Industry Statistics and Trends
Market size and recent performance (2016-2031)
Industry revenue has declined at a CAGR of 4.0 % over the past five years, to reach an estimated €9.3bn in 2026.
Trends and Insights
The decline in linear TV usage is driving TV broadcasters to invest in their own streaming platforms
- Until the mid-2010s, the firmly established structures and processes in the television industry hardly changed. Due to their high market power and regulatory protection, the major industry players had little incentive to invest in innovative offerings in order to hold their own against competitors. However, this changed with the emergence of streaming services. For Germany, current analyses of the AGF TV and Video Balance 2025 show that streaming is becoming significantly more important. According to AGF, the daily streaming duration increased from 6 to 8 minutes (21%) between 2024 and 2025, while linear TV usage fell by 13 minutes (-7.7%) in the same period.
- Additional trends and insights available with purchase
Source: IBISWorld
Industry outlook (2026-2031)
Market size is projected to decline over the next five years.
Trends and Insights
Private television broadcasters are increasingly expanding their business models to include cross-platform offerings
- Private television broadcasters are increasingly evolving from pure linear programme providers to cross-platform providers that make their content available via various digital channels and end devices. To this end, they will bundle linear channels, pay TV packages, streaming services, teleshopping, events and various online offerings.
Biggest companies in the Television Programming & Broadcasting in Germany
| Company | Market Share (%)
2026 | Revenue (€m)
2026 |
|---|---|---|
RTL Group S. A. | 2,212.4 | |
ProSiebenSat.1 Media SE | 2,092.5 | |
Sky Deutschland Fernsehen GmbH & Co. KG | 2,078.2 |
To view the market share and analysis for all 4 top companies in this industry, view purchase options.
Products & Services Segmentation
Source: IBISWorld
Industry revenue is measured across several distinct product and services lines, including Full programme, Entertainment programme and Teleshopping. Full programme is the largest segment of the Television Programming & Broadcasting in Germany.
Trends and Insights
The full programme includes all television formats to a defined minimum extent, in particular news, sport and documentaries
- The full programme includes all television formats to the minimum extent stipulated by the Interstate Broadcasting Treaty.
- More insights available in the full report
Table of Contents
About this industry
Industry definition
The television broadcasting industry comprises the compilation and broadcasting of TV programmes, but not the production of films and series. Germany has a dual broadcasting system. A distinction is made between public and private television broadcasters.
What's included in this industry?
Products and services covered in the Television Programming & Broadcasting industry in Germany include Full programme, Entertainment programme, Teleshopping, Sports programme, Children and youth programme and News.Companies
Companies covered in the Television Programming & Broadcasting industry in Germany include RTL Group S. A., ProSiebenSat.1 Media SE and Sky Deutschland Fernsehen GmbH & Co. KG.Purchase this report to view all 4 major companies in this industry.
Related Terms
Related terms covered in the Television Programming & Broadcasting industry in Germany include public service broadcasters, private television broadcasters, streaming, smart tv, social-tv, scripted-reality-tv, narrative reality-tv, performative reality-tv, video-on-demand and pay-tv.Industry Code
WZ 60.20 - Television Programming & Broadcasting in Germany
Performance
Get an indication of the industry's health through historical, current and forward-looking trends in the performance indicators that make or break businesses.
Analyst insights
The industry players are trying to keep up with the streaming services with their own online offerings. Online media libraries, some of which are smart TV-compatible, but als...
