Customers can now access the extensive range of RTL Deutschland’s streaming service easily and directly via Sky Stream, the new internet protocol television (IPTV) offer from Sky Deutschland combining free-to-air TV, apps and media libraries. Thanks to the partnership with RTL Deutschland, the offer also includes all of RTL Deutschland’s free-to-air TV channels – including RTL, Vox, RTL Zwei, Super RTL, NTV and Nitro. State-of-the-art features such as HD quality, instant restart, time shifting and many more are available. Most RTL content is available to Sky subscribers on demand for up to seven days after the broadcast at no additional cost.
Stephan Schmitter, CEO of RTL Deutschland, says: “We are very pleased with our strategic partnership with Sky Deutschland and are delighted about the long-term expansion with the launch of the new, innovative Sky Stream offering. Our products have been very prominently integrated into Sky Q for years, and now Sky Stream customers can also enjoy RTL+ and RTL catch-up TV in HD quality. Alongside our content offering, this is the next logical step in further expanding our reach in this special partnership."
RTL+ has been available via subscription service Sky Q since June 2021. RTL Deutschland and Sky Deutschland have additionally been cooperating since December 2023 in the exchange of programme content. Seven live Formula 1 races are broadcast on flagship channel RTL, while a further five races are broadcast co-exclusively on RTL, Sky and Sky streaming service Wow. The remaining races will be broadcast live on RTL+, Sky and Wow. The content partnership also includes one game from the English Premier League per match week on RTL+ and three conference broadcasts of the 2nd Bundesliga on RTL. The next broadcast of the 2nd Bundesliga conference will take place on Sunday 4 August co-exclusively on Sky and RTL. In return, Sky Deutschland will receive rights to two Europa League or Europa Conference League games per match week – these will be broadcast co-exclusively on Sky, Wow, RTL and RTL+. The package is rounded off with first-rate fiction formats available to subscribers of RTL+.
Barny Mills, CEO of Sky Deutschland, says: "Strong partnerships are essential today to offer viewers a comprehensive, high-quality entertainment experience. We are therefore delighted to extend our successful co-operation with RTL Deutschland and expand it to Sky Stream just in time for the product launch. The innovative and comprehensive cooperation with RTL Deutschland in the sports and fiction sector is an excellent example of how we want to shape strategic partnerships in the future – always with the aim of offering our customers real added value."
In August, Sky Stream customers can look forward to numerous highlights from RTL Deutschland: A special edition of Ich bin ein Star – Showdown der Dschungel-Legenden (I’m a Celebrity – Showdown of the jungle stars) from 15 August; the opening episode of the cult comedy series SchleFaZ – Die schlechtesten Filme aller Zeiten (SchleFaZ – The worst film of all time) from 23 August; the second season of American drama series Pretty Little Liars: Original Sin from 1 August; and RTL Nederland's royal romance Máxima from from 17 August.
