Observed Signal · Jul 21, 2026 · Partnership · Source: Meedia · Impact: 2/5 · Sentiment: Positive
RTL Zwei: TV Audiences Older, Streaming Younger
In a video interview, RTL Zwei chief Thorsten Braun says content from RTL Zwei accounts for around 20% of usage on the RTL+ streamer and emphasizes that linear TV and streaming attract different audiences — TV skews much older while streaming is notably younger. Braun says RTL Zwei will deliver a mix of established formats and new, locally grounded ideas in the coming season, including socially weighty topics, and expects advertisers to respond because those formats perform on both TV and streaming (reaching roughly 7–9% among young viewers). He also states that advertising budget predictability is decreasing but that the joint sales construct with El Cartel Brothers and Warner Bros. Discovery in Germany is gaining market share and performing well with younger audiences.
Provides publisher-level audience and inventory signals (20% RTL Zwei share on RTL+; differing age skews between linear and streaming) and notes a joint-marketing sales construct (El Cartel Brothers + Warner Bros. Discovery) that is gaining ad-market share — relevant to TV/CTV ad supply and buyer strategies but not industry-shifting.
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Key Takeaways & Evidence Grounding
- RTL Zwei content accounts for about 20% of usage on the RTL+ streamer, according to RTL Zwei chief Thorsten Braun.
- Thorsten Braun said TV audiences have become considerably older while streaming audiences are much younger.
- Braun reported that certain formats reach about 7–9% among young viewers.
- El Cartel Brothers has acted as a joint marketer with Warner Bros. Discovery in Germany since last year and is gaining advertising market share.
Connected Companies & Entities
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“The content of TV channel RTL Zwei is responsible for 20 percent of usage on the RTL streamer RTL+, says channel chief Thorsten Braun in the...”
Ontology Mapping & Concepts
Related Market Signals & Shifts
Recent verified developments and strategic activity across this market segment.
RTLzwei to Grow via Reality, Dating and Docs
RTL Zwei will continue to expand its reality formats and social reportages, commissioning new shows that spotlight everyday people such as snack-bar operators (e.g., the documentary 'Die Imbisshelden'), police officers, unemployed people and even documentaries about terminally ill people seeking to end their lives. The coverage reiterates the channel’s editorial focus on real‑people factual programming—genres it previously established with formats like 'Armes Deutschland' and 'Hartz und herzlich'. This reporting aligns with broader programming plans announced for RTLzwei to grow via reality, dating and documentary content, including multiple new seasons, new format brands and documentary specials, as part of a strategy to raise linear audience share and feed streaming siblings.
ZDFinfo and RTLup Beat RTLzwei Among Young Viewers
DWDL reports that on Monday (TV reach measured for 08.06.2026) the smaller specialist channels ZDFinfo and RTLup outperformed RTLzwei in the 14–49 age group. ZDFinfo recorded a 4.3% daily market share and RTLup 4.0%, while RTLzwei reached 3.3%. Strong-performing documentary and prison-themed programming on ZDFinfo and repeat drama/soap programming blocks on RTLup drove higher young-audience shares, with several individual broadcasts posting peaks (e.g., a North Korea documentary at 9.2% for ZDFinfo). Program-level figures for RTLzwei included 4.2% for a season finale of "Die Geissens" and weaker results later in the evening. Source data: AGF SCOPE / AGF Videoforschung (preliminary, weighted).
RTL and Vox Shows Debut Weak in Linear TV
The German TV ratings analysis for Tuesday shows weak linear debuts for RTL's 'Sommerhaus der Stars' and Vox's 'Club der roten Bänder - Die neue Generation'. Both programs attracted audiences below their respective network averages, indicating a continued shift of viewership to streaming platforms like RTL+. The prime-time victory among 14-49 year-olds went to ProSieben's 'TV total' with a 13.4% market share, while public broadcaster Das Erste dominated total viewership with its evening lineup. The article also covers daily streaming charts for Netflix and Prime Video, highlighting the enduring popularity of titles like 'Reacher' and 'The Gentlemen'.
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