Observed Signal · Jan 23, 2020 · M&A · Source: OnlineMarketing.de · Impact: 3/5 · Sentiment: Neutral
Divimove and TUBE ONE Networks Merge
Divimove, the online video company, and the shareholders of TUBE ONE Networks have signed agreements to merge, creating an integrated cross-border European digital studio and talent network. German and Austrian competition authorities approved the merger on January 21, 2020. The combined group aims to leverage Divimove’s production and distribution capabilities with TUBE ONE Networks’ influencer network across eight European markets, supported by RTL Group resources and the UFA X studio. Tobias Schiwek, CEO of Divimove, announced leadership alignment, with Mark Lucht continuing to lead TUBE ONE Networks and reporting to Schiwek; co-founder Denis Müller remains on board. TUBE ONE Networks counts around 250 artists and over 300 million YouTube views, with reach across Instagram, TikTok, and Facebook. Together, the merged company will employ more than 240 people, and more than 20 positions are currently open.
Significant consolidation in European influencer marketing and digital studio/network landscape; cross-border growth under RTL Group
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Key Takeaways & Evidence Grounding
- German and Austrian antitrust authorities approved the merger on January 21, 2020.
- Divimove and TUBE ONE Networks signed merger agreements to form an integrated cross-border European digital studio and talent network.
- Post-merger, 250 artists and over 300 million YouTube views are attributed to TUBE ONE Networks; reach across Instagram, TikTok and Facebook.
- Together they employ more than 240 people and have more than 20 open positions.
- Leadership: Tobias Schiwek (Divimove CEO) and Mark Lucht (CEO, TUBE ONE Networks) will lead their units; Lucht reports to Schiwek, and co-founder Denis Müller remains on board.
Connected Companies & Entities
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Recent verified developments and strategic activity across this market segment.
RTL's 'Who Wants to Be a Millionaire?' Hits High Young Audience Share
On Wednesday, RTL's special '3 Million Euro Week' of 'Wer wird Millionär?' featured exclusively pensioners as contestants, attracting 520,000 viewers aged 14-49 and achieving an 18.2% market share in that demographic, the highest since January. Total viewership reached 2.75 million, making RTL the most successful private broadcaster with a 16.6% share. In contrast, Vox's 'Stern TV Reportage' and RTLzwei's 'Love Island VIP' underperformed. The special week concludes with a final on Thursday.
Wow launches in Austria, Bundling with RTL+ planned
Sky X has been replaced by Wow in Austria. The streaming service, owned by Sky Deutschland (recently acquired by RTL), launched in Austria on October 7, 2026. Wow offers more device support, individual profiles, personalized recommendations, smart search, and a watchlist. A bundle combining Wow and RTL+ is planned within weeks, but no concrete date yet. Meanwhile, the legal dispute between ORF and former director Roland Weißmann continues, with 3,820 seized chats that Weißmann claims exonerate him. The Austrian government's media package has failed for now due to disagreements over free newspaper subsidies. Additionally, journalist Michael Bonvalot was temporarily arrested at a demonstration, leading to legal action against police.
The Voice Hits Streaming Record, Babylon Berlin Strong
The AGF's program brand measurement data for calendar week 39 (September 21-27, 2026) shows that 'The Voice of Germany' reached a new streaming record of 511,000 unique viewers on Joyn, crossing the half-million mark for the first time since the metric was introduced in 2024. It was the strongest Joyn brand of the week. Meanwhile, ARD's 'Sportschau' led the overall streaming ranking with 1.767 million viewers, helped by the German national football team's match against Greece, closely followed by 'Babylon Berlin' with 1.75 million, which remained the most-watched fiction title. RTL's 'Oktagon MMA' also posted a streaming best outside the top 20. The data covers streaming on the providers' own platforms, excluding YouTube and social networks, and represents net reach, not average viewership.
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