Editing RTL Group (section)

==History==
[[File:RTL Group.svg|100px|thumb|Logo of RTL Group used from 2000 until 2021]]
===Historical background===
The roots of RTL Group date back to the 1920s.<ref name="History">{{Cite web|title=The History|language=en|publisher=RTL Group|access-date=15 June 2020|url=https://www.rtlgroup.com/files/pdf3/2019-historychronology.pdf|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200715130039/https://www.rtlgroup.com/files/pdf3/2019-historychronology.pdf|archive-date=15 July 2020|url-status=dead}}</ref> The company itself was established in 1931 as the Compagnie Luxembourgeoise de Radiodiffusion (known as CLR for short). It was one of the world's first [[private broadcasting]] companies. After the [[World War II|Second World War]], the company ventured into the world of television broadcasting. It was renamed Compagnie Luxembourgeoise de Télédiffusion (CLT) to reflect this new service in 1954. Under the name RTL (for [[Radio-Television Luxembourg|Radio Télévision Luxembourg]]), it went on to provide its private broadcasting services in several European countries.<ref>{{Cite book|author=Frank Sambeth|title=Das Corporate Center in der Medien- und Kommunikationsindustrie. Eine wertorientierte Analyse.|publisher=Deutscher Universitäts-Verlag|location=Wiesbaden|date=2003|isbn=978-3-322-81532-3|page=337|language=de}}</ref> When the European media markets were liberalised in the 1980s, television became increasingly important and started to overtake radio.<ref name="History" />

In the 1980s, Belgian and French media companies made up the majority of the shareholders of CLR and CLT.<ref>{{Cite book|language=de|editor=Hans J. Kleinsteuber, Torsten Rossmann|title=Europa als Kommunikationsraum. Akteure, Strukturen und Konfliktpotentiale.|publisher=Verlag Leske + Budrich|location=Opladen|date=1994|isbn=978-3-322-92529-9|page=159}}</ref> The following decades witnessed repeated conflicts for domination within the company and among its [[Subsidiary|subsidiaries]].<ref name="1995-08-09">{{Cite news|language=de|title=Machtkampf um Privatsender. RTL/CLT klagt gegen Burda und Bertelsmann.|newspaper=Handelsblatt|date=9 August 1995|page=12}}</ref><ref>{{Cite magazine|title=Sprung nach vorn|language=de|magazine=Der Spiegel|date=14 August 1995|access-date=15 June 2020|url=https://www.spiegel.de/spiegel/print/d-9206622.html}}</ref> In the 1990s, Bertelsmann ultimately came out on top after having gradually increased its stake in the German television channel RTL.<ref>{{Cite news|author=Michael Rediske|title=Eurofernsehen aus Gütersloh|language=de|newspaper=Die Tageszeitung|date=4 April 1996|page=3}}</ref> Following a legal dispute with RTL/CLT,<ref>{{Cite magazine|language=de|title=Skurriler Streit|magazine=Der Spiegel|date=23 January 1995|access-date=15 June 2020|url=https://www.spiegel.de/spiegel/print/d-9158406.html}}</ref><ref name="1995-08-09" /> Bertelsmann announced plans to merge the television businesses of [[UFA GmbH|UFA]] to form the joint venture CLT-UFA in April 1996.<ref>{{Cite magazine|title=Teuflisch intelligent|magazine=Der Spiegel|date=8 April 1996|access-date=15 June 2020|url=https://www.spiegel.de/spiegel/print/d-8905730.html|language=de}}</ref> A merger agreement was signed on 8 July 1996.<ref>{{Cite web |title=CLT-UFA: contract completed |url=http://www.bertelsmann.de:80/bag/englisch/news/news/news/080796.html |publisher=[[Bertelsmann]] |date=8 July 1996 |access-date=21 May 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/19970117041305/http://www.bertelsmann.de:80/bag/englisch/news/news/news/080796.html |archive-date=17 January 1997 |url-status=dead}}</ref> It was approved by the CLT board of directors on 5 December,<ref>{{Cite web |title=Final Approval of CLT-UFA Merger by CLT Board of Directors |url=http://www.bertelsmann.de/bag/englisch/news/news/news/clt051296.html |publisher=[[Bertelsmann]] |date=5 December 1996 |access-date=21 May 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/19970117042151/http://www.bertelsmann.de/bag/englisch/news/news/news/clt051296.html |archive-date=17 January 1997 |url-status=dead}}</ref> and the formation of CLT-UFA was completed on 14 January 1997.<ref>{{Cite web |title=CLT-UFA: Largest European Entertainment Enterprise Officially Introduced |url=http://www.bertelsmann.de/bag/englisch/news/news/news/140197.html |publisher=[[Bertelsmann]] |date=14 January 1997 |access-date=21 May 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/19970117032628/http://www.bertelsmann.de/bag/englisch/news/news/news/140197.html |archive-date=17 January 1997 |url-status=dead}}</ref> As a result, German television channels such as RTL Television and VOX and international broadcasting services, including M6 in France, were all brought together under one roof.<ref>{{Cite news|title=Ein Wachstums-Schub für den Fernseh-Zwerg|newspaper=Saarbrücker Zeitung|language=de|date=9 July 1996}}</ref>

