Fremantle Reports Nearly 10% Drop in Revenue to $2.4B Amid U.S. and UK Entertainment Declines
Fremantle Reports Decline in Revenues Amid Challenging Market Conditions
Fremantle, the producer behind popular shows like Got Talent, has experienced a 9.4% decrease in revenue, a decline attributed to difficulties in key entertainment markets. Parent company RTL Group reported that Fremantle’s full-year revenue for 2025 totaled €2.03 billion ($2.36 billion), down from €2.24 billion in 2024.
RTL Group stated, “This was mainly due to lower revenue from the entertainment business, especially in the U.S. and the UK.” The company highlighted that declines in the U.S. market have been a recurring issue hindering growth.
Moreover, Fremantle was impacted by "significant negative special items." The company recorded an impairment cost of €125 million, while RTL Deutschland faced a loss of €201 million. These setbacks contributed to RTL Group’s overall revenue for the year, which stood at €1.08 billion, influenced significantly by the sale of RTL Nederland.
As an international player, Fremantle is navigating a competitive production and distribution landscape, witnessing mergers such as Paramount’s acquisition of Warner Bros. Discovery and Banijay’s merger with All3Media.
In broader corporate news, RTL Group, owned by Bertelsmann, reported an overall revenue of €6 billion for the year, reflecting a 3.8% decline. The company’s adjusted EBITA fell from €721 million in 2024 to €661 million, largely due to decreased profit contributions from its broadcasting segments. However, streaming costs decreased significantly—from €90 million to €47 million—while streaming revenues rose by 26% to €509 million, nearing breakeven.
Thomas Rabe, CEO of RTL Group, commented, “We are accelerating our transformation and positioning RTL Group for sustainable profit growth.” He noted that the market environment remains challenging, particularly with a significant drop in TV advertising and a rapid shift from linear TV to streaming. In response, RTL Group is reallocating resources to streaming and implementing extensive cost reductions across its primary businesses.
Looking ahead, RTL, which is in the process of acquiring Sky Deutschland, forecasts an adjusted EBITA of €725 million for the full year 2026 and has confirmed a medium-term adjusted EBITA target of €1 billion.
