RTL.de
The online home of a major German commercial TV network with show clips, news and RTL+ streaming.
RTL.de at a glance
RTL.de is an entertainment & streaming website and one of the most visited sites in Germany, currently ranked #106 in the country. It was founded in 1984 by CLT, Bertelsmann and is headquartered in Cologne, Germany. Today RTL.de is owned by RTL Deutschland. Our estimates put its audience at ≈ 80 million visits per month. The business earns money mainly through tv advertising, digital advertising, subscriptions. Its closest rivals include prosieben.de, zdf.de, joyn.de.
Traffic statistics
Traffic history
| Period | Visits | Change |
|---|---|---|
| Q1 | ≈ 75.2 million / month | +2% |
| Q2 | ≈ 77.6 million / month | +3% |
| Q3 | ≈ 80 million / month | +3% |
| Q4 | ≈ 84.8 million / month | +6% |
Traffic sources
- Direct63%
- Organic search21%
- Social8%
- Referral5%
- Paid3%
Audience & demographics
- Men54%
- Women46%
- Age 18-2428%
- Age 25-3429%
- Age 35-4421%
The audience is concentrated in Germany, skewing urban and mobile, with usage peaks in the evening hours.
Geographic reach
- Germany86%
Home market
- Diaspora and neighbouring markets7%
- Europe3%
- North America2%
- Rest of world2%
SEO profile
- Estimated organic traffic
- ≈ 24 million visits / month
- Branded share of search
- High — brand terms lead the keyword profile
- Indexed pages
- Large — category, listing or article level
- Primary search market
- Germany
Top organic keywords
| Keyword | Position | Volume | Traffic share |
|---|---|---|---|
| rtl.de | 1 | Very high | Dominant |
| watch online | Top 10 | High | — |
| live stream | Top 10 | High | — |
| subscription price | Top 10 | High | — |
Backlink profile
- Referring domains
- Tens of thousands
- Link profile
- News coverage, directories, blogs and partner sites
- Authority
- High within the Germany web
Top referral sources
- News and media31%
- Directories and aggregators24%
- Blogs and forums20%
- Partner sites14%
- Other11%
Technology stack
Website technologies
Advertising & analytics technologies
Stack details are inferred from public front-end signals and engineering communications; internal systems may differ.
Mobile app statistics
Available in the local store
Available in the local store
- App share of traffic
- ≈ 74% mobile
- Position in country
- Among the leading entertainment & streaming apps in Germany
Company information
- Website
- rtl.de
- Sector
- Entertainment & Streaming
- Owner
- RTL Deutschland
- Owner type
- Subsidiary of public company
- Founders
- CLT, Bertelsmann
- Founded
- 1984
- Headquarters
- Cologne, Germany
- Employees
- 2,000+
- Ownership
- RTL Deutschland controls the platform. Ownership details are based on public filings and press reporting.
- Revenue
- ≈ $2.2 billion annual revenue (est.)
- Languages
- German
- Top traffic sources
- direct, organic search, social
Financials
- Revenue
- ≈ $2.2 billion annual revenue (est.)
- Ownership
- Subsidiary of public company
- Reporting
- Figures based on public filings, press reports and market estimates
Business model & revenue
RTL.de operates an entertainment and streaming service focused on Germany. The online home of a major German commercial TV network with show clips, news and RTL+ streaming. Revenue comes mainly from tv advertising, supported by the other lines listed below.
- TV advertising
- Digital advertising
- Subscriptions
Products & services
Related deals on Amazon
As an Amazon Associate, Global Site Index earns from qualifying purchases.
International presence
- Primary market
- Germany
- Expansion
- Regional and diaspora audiences beyond the home market
Employee statistics
Customer statistics
Website rankings
- Country rank (Germany)
- #106 in this index
- Sector rank
- Leading entertainment & streaming site in Germany
- Global rank
- 1200
Main competitors
Website comparisons
| Website | Monthly visits | Rank | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| prosieben.de | ≈ 48 million / month | #107 class competitor | — |
| zdf.de | ≈ 36 million / month | #108 class competitor | — |
| joyn.de | ≈ 24 million / month | #109 class competitor | — |
What is RTL.de?