===Growth and stock market launch===
CLT-UFA not only grew organically but also increased in size due to a number of acquisitions.<ref>{{Cite magazine|title=CLT-UFA im Kaufrausch|language=de|magazine=Der Spiegel|date=3 January 2000|access-date=15 June 2020|url=https://www.spiegel.de/spiegel/print/d-15348764.html}}</ref> In the year 2000, Bertelsmann and Pearson announced plans to merge their television, radio, and production activities.<ref>{{Cite news|title=Bertelsmann und Pearson besiegeln Allianz.|newspaper=Die Welt|language=de|date=8 April 2000|page=13}}</ref> The two companies joined forces to create RTL Group, Europe's leading network of television channels and radio stations with a global content business,<ref>{{Cite news|author=Andreas Uhlig|title=Gründung eines europäischen Fernsehgiganten Kooperation von Bertelsmann und Pearson.|newspaper=Neue Zürcher Zeitung|date=8 April 2000|page=25|language=de}}</ref> which was rebranded FremantleMedia in 2001 (now called Fremantle).<ref>{{Cite news|author=Jason Deans|title=Pearson TV revives Thames TV brand|newspaper=The Guardian|date=21 August 2001|access-date=3 July 2020|url=https://www.theguardian.com/media/2001/aug/21/pearson.broadcasting|language=en}}</ref> This merger was designed to provide a strong European response to U.S. media dominance.<ref>{{Cite magazine|author=Gunhild Freese|title=Die europäische Antwort|magazine=Die Zeit|date=13 April 2000|access-date=15 June 2020|url=https://www.zeit.de/2000/16/200016.bertelsmann_.xml/komplettansicht|language=de}}</ref>

RTL Group was first listed on the [[London Stock Exchange]]<ref>{{Cite news|language=de|title=RTL Group ab 26. Juli an der Börse Europäischer Medienkonzern um Bertelsmann und Pearson TV.|newspaper=Der Tagesspiegel|date=6 July 2000|page=24}}</ref> on 26 July 2000.<ref name="2000-07-27">{{Cite news|author=Doris Grass|title=Schwacher Börsenstart von RTL Group|language=de|newspaper=Financial Times Deutschland|date=27 July 2000|page=17}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|author=G. Friedrich, S. Spohr|title=Baywatch in London|language=de|newspaper=Telebörse|date=13 July 2000|page=49}}</ref> The existing shell of Audiofina,<ref>{{Cite news|author=Andreas Grafemeyer|title=Börsengänge werden nicht zur Regel.|language=de|newspaper=Börsen-Zeitung|date=18 January 2001|page=10}}</ref> which was already a listed company, was used to simplify the administrative effort involved in the [[stock market]] launch.<ref>{{Cite news|author=Lutz Meier|language=de|title=RTL Group ist Londoner Börse|newspaper=Financial Times Deutschland|date=5 July 2000|page=5}}</ref> The issue price of the RTL Group share was calculated based on the closing prices of Audiofina in Luxembourg and Brussels.<ref>{{Cite news|language=de|author=Andreas Hoffbauer|title=RTL Group holt sich Kapital an der Börse.|newspaper=Handelsblatt|date=6 July 2000|page=15}}</ref> The RTL Group share consequently replaced the Audiofina listing.<ref name="2000-07-27" />

===Acquisition by Bertelsmann===
Although Bertelsmann initially only held a minority share in RTL Group, the German conglomerate managed by [[Thomas Middelhoff]] set its sights on playing a leading role within the group.<ref>{{Cite news|author=Lutz Meier|title=Bertelsmann pocht auf die Führung der neuen TV-Gruppe.|magazine=Financial Times Deutschland|date=10 April 2000|language=de|page=6}}</ref> After exchanging shares with the Groupe Bruxelles Lambert (GBL) in 2001, Bertelsmann achieved its goal of becoming the majority shareholder of RTL Group and thus secured a leading position in the European television market.<ref>{{Cite news|author=Roland Mayrl|title=RTL sendet mehrheitlich für Bertelsmann.|newspaper=Wirtschaftsblatt|date=6 February 2001|page=1|language=de}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|title=Bertelsmann sichert sich die Vorherrschaft im TV-Geschäft.|newspaper=Handelsblatt|date=6 February 2001|page=25|language=de}}</ref>

