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Marlene Lufen Describes 'Dramatic' Layoffs Hitting Hundreds at RTL and ProSiebenSAT.1

The broadcasters attribute the job cuts to digital realignment following recent ownership shifts.

Overview

  • On her podcast, the Sat.1 presenter said many colleagues at RTL in Cologne and across ProSiebenSAT.1 have lost their jobs and reported that tears were shed.
  • Lufen stated that hundreds were dismissed, often including employees with 20 years or more at the companies who now face uncertainty about future work.
  • RTL and ProSiebenSAT.1 have confirmed planned and partly executed staff reductions, framing them as part of a broader digital restructuring.
  • ProSiebenSAT.1 now has a majority owner in MediaForEurope, and RTL previously merged with Gruner + Jahr, with a potential Sky Deutschland deal still described as pending and possibly affecting staffing.
  • Recruiter Kristine Capek said the cuts reflect wider disruptions tied to structural corporate strains, AI-driven transformation, and a weak economy, warning of significant emotional fallout for displaced workers.