Mobile Menu

Television Programming & Broadcasting in Germany - Market Research Report (2015-2030)

David Riemeier David Riemeier Frankfurt, Germany Last Updated: May 2025 WZ J60.20DE

Revenue

€8.8bn

2025

€8.8bn

Past 5-Year Growth

Profit

€XX.Xm

Employees

16,237

Businesses

156

Wages

€X.Xbn

Television Programming & Broadcasting in Germany industry analysis

The television broadcasting industry comprises the planning and broadcasting of television programmes that are made up of a combination of programme components that are either purchased from production companies outside the industry or produced by the television broadcasters themselves. A distinction is made between free-to-air TV broadcasters, which are mainly financed by advertising revenue and, in the case of public broadcasters, by the licence fee, and pay-TV broadcasters, which are also financed by advertising revenue but also by subscription models in which viewers pay for a specific programme. As this sector is mainly financed by advertising revenue, its development depends on factors such as the accessibility of the population, its willingness to pay, which is generally determined by household income, and the business expectations of advertising companies. The better these indicators develop, the higher prices can be achieved for advertising time on television. However, streaming services and online video portals have become an increasingly popular alternative to television in recent years, which is worsening the industry's market position. With the sharp decline in sales, profit margins have also fallen to a very low level and are expected to remain there.Industry revenue fell by an average of 4.7% per year between 2019 and 2024. In 2020 in particular, there was a significant drop in revenue due to the decline in advertising income. Consumers had to cut back on their spending due to the pandemic-related recession and companies experienced liquidity bottlenecks, forcing them to reduce their TV advertising budgets. In the hospitality industry, many pay TV subscriptions were cancelled due to business closures. Teleshopping, on the other hand, recorded sales growth as many consumers shied away from shopping in bricks-and-mortar retail outlets and demand for consumer goods shifted to mail order. In the current year, industry sales are expected to fall by 1.3% to 8.8 billion euros. This is due to the deterioration in business expectations as a result of the Ukraine crisis as well as the sanctions against Russia and the associated economic uncertainty.An average annual decline in revenue of 1.6% is expected for the period from 2025 to 2030, meaning that revenue in 2030 is likely to be €8.2 billion. In addition to the expected increase in digitalisation, which will favour competition from alternative video services, this decline is also due to the falling number of people aged between 18 and 64, who represent the advertising-relevant audience. This is likely to have a negative impact on the demand for television offerings and therefore on the advertising revenue of industry players.

Trends and 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 also addressable TV and so-called social TV 2.0 should help to attract viewers.
  • The most important revenue driver for television broadcasters is the full-length programme. The entertainment programme and teleshopping also generate high revenue shares.
  • Industry players in the Süd region benefit from the high number of talented professionals and creative minds. The Süd region is the centre of the German media landscape. Many major players in the industry are represented in Bavaria in particular.
  • While the industry players are protected internally by an oligopoly and can achieve high profit margins, they are increasingly facing external competitors with product substitutes. Consumers are increasingly switching to alternative offerings such as streaming.
Show more

Unlimited access to industry research for a full year?

With an annual membership, enjoy the clarity and confidence you need to make forward-looking business decisions. Subscriptions include data and analysis for thousands of industries globally.

Get in Touch

Access hundreds of data points and trends

  • Market estimates from 2015-2030
  • Critical performance data and rankings
  • Detailed analysis of competitive forces and the external environment
  • PDF report or online database with Word, Excel and PowerPoint export options
  • 100% money back guarantee

Industry Statistics and Trends

Market size and recent performance (2015-2030)

Industry revenue has declined at a CAGR of 5.6 % over the past five years, to reach an estimated €8.8bn in 2025.

Trends and Insights

The business models and financing methods of private television broadcasters are diverse

  • While public television broadcasters in Germany are primarily financed by the licence fee, private television broadcasters are mainly funded by advertising. In order to remain competitive with streaming services and online video portals, innovative offers have therefore been developed in recent years to increase advertising time and space.
  • Additional trends and insights available with purchase
Television Programming & Broadcasting in Germany
Revenue (2015-2030)
IBISWorld Logo Source: IBISWorld

Industry outlook (2025-2030)

Market size is projected to decline over the next five years.

