Streaming comfort and live TV in one, RTL+ Premium as everyday media hub
18.06.2026 - 04:24:41 | ad-hoc-news.de
Reviewed: ad hoc news Software & Services desk. Edited and checked on 2026-06-18, 02:23. Details in the imprint.
When you open RTL+ Premium on a smart TV in the evening, the app feels like a colorful media control center that wants to swallow the old remote and the TV guide in one go. One login, live TV, series, films, music and audiobooks.
Background on the RTL Group stock
RTL+ Premium is one of the digital streaming pillars of RTL Group alongside classic TV advertising, and thus an important puzzle piece in the media company's strategy.
What RTL+ Premium includes
RTL+ Premium bundles the live streams of German RTL channels, a large on-demand library with RTL fiction, licensed films and series, plus reality formats and originals such as "Sisi" or true-crime shows.
On top of video, customers in Germany get access to a music streaming service and thousands of audiobooks and podcasts, all inside the same app and subscription.
How the app feels in daily use
The start screen greets you with bold cover tiles, loud RTL colors and prominent recommendations. You scroll sideways through rails, vertically through categories, almost like walking shelves in a compact video store.
Live TV launches quickly, with a short buffer and classic EPG-style program overview. For catch-up content, episodes usually start with a brief pre-roll ad, though Premium users see fewer and shorter ad blocks than the free tier, depending on format.
Strengths of the all-in-one approach
For viewers who mostly watch German-language private TV, RTL+ Premium turns the old cable package into a modern, app-based bundle with time-shift options and download functions on mobile devices for many titles.
Because music and audiobooks are integrated, the service can easily become a default entertainment hub for families who want fewer separate subscriptions and a single login on TV, tablet and phone.
Where RTL+ Premium still annoys
The interface can feel crowded, especially on smaller TVs, with many rails and promotions competing for attention. Some users will wish for a quieter, more minimal view that foregrounds their own watchlist over show posters.
Not every film or acquired series is available in the highest resolution or with extensive subtitle and language options, so internationally minded viewers may still prefer global competitors for certain content types.
Pricing and availability
RTL+ Premium is marketed primarily in Germany as a subscription service with a monthly fee in the mid single-digit euro range, often with introductory offers or bundled deals via partners such as mobile operators.
The service runs on common smart TV platforms, streaming sticks, smartphones and browsers. Registration is tied to an RTL account, and profiles help separate kids' viewing from adult crime dramas on the same household subscription.
Role inside RTL Group and stock note
Within RTL Group, RTL+ Premium is a core part of the streaming strategy alongside advertising-supported television, with management highlighting subscriber growth and usage as key metrics in presentations to investors.
Shares of RTL Group (LU0061462528) trade on the Frankfurt Stock Exchange in euros.
Key facts on RTL+ Premium
- Product: RTL+ Premium
- Manufacturer: RTL Group S.A.
- Category: Streaming subscription / software service
- Launch: RTL+ brand relaunch of previous TV Now service in 2021
- RRP / Price: Monthly subscription in the mid single-digit euro range in Germany, varying by offer
- Availability: Primarily in Germany via app stores, smart-TV platforms, web and selected partner bundles
- Target group: Viewers of German-language private TV who want live channels, catch-up and additional audio entertainment in one package
- Highlight / USP: Combination of live TV, on-demand video, music streaming and audiobooks under one subscription and one app
This article was AI-assisted and editorially reviewed. Product information without guarantee; prices and availability may change at short notice. No investment advice, no buy or sell recommendation. Stock-market transactions involve risks up to total loss.
