FUNKE Digital vs waipu.tv

Funke Digital Opens Programmatic Architecture to All Publishers

Funke Digital has launched yieldHub, a programmatic advertising sales house that opens its proprietary technology platform to external publishers for the first time. The platform, developed over ten years, handles programmatic display and video advertising, including ad server integration, SSP connections, and ongoing revenue optimization. yieldHub is positioned as a managed service, not direct sales, and leverages Funke's market position for favorable terms. The Austrian company Molindo GmbH with its music portal Songtexte.com is the launch customer. This move contrasts with Hamburg-based Morgenpost's decision to abandon programmatic advertising.

• Funke Digital launches yieldHub, a programmatic advertising sales house.
• yieldHub opens Funke's proprietary programmatic technology to external publishers.
• Molindo GmbH is the first customer with Songtexte.com (2.6M monthly unique users).

Funke revamps video stack with Target Video

Funke Digital, the digital subsidiary of Funke Mediengruppe, has replaced its in‑house video stack with a multi-year partnership with Munich-based Target Video. The agreement covers Funke's online portals (including Der Westen and national brands like Hörzu) and gives Target Video responsibility for the video player, a video CMS, integrations with existing content management systems, SDKs for apps, livestreaming and vertical feeds, plus rule-based syndication across the publisher's brand portfolio. Target Video will also participate in monetization via its demand network, using a video ad server, an integrated Prebid Server and AI-driven yield optimization (non-exclusive). A new video‑matching system is being rolled out that analyzes article semantics and video content (audio transcription and frame-level image analysis) to automate matching and reduce editorial effort. Target Video previously acquired Brid.TV in 2023, expanding its player/CMS/monetization stack.

• Funke Digital replaced its in-house video solution with Target Video under a multi-year partnership.
• The partnership covers Funke portals including Der Westen and national brands like Hörzu.
• Target Video provides video player, video CMS, CMS interfaces, SDKs for apps, livestreaming and vertical video feeds.

Fernsehen 2030: Zuschauer wollen KI, aber die Kontrolle behalten

Aktuelle waipu.tv Umfrage zum Fernsehverhalten in 4 - 5 Jahren. Wie entwickeln sich die Einflüsse von KI auf das Entertainmentverhalten und was beschäftigt die Menschen in Deutschland schon heute.

44% of Germans Struggle to Find TV Content Despite Abundance

A representative survey commissioned by TV provider Waipu.TV, conducted in August 2026 among over a thousand Germans, reveals a widespread content discovery dilemma. 44% of respondents say they cannot always find suitable programming despite extensive offerings, and an equal share sometimes end up watching nothing after extended searching. Only 30% know immediately what to watch upon arriving home. The survey also highlights strong consumer demand for simpler content discovery: 45% want easier findability, and 35% desire all content on a single surface. A majority (59%) would welcome AI-powered content suggestions, yet only 4% would allow AI to autonomously select films or plan their TV evening. Markus Härtenstein, CEO of Exaring AG, Waipu.TV's operator, emphasizes the need for simple access to entertainment variety and for AI to aid discovery while keeping the final choice personal.

• 44% of German respondents find no suitable TV program despite large content choice.
• 44% of respondents sometimes stop watching altogether after a prolonged search.
• 45% of respondents desire easier content findability; 35% want all content on one interface.

Freenet acquires full control of waipu.tv

German mobile carrier Freenet AG is acquiring the remaining 25% stake in Exaring AG, operator of online TV platform waipu.tv, from minority shareholders for an initial €76 million, valuing the company at around €300 million. Additional performance-based earn-out payments of up to €50 million may follow based on future success. The acquisition, fully financed from liquid funds, abandons plans for a waipu.tv IPO. Freenet sees waipu.tv's IPTV offering as a strategic growth driver in the German market, including potential in programmatic advertising, and maintains its dividend outlook. Waipu.tv serves approximately two million customers and holds a 20-25% market share in German IPTV. CEO Robin Harries and CFO Ingo Arnold highlighted the strategic benefits.

• Freenet acquires remaining 25% of Exaring AG, owner of waipu.tv, for initial €76 million.
• Company valuation is about €300 million; earn-out payments up to €50 million are possible.
• Acquisition is fully financed from liquid funds.