Trends and Insights

Streaming and online video services are growing in popularity and threatening traditional television broadcasters

  • The internet is already firmly established in society as an entertainment and information medium. It is to be expected that streaming and online video services will continue to attract large audiences in the future, which will put television broadcasters under even greater pressure.

Biggest companies in the Television Programming & Broadcasting in Germany

Company
Market Share (%)
2025
Revenue (€m)
2025

There are no companies that hold a large enough market share in the Television Programming & Broadcasting in Germany industry for IBISWorld to include in this product.

Products & Services Segmentation

Television Programming & Broadcasting in Germany
Products & Services
IBISWorld Logo 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 .

Purchase this report to view all 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 2008

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 (2015-2024) and forecast (2025-2030)
  • Employees, including historical (2015-2024) and forecast (2025-2030)
  • Businesses, including historical (2015-2024) and forecast (2025-2030)
  • Profit, including historical (2015-2025)
  • 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-length programme. The entertainment programme and teleshopping also generate high revenue shares.

In this chapter

  • Products & Services
  • Major Markets

Key metrics

  • Largest market segment and value in 2025
  • Product innovation level

Charts

  • Products & services segmentation in 2025
  • Major market segmentation in 2025

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 Süd region benefit from the high number of talented professionals and creative minds. The Süd region is the centre of the German media landscape. Many...

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 2025

Tables

  • Number and share of establishments in each region in 2025
  • Number and share of revenue each region accounts for in 2025
  • Number and share of wages each region accounts for in 2025
  • Number and share of employees in each region in 2025

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 the industry players are protected internally by an oligopoly and can achieve high profit margins, they are increasingly facing external competitors with product substit...

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 2020-2025
  • 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

ProSiebenSat.1 Media SE has the largest market share in the industry. The company is continuously expanding its business and investing more heavily in the expansion of its on...

In this chapter

  • Market Share Concentration
  • Companies
  • Company Spotlights

Charts

  • Industry market share by company in 2021 through 2025
  • Major companies in the industry, including market share, revenue, profit and profit margin in 2025

Detailed analysis

    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 (2015-2030) 
    • Assistance historical data and forecast (2015-2030) 

    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 in the television industry is very high compared to many other media sectors. Margins fluctuate greatly, as they depend on viewing figures and the associate...

    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 2025
    • Average sector operating costs as a share of revenue, including purchases, wages, depreciation, utilities, rent, other costs and profit in 2025
    • Investment vs. share of economy

    Data tables

    • Cash Flow & Debt Service Ratios (2015-2030)
    • Revenue per Employee (2015-2030)
    • Revenue per Enterprise (2015-2030)
    • Employees per Establishment (2015-2030)
    • Employees per Enterprise (2015-2030)
    • Average Wage (2015-2030)
    • Wages/Revenue (2015-2030)
    • Establishments per Enterprise (2015-2030)
    • IVA/Revenue (2015-2030)
    • Imports/Demand (2015-2030)
    • Exports/Revenue (2015-2030)

    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 (2015-2030)
    • IVA (2015-2030)
    • Establishments (2015-2030)
    • Enterprises (2015-2030)
    • Employment (2015-2030)
    • Exports (2015-2030)
    • Imports (2015-2030)
    • Wages (2015-2030)

    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 2025?

    The market size of the Television Programming & Broadcasting industry in Germany is €8.8bn in 2025.

    How many businesses are there in the Television Programming & Broadcasting industry in Germany in 2025?

    There are 156 businesses in the Television Programming & Broadcasting industry in Germany, which has declined at a CAGR of 1.6 % between 2020 and 2025.

    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 5.6 % between 2020 and 2025.

    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 does the Television Programming & Broadcasting industry in Germany include?

    Full programme and Entertainment programme are part of the Television Programming & Broadcasting industry in Germany.

    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.

    Related Industries

    Widen your competitive advantage with related industries

    Complementors

    • There are no industries to display.

    View all industries 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.

    feedback