General EvidenceInsights

RTL+ and Joyn vs. ARD Mediathek Reach by Age

Results as of

Review 1–20 September 2026: RTL+ and Joyn concentrate in the 30–49 age group (up to 2.2% primetime reach), while ARD Mediathek is the only app skewing to 50+ (1.2%)

RTL+ and Joyn vs. ARD Mediathek Reach by AgeGrouped bar chart showing the share of primetime-active Android users (20:00–23:00) who used Joyn, RTL+ or ARD Mediathek on at least one evening from 1–20 September 2026, broken down by age group (14–29, 30–49, 50+). Three app clusters of three bars each; RTL+ and Joyn peak in the 30–49 group, ARD Mediathek peaks in the 50+ group.Grouped bar chart showing the share of primetime-active Android users (20:00–23:00) who used Joyn, RTL+ or ARD Mediathek on at least one evening from 1–20 September 2026, broken down by age group (14–29, 30–49, 50+). Three app clusters of three bars each; RTL+ and Joyn peak in the 30–49 group, ARD Mediathek peaks in the 50+ group.
Grouped bar chart showing the share of primetime-active Android users (20:00–23:00) who used Joyn, RTL+ or ARD Mediathek on at least one evening from 1–20 September 2026, broken down by age group (14–29, 30–49, 50+). Three app clusters of three bars each; RTL+ and Joyn peak in the 30–49 group, ARD Mediathek peaks in the 50+ group.
Info
Sample size
n = 4,530
Data date
1–20 September 2026
Segment
16-24, 25-34, 35-44, 45-54, 55+
Platform
Browsing
Market
Germany

Analysis

Among Android users active during the 20:00–23:00 primetime window in early September 2026, the three main German broadcaster apps serve distinctly different age profiles. RTL+ and Joyn both peak among 30–49-year-olds — the core commercial target — while ARD Mediathek is the only platform whose in-app reach is highest among over-50s, where it reaches 1.2% versus 0.6–0.7% for younger groups.

Why the Privatfernsehen crisis hits differently across age groups

The divergence maps closely onto the broader streaming migration patterns in Germany. The 2025 ARD/ZDF media study found that public broadcaster streaming platforms now reach more than 60% of the German population — ahead of Netflix and Prime Video — and that the 50+ age group is the fastest-growing streaming cohort, with non-linear viewing rising 7 percentage points in a year. At the same time, The Voice of Germany's season 16 launch on Sat.1 and Joyn on 11 September 2026 recorded an all-time ratings low among 14–49-year-olds (6.3% market share, down from double-digit figures in prior seasons), illustrating how fractured primetime audiences have become. ARD Mediathek's 50+ skew suggests that public content — documentaries, drama, news — serves as the de facto digital living room for older viewers migrating away from linear schedules. For RTL+ and Joyn, the 30–49 concentration reflects their reality-entertainment and entertainment catalogue, which draws the mid-career audience.

This analysis is based on public segment data. For deeper cuts, use our Enterprise interface.

Methodology

Based on Android primetime session logs for Joyn, RTL+ and ARD Mediathek from 1 to 20 September 2026. Reach is the share of Android users with any foreground activity between 20:00 and 23:00 (Berlin time) who also opened the respective app at least once during that period, reported separately for each age group (14–29, 30–49, 50+). The base is all Android users with at least one app-active evening during the observation period, split by known age.

These insights are based on the General Evidence Panel. Our data comes exclusively from users who are compensated for their anonymity. Become part of the panel & earn from your data