RTL sees massive growth for online and on-demand

Pan-European broadcast group RTL has said that its European online and on-demand platforms collectively were up 25% year-on-year and topped 2.4 billion views of professionally produced content in 2012. Mobile views grew 58% to 118 million in Germany and 119% to 70.5 million in France.

RTL said that its FremantleMedia unit is the highest rated TV producer on YouTube and that digital operations helped drive revenue growth of nearly 20% at the producer and distributor.

FremantleMedia revenue for 2012 hit €1.71 billion, up 19.7% on 2011’s €1.42 billion, though earnings before interest, tax and amortisation dropped 3.5% to €138 million.

RTL said Fremantle had registered 4.5 billion views across 101 channels on video-sharing site YouTube, which made it the “highest rated TV producer” on the platform.

RTL Group also pointed to FremantleMedia’s strength in format production and distribution. Fox’s American Idol in the US and Britain’s Got Talent on ITV1 in the UK were key performing formats, along with local versions of The Farmer Wants a Wife in France, the Netherlands and Germany.

Overall RTL Group revenue was €5.99bn, up 4% year-on-year. However, mirroring Fremantle, earnings were down. EBITA stood at €1.07 billion, compared with the €1.13 billion posted the previous year.

Divisions driving growth besides Fremantle included its German operation, Mediengruppe RTL Deutschland, which saw revenue climb 3.7% to €1.91 billion and EBITA grow 1.6% to €27.7 million.

Co-CEOs Anke Schäferkordt and Guillaume de Posch said the results showed the company was well positioned to “develop a leading position in high-growth markets such as online video advertising”.

“Our expertise in content and creativity has already proven to be a competitive advantage for the non-linear TV world as audiences are attracted by hit formats and established brands, across all screens and devices,” the added.