CME completes RTL Croatia acquisition

CME Media Enterprises (CME) has completed the acquisition of RTL Croatia after receiving regulatory approval in the country.

RTL agreed a €50 million deal in February with Czech investment group PPF’s subsidiary CME. The deal sees CME acquire 100% of the broadcaster, and has secured the long-term rights to retain the use of the RTL brand in Croatia.

CME now owns 6 broadcasters in 6 CEE countries, encompassing 42 channels and reaching a total audience of 49 million viewers.

Following the deal’s closure, CME has announced a series of management and governance changes at RTL Croatia. 

Chief among these is the appointment of Tonko Weissmann as EVP – Croatian operations at RTL Croatia. Weissmann has been with the organisation since 2005.

Elsewhere, Branko Čakarmiš, the current CEO of Pro Plus, will become the president of the RTL Croatia Management Board and CEO – Adriatic Region. Čakarmiš a duel position, continuing as CEO of Pro Plus. In addition, Christoph Mainusch has been appointed as President of the Supervisory Board of RTL Croatia. 

RTL Croatia’s CEO Marc Puškarić will depart the organisation effective immediately.

Didier Stoessel, CME CEO for Croatia, Czech Republic, Romania, Slovakia, and Slovenia, said: “We are very excited to welcome RTL Croatia to the CME family and expand our footprint in the Adriatic region, which offers exceptional growth potential. Our loyal viewers can expect increased local content productions, improved digital offerings, and a continued dedication to pluralistic and high-quality journalism.

“This new management structure reflects our intention to take the best that RTL Croatia has to offer and together with Pro Plus, take it to a new level.”