Publisher & Media Owner · vs · Publisher & Media Owner
DMAX vs Sky Deutschland
Structured technology and market comparison · 2026
Direct Feature Comparison
DMAX · vs · Sky DeutschlandGerman free-to-air factual TV channel with digital ad inventory.
German pay-TV, streaming and premium video advertising operator.
Analyze all overlapping signals and tech stacks for DMAX and Sky Deutschland
Compare mutual enterprise clients, monetization models, live market signals, and partner networks directly in the interactive Knowledge Graph.
Comparison Analysis
What is the main difference between DMAX and Sky Deutschland?
When comparing DMAX and Sky Deutschland, both platforms operate within the Video Streaming Platform, Connected TV (CTV) & OTT, and Publisher & Media Owner ecosystem. DMAX is positioned as German free-to-air factual TV channel with digital ad inventory, whereas Sky Deutschland focuses on German pay-TV, streaming and premium video advertising operator. Decision-makers evaluate both solutions when orchestrating their commercial monetization and technology stack.
What are the top alternatives to DMAX and Sky Deutschland?
When evaluating DMAX and Sky Deutschland, enterprise buyers also consider other platforms in Video Streaming Platform, Connected TV (CTV) & OTT, and Publisher & Media Owner. You can discover the full competitive landscape and evaluate other alternatives by viewing their respective footprint profiles on Polaris7.
Market Signals
Recent Market Signals & Activity: DMAX vs Sky Deutschland
Documented market movements, strategic partnerships, product releases, and regulatory developments mapped across Polaris7.
DMAX
Recent Signals
- ·DWDLTV (linear)
DMAX's 'Kings of Cash' Season 3 Goes to USA
DMAX announced the third season of its docu-soap Kings of Cash – Die Pfandleiher. The new season comprises 20 episodes (five more than the first two seasons) and returns to weekday early-evening programming, airing Monday–Friday at 19:15 beginning 7 September. Production is again handled by BluePrint Media. Filming will revisit German locations (Karlsruhe, Bochum, Nürnberg, Berlin, Siegburg) and, for the first time, also include behind-the-scenes coverage at the US pawnshop Paramount Pawn in Florida, where Karlsruhe pawnbrokers Florian and Jabez participate in day-to-day operations.
- DMAX announced the third season of the docu-soap 'Kings of Cash - Die Pfandleiher'.
- The new season comprises 20 episodes, five more than the first two seasons.
- The series returns on 7 September and will air Monday–Friday at 19:15.
- ·DWDLTV (linear)
Giesel stays strong; 'Achtung Kontrolle' hits yearly high
Kabel Eins posted strong linear-TV ratings on 30 July 2026: Peter Giesel’s report format 'Achtung Abzocke' delivered 8.5% share among 14–49-year-olds (210,000 viewers in that demo) and a later repeat reached 8.8% (460,000 total viewers). The pre-evening magazine 'Achtung Kontrolle' set a new annual best with 8.4% in the 14–49 demo (470,000 overall). Afternoon US crime series on Kabel Eins underperformed, while ProSieben Maxx’s 'Storage Wars' achieved 4.1–5.1% in the demo. DMAX had a strong day driven by 'Fang des Lebens' (peaking at 7.2%), 'Steel Buddies' (up to 5.1%), and two primetime episodes of '112: Feuerwehr im Einsatz' (3.2% and 4.5%), with a late-night repeat reaching 13.8%; DMAX’s daily market share was 3.7%, narrowly ahead of RTLzwei. Data source: AGF SCOPE / AGF Videoforschung (preliminary weighted TV data).
- 'Achtung Abzocke' on Kabel Eins scored 8.5% among 14–49-year-olds (average 210,000 in demo); the earlier new episode reached 600,000 viewers overall.
- A repeat of 'Achtung Abzocke' at 22:20 achieved 8.8% in the 14–49 demo with 460,000 viewers.
- 'Achtung Kontrolle' on Kabel Eins recorded a new yearly-best 8.4% in the 14–49 demo, averaging 470,000 viewers.
