RTL defended 500 job cuts, and RTL Group stock sits below its EUR 31.05 Xetra close

Published on 10/21/2026 at 10:20 | Editorial responsibility: Rafael Müller, Editor-in-Chief AD HOC NEWS

RTL defended 500 job cuts on September 24, 2026. RTL Group stock costs EUR 30.98 on October 21, 2026, 0.23 percent below the October 20, 2026 Xetra close.

Streaming lifts first-half EBITA

RTL defended 500 job cuts on September 24, 2026.
First-half 2026 revenue rose 3.9 percent to EUR 2.9 billion.
RTL Group stock trades at EUR 30.98 at 10:12 a.m. CEST at Lang & Schwarz on October 21, 2026, 0.23 percent below the Xetra close of October 20, 2026.
RTL is scheduled to publish third-quarter results on November 17, 2026.

Flatlay-Anordnung mit Aktienzertifikat, ISIN-Karte, Filmklappe und Filmrolle — RTL Group LU0061462528 zeigt Flatlay mit Aktienzertifikat, ISIN-Karte, Klappe, Filmrolle und Kameraobjektiv, Illustration mit AI erstellt.

RTL Group (ISIN LU0061462528) stock was trading at EUR 30.98 at Lang & Schwarz on October 21, 2026, at 10:12 a.m. CEST, 0.23 percent below the October 20, 2026 Xetra close of EUR 31.05. The latest company-specific catalyst was Bertelsmann CEO Thomas Rabe's defense of around 500 job cuts at RTL Deutschland and Sky on September 24, 2026, as Kress reported.

Why the 500 cuts matter

The reduction is tied to the integration of Sky Deutschland and the removal of duplicate structures in Cologne and Munich. Rabe said the cuts were intended to build a more effective business, while Bertelsmann was also considering one or two further acquisitions in 2026, according to Kress.

What changed in first-half 2026?

RTL's transformation is visible in the operating figures. In the first half of 2026, revenue grew 3.9 percent to EUR 2.9 billion, while adjusted EBITA increased from EUR 160 million to EUR 239 million and the margin rose from 5.8 percent to 8.3 percent, according to Yahoo Finance.

Three dates shape RTL's transition

On June 1, 2026, RTL closed the Sky Deutschland acquisition and confirmed EUR 250 million of annual synergies over three years. On August 11, 2026, management presented the first-half figures, including the 3.9 percent revenue increase. On September 24, 2026, Rabe defended the 500 job cuts. The acquisition, earnings and restructuring milestones are documented in Yahoo Finance and Kress.

When is the next company date?

RTL is scheduled to publish its third-quarter 2026 results on November 17, 2026, a date listed in Finanzen.ch. That report should show how the Sky integration and cost actions are progressing beyond the one-month contribution included in the first-half period.

Stock stays below 31 euros

RTL Group stock was trading at EUR 30.98 at Lang & Schwarz on October 21, 2026, at 10:12 a.m. CEST, 0.23 percent below the October 20, 2026 Xetra close of EUR 31.05. The further course of trading is shown by the continuously updated real-time quote of RTL Group stock.