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Bertelsmann combines RTL Deutschland , Gruner + Jahr

Bertelsmann is to combine into RTL Group its Gruner + Jahr ’ s German publishing brands for a payment of € 230m . G + J will contribute popular and trusted brands such as Stern , Brigitte , Geo , Capital , Schöner Wohnen , Eltern and Art as well as journalistic experience to RTL Deutschland .

In recent years , Bertelsmann companies RTL Deutschland and G + J have expanded their cooperation in the areas of advertising
“ In the growing competition with global tech platforms , exclusive local content is the key to success .” sales ( Ad Alliance ), content creation ( Bertelsmann Content Alliance ) as well as research and data ( Data Alliance ). to deliver reliable news ,
RTL says the combination builds on these and will further strengthen RTL Deutschland ’ s position as partner of choice for Germany ’ s creative talent and boost the growth of its streaming service RTL + ( TV Now ), driven by investments in local content , independent journalism , technology and data . A joint editorial team with more than 1,500 journalists ‘ will create a journalistic powerhouse
investigative reports and features in all genres across TV , audio and print . Examples are new highend documentary series for families from Geo and the new TV format Stern Investigativ .’
“ Following the proposed consolidation moves in France and the Netherlands , the combination of RTL Deutschland and Gruner + Jahr is our third milestone in 2021 to create national cross-media champions ,” stated Thomas Rabe , CEO of RTL Group . “ In the growing competition with global tech platforms , exclusive local content is the key to success – in particular to boost our streaming services . With added scale , resources and creative power , RTL Deutschland and Gruner
+ Jahr combined will increase investments into what matters most : premium content and journalistic excellence . The enlarged RTL Deutschland will offer German audiences the broadest spectrum of high-quality entertainment and independent information – while advertising clients will benefit from the most advanced and brand-safe advertising opportunities .”
RTL Deutschland ’ s acquisition of G + J publishing assets and brands from Bertelsmann qualifies as a relatedparty transaction and was voted on and unanimously approved by the independent Directors of RTL Group ’ s Board . An independent expert ( Deutsche Bank ) provided a fair for the consideration to be paid by RTL Group for the G + J publishing assets to the parent company .
The enlarged RTL Deutschland would have 2020 revenue of € 2.63 billion and operating profit ( Adjusted EBITA ) of € 496m . The potential synergies of the transaction ( Adjusted EBITA run-rate impact ) are estimated at around € 100m per year , to be fully realised in 2025 . Gruner + Jahr Deutschland will continue to be headquartered in Hamburg .
VMO2 hits gigabit network milestone
UK ’ s Virgin Media O2 says
it has added one-and-a-half
million homes to its gigabit
network , meaning that more
than half of its footprint
can now access hyperfast
broadband speeds .
As part of the gigabit
switch-on , Virgin Media O2
has upgraded its network in
locations across the UK , with
residents in towns and cities
such as Bournemouth , Bristol ,
Northampton , Sunderland ,
Wolverhampton , Wigan and
York now able to benefit from
next-generation connectivity .
More than 8m homes in all
four UK nations are now able
to access Virgin Media ’ s Gig1
service , making the operator
the largest gigabit broadband
provider in the UK .
By the end of 2021 , Virgin
Media O2 will deliver gigabit
broadband speeds across its entire network of more than 15m homes .
“ We are upgrading the UK to next-generation connectivity and today we ’ re hitting another important milestone with more than half of our network now able to access gigabit speeds ,” explained Lutz Schüler , chief executive officer at Virgin Media O2 . “ As the UK ’ s largest gigabit broadband provider today , with a clear plan to connect our entire network to these speeds by the end of the year , we ’ ll be delivering most of the Government ’ s broadband target ahead of schedule . Our continued investment is propelling the country up gigabit league tables and providing consumers
with the connectivity they need both now and in future .”
“ We ’ ve kicked off the biggest broadband build in British history thanks to £ 5 billion of government funding alongside significant investment from telecoms firms ,” added digital infrastructure minister Matt Warman . “ I welcome Virgin Media O2 ’ s ambitious plans to speed up the delivery of lightning-fast gigabit connectivity to communities across the UK and give people what they need to keep pace with the digital revolution .”
As part of its mission to upgrade the UK , the company has committed to invest at least £ 10 billion (€ 11.7bn ) over the next five years in the UK and ,
building on the success of its existing fibre network expansion activity , is actively exploring options to go further and faster by deploying fibre to millions of additional homes across the country . This investment includes an accelerated monthly rollout of gigabit speeds to multiple locations across the UK between now and the end of the year .
Virgin Media O2 has also announced its intention to upgrade its fixed network to full fibre to the premises ( FTTP ) with completion in 2028 . This technology is capable of delivering symmetrical 10Gbps download and upload speeds , with Virgin Media O2 suggesting it will build on its existing leadership position today and be well equipped for the decades ahead as the demand for speed and capacity continues to rise .
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