Bertelsmann is building national media champions in its core markets. In a dynamic, competitive environment, this will create strong alliances anchored in local markets that can boast offerings across all media genres as well as providing a broad reach. These national media champions also form a domestic counterweight to the major US technology platforms in their respective markets.

From movies, series and shows to books and music, demand for high-quality, internationally exploitable media content is seeing significant growth around the world. For this reason, Bertelsmann is increasingly focusing on expanding its global content businesses. For example, RTL Group’s production subsidiary Fremantle, the Penguin Random House book publishing group and the music company BMG are being strengthened through substantial investments in the production of new content and in the acquisition of attractive book rights and music catalogs.

Global supply chains, financial flows, IT systems and customer communications require service providers that operate on a global scale too. Bertelsmann is therefore focusing on expanding its international services businesses for clients from a wide range of industries, including many global key customers. The focus is on supply chain solutions, financial services, customer relationship management and IT services for the digital transformation of companies.

Education is already one of the largest sectors of the global economy – and nowadays, advancing digitalization makes it even easier to bring knowledge to every corner of the world. Bertelsmann operates successfully in the field of online continuing education and training, for example by serving the increasing training needs of medical professionals. This engagement is to be expanded organically and through acquisitions, including investments in new products and content.

A global fund network ensures Bertelsmann has attractive investments as well as access to innovative companies in various regions of the world: start-ups and young companies in the media, services and education sectors, often with a focus on future technologies, including blockchain-based technologies and the metaverse. Bertelsmann will expand this investment network and is increasingly relying on cooperation with third-party funds.