Who owns RTL?
RTL is owned by Bertelsmann (Germany).[1]
This ownership is reported in official statements but has not yet been matched to a regulatory filing.
Key facts
- Current owner
- Bertelsmann SE & Co. KGaA reported
- Owned since
- Not recorded
- Previous owner
- None recorded
- Owner HQ
- 🇩🇪 Germany, Gütersloh
- Origin
- 🇱🇺 Luxembourg · browse countries
- Founded
- 1984
- Category
- Media & entertainment › Film & television › Television networks
- Last verified
- · 1 sources
About RTL
RTL Group is the largest commercial broadcaster in Europe, running channels across Germany, France and the Netherlands. It descends from a Luxembourg radio station that broadcast across borders to reach audiences its neighbours' state monopolies could not serve. Bertelsmann holds the majority, and the group has been consolidating its national broadcasters as European advertising shifts towards streaming platforms.
Ownership timeline of RTL
- 1984 – present Bertelsmann [1] reported
Where RTL sits in Bertelsmann
Controlling ownership as of . Brands grouped under the entity that owns them; large groups are collapsed.
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Other brands owned by Bertelsmann in media & entertainment
Latest news about RTL
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Frequently asked questions
Who is the parent company of RTL?
The parent company of RTL is Bertelsmann, a family-owned company headquartered in Germany.
Is RTL Luxembourgish or German?
RTL originated in Luxembourg in 1984, but it is owned today by Bertelsmann, which is headquartered in Germany. So RTL is a Luxembourgish-origin brand under German ownership.
Is RTL still owned by Bertelsmann?
Yes. As of 8 September 2026, RTL is still owned by Bertelsmann. The ownership record was last checked against primary sources on that date.
Sources (1) & corrections
Last verified . Every ownership fact above is backed by one of these primary documents. Numbers in brackets in the text refer to this list.
- [1] Bertelsmann SE & Co. KGaA Annual Report 2025 — Bertelsmann SE & Co. KGaA, Annual report, published 31 March 2026; retrieved 8 September 2026.
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