RTL.de (rtl.de) is an entertainment and streaming service serving users in Germany. The online home of a major German commercial TV network with show clips, news and RTL+ streaming. It ranks #106 among the most visited websites in the country in this index, within the entertainment & streaming category.
Who owns RTL.de?
The site is operated by RTL Deutschland, founded by CLT, Bertelsmann. The company was established in 1984 and is headquartered in Cologne, Germany. It employs around 2,000+.
Traffic and audience
Traffic estimates place RTL.de at roughly 80 million visits per month, about 2.7 million per day. Around 74% mobile of sessions come from mobile devices, and visitors view about 6.9 pages per visit with an average session of 14 min.
How RTL.de makes money
Revenue comes primarily from tv advertising, alongside digital advertising, subscriptions.
Competitors in Germany
Its closest rivals include prosieben.de, zdf.de, joyn.de.
Data and accuracy
Company facts are drawn from public sources. Traffic, revenue and audience figures are third-party estimates or sector benchmarks, marked with ≈ where modelled, and are reviewed periodically.
Company history & milestones
- 1984
RTL.de is founded in Cologne, Germany.
- Growth phase
Expands its entertainment & streaming offering and moves to a mobile-first product.
- Today
Ranks #106 among the most visited websites in Germany.
User reviews & ratings
| Source | Score | Reviews | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Google Play | ≈ 4.3 / 5 | — | Ratings from the local store listing |
| App Store | ≈ 4.5 / 5 | — | Ratings from the local store listing |
| Consumer review platforms | Mixed | — | Service and support are common themes |
App store ratings are solid, while consumer review platforms show the usual friction around support and service quality.
Pros & cons
Pros
- Large local content library
- Live sports or exclusive originals
- Works across mobile, web and TV apps
- Affordable local pricing tiers
Cons
- Content rotates out of the catalogue
- Ad-supported tier interrupts playback
- Rights restrictions limit some titles
- Streaming quality varies on weak connections
Key statistics
Frequently asked questions
Who owns RTL.de?
RTL.de is operated by RTL Deutschland. Subsidiary of public company structure, based on public filings and press reporting.
Where is RTL.de headquartered?
RTL.de is headquartered in Cologne, Germany.
When was RTL.de founded?
RTL.de was founded in 1984 by CLT, Bertelsmann.
How many employees does RTL.de have?
RTL.de employs approximately 2,000+ people.
What is RTL.de's revenue?
RTL.de's revenue: ≈ $2.2 billion annual revenue (est.).
Who are RTL.de's competitors?
Main competitors in Germany include prosieben.de, zdf.de, joyn.de.
How does RTL.de make money?
Mainly tv advertising, digital advertising, subscriptions.
Is RTL.de publicly traded?
RTL.de's ownership: Subsidiary of public company.
How many visitors does RTL.de get?
Third-party estimates place RTL.de at roughly 80 million visits per month, mostly from Germany, with 74% mobile traffic.
Is RTL.de safe?
RTL.de is an established entertainment & streaming site founded in 1984 and ranked #106 in Germany; use the official domain rtl.de and HTTPS.
Popular searches
Data sources & confidence
- Company website and public announcementsrtl.de
- Third-party traffic estimation providersSimilarweb-class estimates
Visit figures are modelled, not measured
- App store listingsApple App Store, Google Play
- Press and market coverageGermany and international business media
- Data confidence
- Medium for company facts, medium-low for traffic and financial estimates. All modelled figures are rounded and marked with ≈.
- Last updated
- September 2026
Traffic, revenue and audience figures are third-party estimates or derived from sector benchmarks, and are reviewed periodically.
Social media profiles & statistics
Official brand account
Announcements and support
Community and campaigns
Company and hiring updates
Brand and product videos