- ·DWDLTV (linear)
DMAX's '110 Hannover' Sets Season-Finale Ratings Record
At the season finale of '110 Hannover – Im Visier der Polizei', DMAX recorded a new season-best rating among 14–49 year-olds: a 5.0% market share at 20:15, surpassing the previous week's best by 1.2 percentage points. The episode reached 0.31 million viewers (equal to the prior week). Other DMAX emergency-format shows also performed well in the evening, while Nitro screened the 'Police Academy' films and achieved strong shares and reach (including 460,000 viewers for the first film). The article cites AGF SCOPE / AGF Videoforschung as the data source and reports broader daily and top-program ratings for German broadcasters for TV viewing on 21 July 2026.
- DMAX's '110 Hannover' achieved a 5.0% market share among 14–49 year-olds at 20:15 on the season finale, beating the prior week's season-best by 1.2 percentage points.
- The '110 Hannover' episode had 0.31 million viewers, the same reach as the previous week.
- DMAX's 'Die Grenzschützer' and 'Bundespolizei 24/7 - Auftrag Sicherheit' each reached 0.29 million viewers, with 14–49 market shares of 4.8% and 6.0% respectively.
Sky Deutschland
Recent Signals
- ·DWDLDistribution
Krank Berlin Gets Free-TV Premiere Date
The German medical drama series "Krank Berlin" will finally air on free TV, with ZDFneo broadcasting all eight episodes of the first season starting November 25, 2026, in double episodes on Wednesdays at 9:45 PM. The series will also be available on ZDF's streaming portal from November 6, 2026. Produced by Real Film Berlin and Violet Pictures in co-production with ZDF and Apple TV+, the series received two German Television Awards. The show follows a young doctor in a Berlin emergency room and explores the challenges of the healthcare system. Originally commissioned by Sky Deutschland, it was rescued by ZDF after Sky withdrew, with Apple later joining as an international partner.
- ZDFneo will broadcast all eight episodes of 'Krank Berlin' starting November 25, 2026, in double episodes on Wednesdays at 9:45 PM.
- The series will be available on ZDF's streaming portal from November 6, 2026.
- 'Krank Berlin' is a co-production of Real Film Berlin and Violet Pictures, produced with ZDF and Apple TV+.
- ·DWDLMedia Strategy
ARD Program Director Reflects on Babylon Berlin and Future
In an interview with DWDL.de, ARD Program Director Christine Strobl discusses the legacy of the hit series 'Babylon Berlin' and her strategic goals for the public broadcaster. She reflects on the initial challenges of the project, including a partnership with Sky Deutschland, and the lessons learned about cooperation and windowing. Strobl emphasizes the need for more collaboration across the German media landscape, including with ZDF, RTL, and streaming platforms, to remain relevant amid budget constraints and audience fragmentation. She also details her ambition to transform ARD's linear thinking, with a focus on its mediathek, and reveals a reshuffling of the program coordination structure into five core genres. She extended her contract until 2031.
- Christine Strobl extended her contract as ARD Program Director until 2031.
- The final season of 'Babylon Berlin' cost a third more per broadcast minute than previous seasons.
- ARD and ZDF are cooperating again for the Tour de France and in entertainment.
- ·DWDLMedia Consolidation
RTL Deutschland Announces Additional 500 Job Cuts Amid Sky Integration
Following the merger of RTL Deutschland and Sky Deutschland, the combined company will cut approximately 1,100 positions in total, following the earlier elimination of 600 jobs under the 'Shift 2026' program. Most of the additional 500 cuts will occur in 2026. The layoffs aim to eliminate 'double structures' and address competition from global platforms draining advertising revenue. They will be socially responsible, coordinated with works councils, and include non-renewal of expiring contracts and voluntary severance to avoid compulsory redundancies. The integration targets annual synergies of €250 million within three years, with combined content investments of €2.5 billion annually. The EU Commission unconditionally approved the acquisition. Union ver.di has criticized the cuts, and RTL has stated they will be roughly equally distributed between Cologne and Unterföhring, where it has extended its lease by 10 years.
- RTL and Sky Deutschland will cut approximately 1,100 positions in total, including 600 from the earlier 'Shift 2026' program and 500 additional cuts, with most of the latter in 2026.
- The job cuts are driven by the merger, elimination of double structures, and competition from global platforms for ad revenue.
- The integration targets annual synergies of €250 million within three years, with combined content investments of €2.5 billion annually.
Compare their exact ecosystem overlaps.
Explore all deep relationships in Polaris7. Discover exactly which mutual clients, integrated technologies, and overlapping partners DMAX and Sky Deutschland share across the market ecosystem.