Overview
- RTL has built dedicated YouTube business channels over the past year as a new revenue stream, with its 'Alarm für Cobra 11' episodes topping 700,000 views per installment in some cases.
- YouTube reaches about 2.5 billion monthly users globally and 70.9 million in Germany, with 90% of U.S. 18–34-year-olds using the platform each month.
- Ampere Analysis reports traditional TV and cinema are under pressure as online platforms grow, contributing to revenue shortfalls and job cuts at several German private broadcasters.
- Public broadcaster WDR says posting to YouTube rapidly expanded reach for archival and news content, citing millions of views within days for a Syria-related documentary.
- YouTube, owned by Google, presents itself as an ecosystem, while ARD and WDR warn of dependence on opaque recommendation systems and report concerns about reduced visibility such as perceived shadow bans.