Observed Signal · Sep 2, 2026 · Market Signal · Source: RTL Group · Impact: 3/5
An interview with Jeff Spielmann and Christophe Hochard
New press release item added to RTL Group's press releases and news overview: 'An interview with Jeff Spielmann and Christophe Hochard' (02.09.2026 | RTL Luxembourg).
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RTL News responsibilities shift to CEO Stephan Schmitter
Following RTL Deutschland's acquisition of Sky Deutschland (effective June 1, 2026), the company has reorganized editorial responsibilities: RTL News, including ntv, and the Stern group will be consolidated under CEO Stephan Schmitter. Operational leadership of RTL News remains with Martin Gradl as managing director (who will now report directly to Schmitter rather than to Chief Content Officer Inga Leschek). Inga Leschek relinquishes responsibility for the news area but retains control over other content including sports. Deputy managing director Wolf-Ulrich Schüler, editorial leaders Gerhard Kohlenbach (RTL), David Whigham (ntv) and Susanne Althoff (deputy ntv) and Managing Director Isabella Thissen are part of the RTL News leadership. RTL says the change underlines the strategic importance of its journalistic brands such as Stern, GEO, Capital, Art and the digital Stern+ offering.
RTL and Sky Reveal New Programming and Ad Plans
At the Screenforce Festival RTL presented its programming and commercial strategy, stressing live sports, events and reality formats to compete with large streaming services. The broadcaster highlighted rights and distribution for premium sports (Formula 1, Europa League and other football properties) and entertainment plans including a new run of the game show Gladiators (a co-production with Prime Video) and refreshed German-language fiction based on classics. The presentation followed RTL’s recent integration of Sky assets and emphasised a cross-platform offer across linear TV and streaming to grow ad contacts and monetisable premium inventory for advertisers.
RTL Group expands leadership team with AI focus
RTL Group announced leadership changes within its executive team on 2026-08-18. Jan Peter Lacher will move into a newly created role as Senior Advisor to CEO Clément Schwebig and will focus exclusively on artificial intelligence across the group. Hendrik von der Linden will join the RTL Group from RTL Deutschland as EVP Strategy, Transformation & Business Development, working closely with the RTL Group board to shape and implement group strategy, identify growth opportunities, assess potential M&A and partnerships, monitor market developments, and coordinate the Group's Synergy Committees (SyCos). The article notes Lacher's prior role in driving the group's AI transformation and building partnerships with leading technology companies. (Source: DWDL.de, author Uwe Mantel.)
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