RTL Germany slashes 600 jobs while betting €90M on Stefan Raab’s TV comeback
RTL Germany has announced plans to cut 600 jobs as the media company faces growing pressure from digital competition. The move comes alongside a controversial €90 million investment in Stefan Raab’s return to television, sparking debate over the broadcaster’s financial choices.
CEO Stephan Schmitter explained that the job reductions were necessary due to a shifting media landscape and economic challenges. The cuts will affect both full-time and part-time staff, with RTL promising a severance programme to support those leaving. The company is working with works councils to avoid forced redundancies where possible.
Meanwhile, RTL has committed a reported €90 million to Stefan Raab’s comeback, a deal spanning at least four years. The decision has drawn criticism, particularly from writer Micky Beisenherz, who questioned the spending on social media platform X. His comments triggered wider online discussions about whether such high-profile investments are sustainable.
The strategy reflects RTL’s push to retain viewers amid rising competition from streaming services. However, the contrast between large entertainment budgets and job cuts has raised concerns about the broadcaster’s long-term priorities. Key figures in the decision include outgoing COO Elmar Heggen and incoming CEO Clément Schwebig, both part of RTL’s leadership under parent company Bertelsmann.
The job cuts will reshape RTL’s workforce while the Raab deal tests the balance between audience appeal and financial caution. The company’s approach to redundancies and high-profile spending will likely remain under scrutiny as the media sector continues to evolve.
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