North Munich's chilly autumn sees a heated rivalry between Sport 1, Sky, and P7S1 in sports broadcasting

In the vibrant world of German media, several key players are experiencing significant changes. Here's a rundown of the latest developments.

At ProSiebenSat.1, revenue has taken a dip, falling by seven percent compared to the previous year. This decline has sparked a period of reevaluation, with potential restructuring on the horizon, possibly leading to job losses. The board of ProSiebenSat.1 previously recommended rejecting a takeover offer from Media for Europe (MFE), but the situation remains fluid.

Meanwhile, MFE and PPF Group have submitted takeover bids for ProSiebenSat.1. MFE's improved offer emphasises its long-term investment and commitment, with the potential for recurring annual cost synergies of 150 million euros. As of mid-August 2025, MFE secured 43.57% of the shares, with PPF holding 18.41%. However, MFE's final acquisition is pending regulatory approval, and PPF's offer is fully closed.

The employee representatives of ProSiebenSat.1 have expressed concerns about the potential right-wing populist agenda of MFE. Meanwhile, media professor Martin Andree comments on the ongoing tug-of-war over ProSiebenSat.1, stating that both German politics and society do not value the media enough.

In a separate development, Tufan Ozkul has taken over as interim CEO of Sport 1, indicating potential for further restructuring. Sport 1 is transitioning to a mixed sports entertainment channel. The Christmas format on Sport 1 has been a ratings winner, significantly contributing to the growth of darts in Germany. Matthias Reichert, CEO of Sport 1, is handing over operational business but will continue to work with Acunmedya on a different level.

RTL, another major player, has seen a 3.2 percent fall in revenue in the first half of 2025. The revenue from TV advertising dropped almost seven percent in the same period. However, the takeover of Sky by RTL includes a potential payment of up to 377 million euros in shares. Thomas Rabe, CEO of RTL, expects Sky to return to profitability by 2026.

The competition authorities are unlikely to recognise too high a concentration and weakening of competition in the RTL-Sky takeover. Larger competitors will also be bidding for the Darts World Championship broadcasting rights in the next round, adding another layer of competition to the media landscape.

Amidst these changes, Roger Elsener, CEO of Zattoo, counters that consolidation is normal in the TV industry and that German private broadcasters are well-positioned due to attractive formats for advertisers. The situation for the three channels in Munich's north (Sky, Sport 1, and ProSiebenSat.1) remains uncertain, but one thing is clear: the media landscape in Germany is undergoing a significant transformation.

North Munich's chilly autumn sees a heated rivalry between Sport 1, Sky, and P7S1 in sports broadcasting