established television business.

Lukáš Kubát, CEO of Prima Group, said streaming and digital distribution were “key pillars” of the company’s future growth.

Wykrytowicz joined Prima with more than 15 years’ experience in streaming, OTT and pay-TV. He has previously held senior roles at Canal+, TVN in Poland and TV3 Group in the Baltics.

As CEO of Go3, he developed the service into a leading subscription streaming platform across Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania.

Prima said he had already played an important role in the development of prima+, which has recently benefited from titles including Zrádci and Asia Express.

The Technology Secretary has confirmed Sir Ian Cheshire as the new chair of communications regulator Ofcom.

The appointment, announced by the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology, follows a pre-appointment hearing before Parliament’s Science, Innovation and Technology Committee, which endorsed his selection while urging him to deepen his understanding of the online safety landscape.

Sir Ian succeeds Michael Grade, whose term ended in April, and takes over a regulator whose responsibilities now span broadcasting, telecommunications and online platforms.

Technology Secretary Liz Kendall said Ofcom had “never had a more important role to play” as it oversees enforcement of online safety rules while supporting growth and innovation across the communications sector.

The government said Sir Ian had committed to ensuring Ofcom is guided by the experiences of people most exposed to online harms and translates that insight into effective regulatory action.

In a statement, Sir Ian said he was taking on the role at a “vital time” as Ofcom begins tackling the challenges of online safety while continuing its traditional oversight of telecoms and broadcasting markets.

The appointment places a familiar figure from the media industry at the helm of the regulator. Sir Ian served as chair of Channel 4 between 2022 and 2025 and previously led Kingfisher plc as chief executive. He has also held senior positions at Barclays UK and Land Securities.

For broadcasters and telecom operators, the appointment comes at a time when Ofcom is overseeing major industry changes, including the transition towards IP-delivered television, spectrum policy, broadband investment and media plurality issues.

The regulator is also facing increasing scrutiny over its implementation of the Online Safety Act, with Parliament and industry stakeholders closely watching how it balances consumer protection, platform accountability and innovation.

The Science, Innovation and Technology Committee recently described the appointment as coming at a “critical moment” for the regulator, while calling for clear performance metrics to measure Ofcom’s effectiveness under its new leadership.

From left: Michael Radelsberger, Henning Nieslony, Kris Peffers, Andre Prahl, Jill Harkness, Daniel Durst

The new consumer organisation combines the businesses around RTL+, WOW, Sky and the distribution of RTL Deutschland’s linear television channels across Germany, Austria and Switzerland. According to the company, the combined operation will reach more than 100 million people across the DACH region with entertainment offerings spanning free-to-air television, streaming and premium TV services.

As Chief Consumer Officer and a member of RTL Deutschland’s management board, Radelsberger will oversee the company’s consumer and subscription business. His responsibilities include the strategic development of streaming, premium TV and distribution activities across RTL+, WOW, Sky and RTL Deutschland’s linear channel portfolio.

Reporting directly to Radelsberger are Henning Nieslony as Executive Vice President Streaming, responsible for the combined streaming operations of RTL+ and WOW; Kris Peffers as Executive Vice President Premium TV, overseeing Sky’s product portfolio including Sky Stream; Andre Prahl as Executive Vice President Distribution, responsible for the distribution of the combined content portfolio across platforms; Jill Harkness as Senior Vice President Consumer Strategy & Growth, supporting cross-platform growth in the DACH region; and Daniel Durst as Senior Vice President Brand & Media, leading marketing activities and brand strategy.

“With the combination of RTL Deutschland and Sky, we are creating an entertainment offering that is unique in Europe. We are bringing together free-to-air TV, streaming and premium TV under a strong consumer strategy with local content, live sport, journalistic expertise and international entertainment. Together, we want to inspire more than 100 million people across the German-speaking market with the best entertainment offering, anytime, anywhere and across all platforms, led by Michael Radelsberger and his highly experienced leadership team,” said Stephan Schmitter, CEO of RTL Deutschland.

Radelsberger added: “With the best teams and the greatest expertise in the industry, we are creating a consumer organisation that is unique in the German-speaking market. I am delighted that Jill Harkness, Henning Nieslony, Kris Peffers, Andre Prahl and Daniel Durst are part of this strong leadership team. Together with their teams, they bring extensive experience, innovation and passion to set new standards in the entertainment market. Our goal is to create the best television and streaming experiences for our customers.”

Channel 4 has appointed Wade Jastremski to the newly created role of Senior Sales Strategy and Operations Lead.

He will report to Jay Kassam, Head of Ad Sales Business Operations & Revenue Innovation, and will support Channel 4’s advertising sales strategy as the broadcaster looks to drive revenue growth.

Jastremski will work across commercial planning, go-to-market strategy, performance analytics and operational improvement.

His remit includes developing scalable sales processes, improving forecasting and reporting frameworks, and providing insights for senior decision-making.

He joins from Spotify, where he was Senior Manager of Global Revenue Management & Forecasting, working across global advertising markets.

Jay Kassam said Jastremski’s experience in sales strategy, operations and revenue management would support Channel 4’s evolving commercial model.

Jastremski said he wanted to help Channel 4’s sales team operate “with the rigour and pace of a platform business” while retaining its distinctive public service position.

Effective 1 June 2026, Vogel assumes overall responsibility for the advertising businesses of both companies, adding Sky Media to his existing role as CEO of Ad Alliance. He will also oversee the international sales activities of RTL AdAlliance and RTL Deutschland’s ad-tech investments, including smartclip, Yospace and SQL Service. Vogel will report directly to Stephan Schmitter, CEO of RTL Deutschland.