In this chapter (4)
- Current Performance
- Outlook
- Volatility
- Life Cycle
Key metrics
- Annual Revenue, Recent Growth, Forecast, Revenue Volatility
- Number of Employees, Recent Growth, Forecast, Employees per Business, Revenue per Employee
- Number of Businesses, Recent Growth, Forecast, Employees per Business, Revenue per Business
- Total Profit, Profit Margin, Profit per Business
Charts
- Revenue, including historical (2016-2025) and forecast (2026-2031)
- Employees, including historical (2016-2025) and forecast (2026-2031)
- Businesses, including historical (2016-2025) and forecast (2026-2031)
- Profit, including historical (2016-2026)
- Industry Volatility vs. Revenue Growth
- Industry Life Cycle
Detailed analysis
- Trends in supply, demand and current events that are driving current industry performance
- Expected trends, economic factors and ongoing events that drive the industry's outlook
- Key success factors for businesses to overcome volatility
- How contribution to GDP, industry saturation, innovation, consolidation, and technology and systems influence the industry's life cycle phase.
Products and Markets
Learn about an industry's products and services, markets and trends in international trade.
Analyst insight
The most important revenue driver for television broadcasters is the full programme. The entertainment programme also generates high revenue shares.
In this chapter
- Products & Services
- Major Markets
Key metrics
- Largest market segment and value in 2026
- Product innovation level
Charts
- Products & services segmentation in 2026
- Major market segmentation in 2026
Detailed analysis
- Trends impacting the recent performance of the industry's various segments
- Innovations in the industry's product or service offering, specialization or delivery method
- Key factors that successful businesses consider in their offerings
- Buying segments and key trends influencing demand for industry products and services
Geographic Breakdown
Discover where business activity is most concentrated in an industry and the factors driving these trends to find opportunities and conduct regional benchmarking.
Analyst insights
Industry players in the southern region benefit from the high number of talented professionals and creative minds. The southern region is the centre of the German media lands...
In this chapter (1)
- Business Locations
Charts
- Share of revenue, establishment, wages and employment in each region
- Share of population compared to establishments in each region in 2026
Tables
- Number and share of establishments in each region in 2026
- Number and share of revenue each region accounts for in 2026
- Number and share of wages each region accounts for in 2026
- Number and share of employees in each region in 2026
Detailed analysis
- Geographic spread of the industry across Europe, and trends associated with changes in the business landscape
- Key success factors for businesses to use location to their advantage
Competitive Forces
Get data and insights on what's driving competition in an industry and the challenges industry operators and new entrants may face, with analysis built around Porter's Five Forces framework.
Analyst insights
While industry players are achieving high profit margins internally, they are increasingly facing external competitors with product substitutes. Consumers are increasingly sw...
In this chapter (4)
- Concentration
- Barriers to Entry
- Substitutes
- Buyer & Supplier Analysis
Key metrics
- Industry concentration level
- Industry competition level and trend
- Barriers to entry level and trend
- Substitutes level and trend
- Buyer power level and trend
- Supplier power level and trend
Charts
- Market share concentration among the top 4 suppliers from 2021-2026
- Supply chain including upstream supplying industries and downstream buying industries, flow chart
Detailed analysis
- Factors impacting the industry’s level of concentration, such as business distribution, new entrants, or merger and acquisition activity.
- Key success factors for businesses to manage the competitive environment of the industry.
- Challenges that potential industry entrants face such as legal, start-up costs, differentiation, labor/capital intensity and capital expenses.
- Key success factors for potential entrants to overcome barriers to entry.
- Competitive threats from potential substitutes for the industry’s own products and services.
- Key success factors for how successful businesses can compete with substitutes.
- Advantages that buyers have to keep favorable purchasing conditions.
- Advantages that suppliers have to maintain favorable selling conditions.
- Key success factors for how businesses can navigate buyer and supplier power.
Companies
Learn about the performance of the top companies in the industry.
Analyst insights
RTL Group S. A. has the largest market share in the industry. The company is continuously expanding its business and investing heavily in the expansion of its online offering...
