Published by Global Banking & Finance Review®
Posted on March 26, 2026
2 min readLast updated: March 26, 2026
Add as preferred source on GoogleBertelsmann’s 2025 adjusted EBITDA dipped to €3.02 billion from €3.11 billion in 2024, largely due to an 8 % drop in operating profit at RTL amid weak TV advertising markets.
March 26 (Reuters) - German media conglomerate Bertelsmann reported a slight decline in its 2025 operating profit on Thursday, weighed down by weakness in broadcasting subsidiary RTL.
The group reported adjusted operating earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortisation of 3.02 billion euros ($3.49 billion) for the year, compared with 3.11 billion euros in 2024.
RTL, which accounted for around a third of Bertelsmann's total revenue in 2024, earlier in March reported an 8% drop in its adjusted operating profit due to weak advertising markets, while expanding the number of subscribers in its streaming business by 19%.
“2025 was a solid financial year for us. In a challenging environment, our broad business and geographic footprint once again proved its worth," Bertelsmann CEO Thomas Rabe said in a statement.
He noted that the earnings were slightly higher when excluding currency and portfolio effects and the sale of RTL's Netherlands division.
Bertelsmann, whose brands also include music business BMG and publisher Penguin Random House, said holders of its 2001 participating certificates were expected to receive a distribution of 15% of the principal amount, with payouts on the 1992 participating certificates rising to 6.01% from 5.53% a year earlier.
($1 = 0.8653 euros)
(Reporting by Cian Muenster and Emanuele Berro in Gdansk and Klaus Laurer in Berlin; editing by Milla Nissi-Prussak)
Bertelsmann's earnings fell due to weakness at its broadcasting subsidiary RTL, which suffered from a decline in advertising markets.
Bertelsmann reported an adjusted operating profit of 3.02 billion euros in 2025.
RTL accounted for around a third of Bertelsmann's total revenue in 2024.
RTL's adjusted operating profit declined by 8% due to weak advertising markets.
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