RTL sees boost from digital services

RTL Group saw a boost from digital activities last year as it posted full-year revenues of of €5.8 billion. Both revenue and EBIDTA profit of €1.145 billion were fractionally down.

It noted its success in the digital realm and said its digital strategy was starting to pay dividends. Digital revenue was up 26.6% at €295 million. RTL also said that across its footprint of channels and businesses, its catch-up services, MCNs and websites generated 36.4 billion online video views.

RTL said: “Higher revenue from Mediengruppe RTL Deutschland and from acquisitions was offset by lower advertising sales in France, the effect of the disposal of the French e-commerce service Mistergooddeal along with lower revenue from FremantleMedia and UFA Sports.”

The RTL-owned production and distribution company FremantleMedia posted 2014 revenue of €1.486 billion compared with €1.525 billion in 2013. Full-year EBIDTA profit tumbled 16.9% year-on-year, taking the total to €113 million.

The company said the year-on-year declines were “due to the cancellation of X Factor US, lower revenue from American Idol and increased investments in digital businesses and the content pipeline”.

The content company also touted its digital credentials with 200 digital channels now up and running and its content claiming nine billion views on digital platforms and services in 2014.