In this chapter
- Market Share Concentration
- Companies
- Company Spotlights
Charts
- Industry market share by company in 2022 through 2026
- Major companies in the industry, including market share, revenue, profit and profit margin in 2026
- Overview of RTL Group S. A.'s performance by revenue, market share and profit margin from 2020 through 2026
- Overview of ProSiebenSat.1 Media SE's performance by revenue, market share and profit margin from 2020 through 2026
- Overview of Sky Deutschland Fernsehen GmbH & Co. KG's performance by revenue, market share and profit margin from 2020 through 2026
- Overview of revenue, market share and profit margin trend for one additional company
Detailed analysis
- Description and key data for RTL Group S. A., and factors influencing its performance in the industry
- Description and key data for ProSiebenSat.1 Media SE, and factors influencing its performance in the industry
- Description and key data for Sky Deutschland Fernsehen GmbH & Co. KG, and factors influencing its performance in the industry
- Description, key data and performance trends for one additional company
External Environment
Understand the demographic, economic and regulatory factors that shape how businesses in an industry perform.
Analyst insights
Öffentlich-rechtliche Sender sind durch den Rundfunkstaatsvertrag reguliert, der Werbezeiten, erlaubte Werbe- und Programminhalt sowie die Finanzierung der Anstalten durch den...
In this chapter
- External Drivers
- Regulation & Policy
- Assistance
Key metrics
- Regulation & policy level and trend
- Assistance level and trend
Charts
- Regulation & Policy historical data and forecast (2016-2031)
- Assistance historical data and forecast (2016-2031)
Detailed analysis
- Demographic and macroeconomic factors influencing the industry, including Regulation & Policy and Assistance
- Major types of regulations, regulatory bodies, industry standards or specific regulations impacting requirements for industry operators
- Key governmental and non-governmental groups or policies that may provide some relief for industry operators.
Financial Benchmarks
View average costs for industry operators and compare financial data against an industry's financial benchmarks over time.
Analyst insights
The profit margin has fluctuated slightly over the last five years. These fluctuations are the result of the dependence on viewing figures and the associated advertising reve...
In this chapter
- Cost Structure
- Financial Ratios
- Key Ratios
Key metrics
- Profit margin, and how it compares to the sector-wide margin
- Average wages, and how it compares to the sector-wide average wage
- Largest cost component as a percentage of revenue
- Industry average ratios for days' receivables, industry coverage and debt-to-net-worth ratio
Charts
- Average industry operating costs as a share of revenue, including purchases, wages, depreciation, utilities, rent, other costs and profit in 2026
- Average sector operating costs as a share of revenue, including purchases, wages, depreciation, utilities, rent, other costs and profit in 2026
- Investment vs. share of economy
Data tables
- Cash Flow & Debt Service Ratios (2016-2031)
- Revenue per Employee (2016-2031)
- Revenue per Enterprise (2016-2031)
- Employees per Establishment (2016-2031)
- Employees per Enterprise (2016-2031)
- Average Wage (2016-2031)
- Wages/Revenue (2016-2031)
- Establishments per Enterprise (2016-2031)
- IVA/Revenue (2016-2031)
- Imports/Demand (2016-2031)
- Exports/Revenue (2016-2031)
Detailed analysis
- Trends in the cost component for industry operators and their impact on industry costs and profitability
Key Statistics
Industry Data
Data Tables
Including values and annual change:
- Revenue (2016-2031)
- IVA (2016-2031)
- Establishments (2016-2031)
- Enterprises (2016-2031)
- Employment (2016-2031)
- Exports (2016-2031)
- Imports (2016-2031)
- Wages (2016-2031)
Top Questions Answered
Unlock comprehensive answers and precise data upon purchase. View purchase options.
What is the market size of the Television Programming & Broadcasting industry in Germany in 2026?
The market size of the Television Programming & Broadcasting industry in Germany is €9.3bn in 2026.
How many businesses are there in the Television Programming & Broadcasting industry in Germany in 2026?
There are 125 businesses in the Television Programming & Broadcasting industry in Germany, which has declined at a CAGR of 1.1 % between 2021 and 2026.
How may import tariffs affect the Television Programming & Broadcasting industry in Germany?
