Channel21 to close following insolvency proceedings
May 27, 2026 11.38 Europe/London By Jörn Krieger

German teleshopping broadcaster Channel21 will cease operations at the end of May 2026 after insolvency proceedings were formally opened by the District Court of Hanover.

Insolvency proceedings against Channel21 GmbH were opened on 27 May 2026, following the preliminary insolvency proceedings initiated on 23 March 2026, according to the company, adding that operations will be discontinued on 31 May after efforts to secure a long-term solution for the business failed.

“Despite intensive efforts to secure business operations in the long term and create economic prospects, no viable continuation solution could be realised within the available time,” Channel21 said in a statement.

The closure marks the end of a restructuring process launched earlier this year. In March, Channel21 confirmed that the District Court of Hanover had appointed lawyer Dr Stefanie Zulauf as provisional insolvency administrator after the company filed for preliminary insolvency proceedings due to a difficult market environment and structural changes in the teleshopping sector.

At the time, Channel21 said day-to-day operations would continue unaffected while management worked with the provisional administrator on a restructuring concept intended to stabilise the business and safeguard jobs.

Founded in 2001 as RTL Shop, the broadcaster underwent several ownership changes before rebranding as Channel21 in 2008. The company described itself as Germany’s third-largest teleshopping channel, distributing mainly own-brand products in categories including beauty, health, jewellery, household, kitchen and garden.

According to the company, Channel21 reaches around 95% of German TV households via satellite, cable and DTT distribution platforms and has attracted more than three million customers since 2010.

In the statement, Channel21 thanked employees, customers, business partners and supporters for their trust and cooperation.