RTL acquires Harry Potter film rights from Sat.1

RTL has acquired the broadcasting rights for the ‘Harry Potter’ film series, ending a nine-year tradition of the franchise airing on Sat.1. The film marathon is scheduled to begin on October 10, 2026, at 20:15 with ‘Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone’.

Following the Saturday night primetime broadcasts, RTL also plans to air reruns on Sundays starting at 11:55. The move is intended to strengthen the broadcaster's programming alongside its NFL coverage.

The shift follows a decline in viewership for the series on Sat.1. While broadcasts in 2018 reached approximately 1.67 million viewers, the autumn 2025 airing of ‘Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone’ saw viewership drop to 0.99 million with a 4.9 percent market share, reflecting broader changes in television consumption habits.