Vodafone Reports First Customer Growth in TV Sector Since 2015

Vodafone Germany has experienced a notable turnaround in its television segment, marking its first increase in customer numbers since 2015. After nearly a decade of decline, the telecommunications provider revealed an uptick of 28,000 TV subscribers in the first quarter of the 2025/26 fiscal year, bringing the total to approximately 8.8 million.

This recent growth follows a challenging period for Vodafone, during which the company lost millions of television customers due to a legislative change in mid-2024 that eliminated a long-standing rule allowing landlords to pass television costs onto tenants as part of their rental agreements. This shift granted tenants the freedom to choose their television service providers, which contributed to a significant loss of 2.2 million subscribers in the summer quarter of 2024 alone.

Vodafone's previous customer growth in 2019 was primarily attributed to its acquisition of Unitymedia, a move that does not reflect organic growth. The firm's struggle in the television market has been exacerbated by the rise of streaming services, which have fundamentally altered viewing habits, leading many consumers to prefer on-demand content over traditional television.

Despite these challenges, Vodafone has managed to integrate its television services with its internet offerings, creating bundled packages that appeal to consumers. However, the company reported an 8% decline in revenue from its fixed-line internet services, which include television, amounting to approximately 1.4 billion euros. This decrease is largely attributed to comparisons with figures from the previous year before the implementation of the July 2024 legislative changes.

In the mobile segment, Vodafone has seen a revenue increase of 2.7%, totaling around 1.3 billion euros, largely due to a partnership with competitor 1&1, which allows 1&1 customers to utilize Vodafone's network infrastructure. However, the overall customer base in Vodafone's mobile segment decreased by 36,000, highlighting the competitive pressures in Germany's mobile market.

The combined revenue from Vodafone's mobile and fixed-line services fell by 3.2% to roughly 2.7 billion euros in the last quarter. Despite these figures, Vodafone's Germany CEO expressed optimism about the company's ability to regain customers, citing the attractiveness of bundled offerings that include television and broadband internet.