The move is designed to bring together audience reach, content, technology and sales activities under a single strategic structure. According to RTL, the combined organisation will offer advertisers and agencies access to one of the largest video advertising portfolios in the German-speaking market, spanning news, entertainment, sport, streaming, pay-TV and digital platforms.

To support the integration of Sky Media into Ad Alliance, Iris Plach and Matthias Trott have been appointed Managing Directors of Sky Media with immediate effect. Both will report directly to Vogel.

“With Frank Vogel, we are creating the conditions to further develop our joint advertising business strategically in an increasingly globalised platform and advertising market,” said Schmitter. “Bringing together key sales activities opens up new opportunities for advertisers and agencies while strengthening our position as one of Europe’s leading media companies in video and advertising sales. We are very pleased to welcome the expertise and experience of our colleagues from Sky Media.”

Vogel added: “The strengths of both sales organisations complement each other perfectly. Step by step, we want to develop even more attractive solutions for our advertising partners and bring together linear television, streaming, digital and addressable environments more closely. This will create new opportunities for modern video advertising. We will shape the integration in partnership with our teams and continue to develop our capabilities in a targeted manner.”

Alongside the domestic sales business, Vogel’s remit now includes the international advertising operations of RTL AdAlliance, led by CEO Stéphane Coruble. The organisation represents broadcasters, publishers and streaming services across multiple markets and is one of Europe’s largest advertising sales platforms.

Vogel will also oversee the strategic direction of RTL Deutschland’s ad-tech holdings under the leadership of Martin Hoberg, Chief International AdTech Officer. Particular focus will be placed on smartclip, which develops technology for the converged and automated delivery of advertising inventory across linear and digital environments, including programmatic, addressable and AI-driven advertising solutions.

Vogel has led Ad Alliance since June 2022 and has been a key figure in the development of RTL Deutschland’s cross-media advertising strategy. Prior to joining the company, he held a number of senior positions at Gruner + Jahr in the fields of media, advertising sales, market research and advertising effectiveness.

His appointment at Ziggo Group is expected to take effect on 1 September 2026.

Fruytier will leave Sunrise on 31 August but will remain available in an advisory capacity to support a smooth transition. Sunrise has launched an internal and external search for his successor.

Fruytier has served as CFO of Sunrise since December 2020, playing a key role in the company’s financial transformation. He oversaw the merger and integration of Sunrise and UPC, including the delivery of targeted cost and revenue synergies that strengthened the company’s competitive position in Switzerland.

He also led the financial strategy for Sunrise’s spin‑off from Liberty Global and its listing on SIX Swiss Exchange in 2024. His remit included designing the stand‑alone capital structure, managing separation and transitional agreements, overseeing investor communications and coordinating the ADS distribution process that enabled the listing. Before joining Sunrise, he was CFO of UPC Eastern Europe and previously held several finance roles within Liberty Global.

“Jany has made an outstanding contribution to the development and success of Sunrise during a highly transformative period. He has combined financial discipline with strategic clarity and led complex processes such as the merger integration and the spin-off with great commitment and professionalism. I’d like to thank him sincerely for his leadership and wish him every success in this next stage of his career,” said Sunrise CEO André Krause.

Fruytier added: “I’m grateful to have been able to play a significant role in shaping Sunrise’s success story during the decisive phase of the past years. Today, Sunrise is a strong, independent company with a clear financial strategy, delivering tangible value for investors and being very well positioned for future growth. I wish the company all the very best for the future and will strongly support it throughout the entire transition period.”

Elsässer joins Sunrise from Swiss media group CH Media, where he served as CEO of CH Media TV AG and member of the executive board of CH Media AG since 1 June 2024. At Sunrise, he succeeds CEO André Krause, who has led the Consumer Main Brand business unit on an interim basis since January.

“With Wolfgang Elsässer, we’re gaining a proven leader with a strong track record in telecoms, media and entertainment. His experience in the strategic development of customer-focused platform and service businesses, and his track record in digital transformation, will further strengthen the consistent implementation of our strategy in the consumer business under the Sunrise brand,” said Krause.

At CH Media, Elsässer was responsible for the company’s national TV channels including 3+, 4+, 5+, 6+, 7+, TV24, TV25 and S1, alongside streaming platform oneplus.

Elsässer said: “Sunrise has a strong brand, a high level of customer relevance and an outstanding foundation for the further development of its product and service portfolio. I’m looking forward to working with the team to develop the consumer business consistently from the customer’s perspective, focussing on innovative offerings, excellent service and long-term customer relationships.”

Before joining CH Media, Elsässer held management roles including CEO of Swisscom’s blue Entertainment AG, Chief Entertainment Officer at Deutsche Telekom and CEO and Chief Regional Officer at SES Astra.

Malte Probst will succeed Elsässer as head of its national TV business and managing director of CH Media TV AG from 1 July 2026. Probst will also join the company’s executive board. Probst previously worked as founder of Swiss Studios AG and held management positions at Sky Deutschland and blue Entertainment.

“As leading private Swiss TV and streaming provider with strong brands, CH Media is in an exciting position. I’m looking forward to further expanding the business together with the team,” said Probst.

CH Media CEO Michael Wanner said: “I am pleased that we have found an experienced media manager in Malte Probst for this position. With his many years of experience in the strategic alignment of content and product portfolios, he will help us further advance the digitalisation of our TV business and align our channels even more closely with the needs of our audience.”

Wanner added: “Wolfgang Elsässer has taken our national TV channels and the streaming service oneplus a decisive step forward. For this, I would like to thank him sincerely.”

Elässer said: “I am proud of what we have achieved together as a team. At the same time, I am looking forward to further strengthening the strategic partnership with CH Media in my new role at Sunrise.”