Over the years, Bertelsmann increased its stake in RTL Group to more than 90%.<ref name="2002-03-20">{{Cite news|author=Petra Münster|title=RTL Group zu 90 Prozent bei Bertelsmann|newspaper=Neue Zürcher Zeitung|date=20 March 2002|page=25|language=de}}</ref> Bertelsmann's initial aim was to acquire full ownership of RTL Group to reduce administrative costs, but this plan failed in 2007 due to uncertainties in Luxembourg law.<ref>{{Cite news|author=Thomas Clark|title=RTL Group bleibt vorerst an der Börse.|magazine=Financial Times Deutschland|date=20 March 2002|page=5|language=de}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|title=Übernahme: Bertelsmann will RTL endlich ganz.|magazine=Der Spiegel|date=4 December 2007|access-date=15 June 2020|url=https://www.spiegel.de/wirtschaft/uebernahme-bertelsmann-will-rtl-endlich-ganz-a-521219.html|language=de}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|author=Tina Kaiser|title=Bertelsmann will RTL doch nicht komplett kaufen.|newspaper=Die Welt|date=21 December 2007|page=11|language=de}}</ref> The conglomerate responded by altering its strategy, and in 2013, it sold a minority interest in RTL Group on the [[Frankfurt Stock Exchange]]<ref>{{Cite news|title=Börsenschwergewicht: RTL-Aktie kommt auch nach Frankfurt.|newspaper=Handelsblatt|date=4 April 2013|access-date=15 June 2020|url=https://www.handelsblatt.com/finanzen/maerkte/boerse-inside/boersenschwergewicht-rtl-aktie-kommt-auch-nach-frankfurt/8017910.html|language=de}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|title=Börsengang: Verhaltener Start für RTL|newspaper=Wirtschaftswoche|date=30 April 2013|access-date=15 June 2020|url=https://www.wiwo.de/finanzen/boerse/boersengang-verhaltener-start-fuer-rtl/8144376.html|language=de|archive-date=26 January 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230126140810/https://www.wiwo.de/finanzen/boerse/boersengang-verhaltener-start-fuer-rtl/8144376.html|url-status=dead}}</ref> to finance the growth of Bertelsmann and especially its digital transformation.<ref>{{Cite news|title=Verkauf von RTL-Aktien: Bertelsmann nimmt 1,4 Milliarden Euro ein.|newspaper=Handelsblatt|date=29 April 2013|access-date=15 June 2020|url=https://www.handelsblatt.com/finanzen/maerkte/aktien/verkauf-von-rtl-aktien-bertelsmann-nimmt-1-4-milliarden-euro-ein/8140096.html|language=de}}</ref> Media reports responded positively to the secondary listing of RTL Group and the resulting availability of shares open to external investors.<ref>{{Cite news|author=Andreas Wolf|title=RTL hat auch für Anleger etwas zu bieten.|newspaper=Wirtschaftsblatt|date=13 June 2013|page=15|language=de}}</ref>

===Recent developments===
RTL Group was already responsible for a large part of the revenue and profit of Bertelsmann in 2001.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Geschäftsbericht 2000/01|publisher=Bertelsmann|access-date=15 June 2020 |url= https://www.bertelsmann.de/media/investor-relations/geschaeftsberichte/geschaeftsbericht-2001.pdf |language=de |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20140706041522/https://www.bertelsmann.de/media/investor-relations/geschaeftsberichte/geschaeftsbericht-2001.pdf |archive-date=6 July 2014 |url-status=live}}</ref> In the new structure of Bertelsmann, introduced in 2016, the company maintained its position as an important division.<ref>{{Cite news |author=Henrik Mortsiefer |title= Bertelsmann stellt sich breiter auf |newspaper=Der Tagesspiegel |location= Berlin |date=23 March 2016 |page=16 |language=de}}</ref> Since April 2019, [[Thomas Rabe (manager)|Thomas Rabe]], chairman and chief executive officer of Bertelsmann, has also simultaneously been at the helm of RTL Group.<ref>{{Cite news |title=Bertelsmann-Chef Rabe führt künftig auch RTL |magazine=Der Spiegel |location= Hamburg |date=1 April 2019 |access-date=15 June 2020 |url= https://www.spiegel.de/wirtschaft/unternehmen/bertelsmann-chef-thomas-rabe-fuehrt-kuenftig-auch-rtl-a-1260698.html |language=de}}</ref> Under his management, the company is pursuing the objective of strengthening its core businesses, establishing local [[streaming services]] and further developing [[Advertising technology|advertising technologies]].<ref>{{Cite news |author=Annette Becker |title=Chef der RTL Group tritt ab – Bertelsmann-CEO übernimmt |newspaper=Börsen-Zeitung |date=2 April 2019 |page=16 |language=de}}</ref> Fostering its alliances and partnerships with other companies in the European media industry also plays an important role in the current strategy of RTL Group.<ref>{{Cite magazine |author=Steffen Klusmann, Thomas Schulz |title=Allein schaufeln wir nur unser eigenes Grab |magazine=Der Spiegel |location= Hamburg |date=16 March 2019 |page=78 |language=de}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |author=Marc Bartl |title=Thomas Rabes Traum von der RTL-ProSiebenSat.1-Hochzeit |website=Kress News |date=17 February 2020 |access-date=24 June 2020 |url= https://kress.de/news/detail/beitrag/144539-thomas-rabes-traum-von-der-rtl-prosiebensat1-hochzeit.html |language=de}}</ref>