# RTL Group streaming growth and Sky Deutschland integration > Live situation record from CLSTR: https://clstr.news/situations/rtl-group-streaming-and-sky-deutschland-integration > Updated: 2026-08-24T11:12:00.000Z. Sources: 76. Developments: 3. RTL Group reported strong first-half 2026 financial results, driven by a shift toward streaming and the acquisition of Sky Deutschland. Group revenue rose 3.9% to €2.89 billion, though organic growth remained flat at 0.1% when excluding the Sky Deutschland acquisition. While traditional linear television advertising revenue declined by 4%, digital advertising revenue increased by 10.9%. The company’s streaming business, including RTL+ and M6+, achieved profitability with an adjusted EBITA of €31 million, leading RTL Group to raise its full-year 2026 streaming profit target to approximately €100 million. Paid streaming subscriptions grew by 20.7% year-on-year to 8.73 million users. CEO Clément Schwebig noted the Sky Deutschland acquisition is a milestone, with the company aiming to realize €250 million in annual synergies within three years. Integration efforts are underway to bundle WOW and RTL+ in Germany and Austria in late 2026. By 2027, RTL+ will become a permanent component of the Sky offering, with RTL+ focusing on local entertainment and Sky prioritizing premium films, series, and sports. The merger is also reshaping sports broadcasting. For the 2026/27 season, RTL Deutschland will expand coverage to include live UEFA Europa League and Conference League matches on Sky Sport, while RTL+ will cover the DFB-Pokal. Additionally, the partnership will expand free-to-air Bundesliga coverage in Germany; reports indicate up to eleven matches per season could be broadcast for free, a more than 300 percent increase compared to previous offerings. This arrangement includes ten matches from Sky’s Pay-TV package for Friday and Saturday fixtures, plus one midweek match. Further developments in the German sports landscape indicate that 1. Bundesliga fans will also see expanded audio coverage through a new partnership with ARD, which will make live streams available on platforms such as kicker and the official Bundesliga website. ## Claims - Up to eleven Bundesliga matches per season will be available on free-to-air TV. (corroborated by 3 sources) - The increase in free-to-air Bundesliga matches represents a rise of over 300 percent compared to previous levels. (corroborated by 3 sources) - RTL can broadcast ten matches from Sky’s Pay-TV package for Friday and Saturday fixtures. (corroborated by 3 sources) - Sky will broadcast up to ten Europa League and Conference League matches during the 2026/27 season. (corroborated by 3 sources) - DAZN has secured broadcasting rights starting from the 2027/28 season. (corroborated by 3 sources) ## Timeline ### 2026-08-24: Handball-Bundesliga: SC Magdeburg favorites as new season approaches SC Magdeburg enters the new Handball-Bundesliga season as favorites after a Super Cup win, while THW Kiel seeks a comeback under new coach Börge Lund and co-captain Julian Köster. 59 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/sky-and-rtl-group-merger-expands-bundesliga-free-to-air-coverage ### 2026-08-19: RTL Group to integrate RTL+ into Sky offerings by 2027 RTL Group is integrating its RTL+ streaming platform with Sky and WOW, with full integration into Sky offerings planned for 2027 and new joint bundles launching this year in Germany and Austria. 5 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/rtl-group-to-integrate-rtl-into-sky-offerings-by-2027 ### 2026-08-11: RTL Group reports H1 2026 growth driven by streaming and Sky Deutschland RTL Group reported a rise in H1 2026 revenue to €2.89 billion, driven by a profitable shift to streaming and the acquisition of Sky Deutschland, despite a decline in traditional TV advertising. 12 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/rtl-group-revenue-rises-to-289-billion-in-h1-2026 --- Cite as: RTL Group streaming growth and Sky Deutschland integration. CLSTR, https://clstr.news/situations/rtl-group-streaming-and-sky-deutschland-integration