Ziggo switches from RTL Deutschland to RTL Austria due to Formula 1 rights restrictions
August 15, 2026 18.52 Europe/London By Robert Briel

Dutch cable operator Ziggo has replaced RTL Deutschland with RTL Austria in its channel lineup, a change driven entirely by Formula 1 broadcasting rights.

Subscribers began noticing Austrian advertising blocks on the channel, even outside race weekends, confirming that the feed had been switched.

The adjustment stems from the complex rights situation surrounding Formula 1. RTL Deutschland broadcasts a limited number of Grands Prix live this season, but it does not hold Dutch broadcasting rights. Those rights remain exclusively with Viaplay until 2029. As a result, Dutch providers are required to block RTL Deutschland during live Formula 1 sessions to comply with the demands of rights holder FOM.

To avoid these mandatory blackouts, RTL International has advised Dutch operators to use the Austrian feed instead. RTL Austria does not show live Formula 1 coverage, meaning providers no longer need to interrupt the signal during race weekends. Although RTL Deutschland and RTL Austria share largely similar primetime programming, there are differences — particularly in morning hours, where homeshopping content varies between the two.

A common misconception is that the takeover of Viaplay’s Dutch operations by RTL Nederland (Videoland) would eliminate the need to block RTL Deutschland. In reality, RTL Deutschland is part of RTL Group, which recently sold RTL Nederland to DPG Media. The acquisition still requires approval from Dutch regulator ACM, and the rights obligations imposed by FOM remain unchanged.

The shift to RTL Austria is not unique to Ziggo. Stichting Kabelnet Veendam (SKV) was the first to make the permanent switch on 7 July, followed by KPN on 20 July. Both operators no longer need to manually block the German feed during live races. Ziggo and Delta initially chose a different approach, keeping RTL Deutschland in HD and overlaying an information screen during Formula 1 sessions.

That workaround is now unnecessary. RTL has begun offering the Austrian version in HD to Dutch providers, removing the last practical barrier to a full transition. With RTL Austria now available in high definition, Ziggo has joined other operators in adopting the Austrian feed as a permanent replacement.