Media giant RTL Germany cutting 600 jobs amid weak market

Media giant RTL Germany is cutting around 600 jobs as part of a restructuring programme amid tough economic conditions, RTL Deutschland chief executive Stephan Schmitter told dpa.

"There are two major challenges we need to solve to be successful in the long term," Schmitter said. One of these challenges is the profound change in the media market, and the other is the difficult economic situation, he said.

German weekly business magazine Wirtschaftswoche had earlier reported on a large-scale job reduction at the company, which is part of the media conglomerate Bertelsmann.

According to RTL Deutschland, the 600 affected positions include both full-time and part-time roles.

The restructuring is intended to be implemented in a socially responsible manner. "As socially responsible, respectful and transparent as possible in such a difficult situation," Schmitter added.

Together with the works councils, a special severance programme has been developed to support affected employees.

"The social plan we negotiated with the works council is intended to avoid redundancies as much as possible," said Schmitter. Affected employees are instead to be relieved through phased retirement, severance payments and other offers.