The Television Programming & Broadcasting industry in Germany is unlikely to be materially impacted by import tariffs with imports accounting for a low share of industry revenue.
How may export tariffs affect the Television Programming & Broadcasting industry in Germany?
The Television Programming & Broadcasting industry in Germany is unlikely to be materially impacted by export tariffs with exports accounting for a low share of industry revenue.
Has the Television Programming & Broadcasting industry in Germany grown or declined over the past 5 years?
The market size of the Television Programming & Broadcasting industry in Germany has been declining at a CAGR of 4.0 % between 2021 and 2026.
What is the forecast growth of the Television Programming & Broadcasting industry in Germany over the next 5 years?
Over the next five years, the Television Programming & Broadcasting industry in Germany is expected to decline.
What are the biggest companies in the Television Programming & Broadcasting industry in Germany?
The biggest companies operating in the Television Programming & Broadcasting industry in Germany are RTL Group S. A., ProSiebenSat.1 Media SE and Sky Deutschland Fernsehen GmbH & Co. KG
What does the Television Programming & Broadcasting industry in Germany include?
Full programme and Entertainment programme are part of the Television Programming & Broadcasting industry in Germany.
Which companies have the highest market share in the Television Programming & Broadcasting industry in Germany?
The company holding the most market share in the Television Programming & Broadcasting industry in Germany is RTL Group S. A..
How competitive is the Television Programming & Broadcasting industry in Germany?
The level of competition is moderate and increasing in the Television Programming & Broadcasting industry in Germany.
Methodology
How are IBISWorld reports created?
IBISWorld has been a leading provider of trusted industry research for over 50 years to the most successful companies worldwide. With offices in Australia, the United States, the United Kingdom, Germany and China, we are proud to have local teams of analysts that conduct research, data analysis and forecasting to produce data-driven industry reports.
Our analysts start with official, verified and publicly available sources of data to build the most accurate picture of each industry. Analysts then leverage their expertise and knowledge of the local markets to synthesize trends into digestible content for IBISWorld readers. Finally, each report is reviewed by one of IBISWorld’s editors, who provide quality assurance to ensure accuracy and readability.
IBISWorld relies on human-verified data and human-written analysis to compile each standard industry report. We do not use generative AI tools to write insights, although members can choose to leverage AI-based tools within the platform to generate additional analysis formats.
What data sources do IBISWorld analysts use?
Each industry report incorporates data and research from government databases, industry-specific sources, industry contacts, and our own proprietary database of statistics and analysis to provide balanced, independent and accurate insights.
Key data sources in Germany include:
- German Federal Statistics Office (Destatis)
- European Statistics Office (Eurostat)
- United Nations Comtrade
Analysts also use industry specific sources to complement catch-all sources, although their perspective may focus on a particular organization or representative body, rather than a clear overview of all industry operations. However, when balanced against other perspectives, industry-specific sources provide insights into industry trends.
These sources include:
- Industry and trade associations
- Industry federations or regulators
- Major industry players annual or quarterly filings
Finally, IBISWorld’s global data scientists maintain a proprietary database of macroeconomic and demand drivers, which our analysts use to help inform industry data and trends. They also maintain a database of statistics and analysis on thousands of industries, which has been built over our more than 50-year history and offers comprehensive insights into long-term trends.
How does IBISWorld forecast its data?
IBISWorld’s analysts and data scientists use the sources above to create forecasts for our proprietary datasets and industry statistics. Depending on the dataset, they may use regression analysis, multivariate analysis, time-series analysis or exponential smoothing techniques to project future data for the industry or driver. Additionally, analysts will leverage their local knowledge of industry operating and regulatory conditions to impart their best judgment on the forecast model.
IBISWorld prides itself on being a trusted, independent source of data, with over 50 years of experience building and maintaining rich datasets and forecasting tools. We are proud to be the keystone source of industry information for thousands of companies across the world.
Learn more about our methodology and data sourcing on the Help Center.
