Status: 03/31/2022 1:04 p.m
The Bertelsmann media group benefited from the recovery in the advertising markets last year. The streaming business of the subsidiary RTL is growing particularly strongly.
In 2021, the media, services and education group Bertelsmann benefited from the recovery of the advertising markets and growth in the service business. Earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization (Ebitda) were 3.2 billion euros, after 3.1 billion in 2020. “We have grown organically in double digits, have achieved the highest operating result since our foundation and the best consolidated result since 2006.” , said CEO Thomas Rabe.
RTL+ is growing strongly
In particular, the listed RTL Group, the book publishing group Penguin Random House and the service provider Arvato contributed to the best value, it said. The streaming services RTL+ in Germany and Videoland in the Netherlands now have 3.8 million paying subscribers, which is 74 percent more than in the previous year.
Driven by the sale of companies, consolidated profit rose by 58 percent to 2.3 billion euros. Adjusted for acquisitions and sales of parts of the company, the group’s sales grew by eleven percent to almost 19 billion euros. With the exception of the declining print business, all areas reported growth.
Uncertainty because of the consequences of the war
With the merger of RTL Germany and Gruner + Jahr, “a national media champion in Germany” was created, explained the group, which has its headquarters in Gütersloh. At the beginning of August 2021, RTL Deutschland announced the takeover of the publishing house Gruner + Jahr, which also belongs to the Bertelsmann Group. The transaction was completed on January 1, 2022.
CFO Rolf Hellermann gave the following outlook for the current financial year: “For 2022, we expect a moderate increase in revenue and an operating result that will remain stable at a record level before investments in RTL Group’s streaming business.” These expectations do not yet take into account the currently unforeseeable effects of the war in Ukraine.