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RTL (German TV channel)

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RTL
CountryGermany
Broadcast areaNational
Also distributed in:
Austria
Switzerland
France
Italy
Belgium
Luxembourg
Liechtenstein
Netherlands
Turkey
Poland
Romania
Hungary
Israel
Denmark
HeadquartersCologne, Germany
Programming
Language(s)German
Picture format2160p UHDTV
(downscaled to 1080i and 576i for the HDTV and SDTV feeds respectively)
Ownership
OwnerRTL Group
ParentRTL Deutschland
Sister channelsVOX
n-tv
Super RTL
RTL Zwei
Nitro
RTLup
VOXup
RTL Crime
RTL Living
RTL Passion
GEO Television
History
Launched2 January 1984; 40 years ago (1984-01-02)
Former namesRTL plus (1984–1992)
RTL Television (1992–2004)
Links
Websitewww.rtl.de
Availability
Terrestrial
Digital terrestrial televisionChannel numbers vary
Streaming media
Ziggo GO (Netherlands)ZiggoGO.tv
RTL LIVERTL
RTL Up
RTL Crime
RTL Passion
RTL Living

RTL (from Radio Télévision Luxembourg), formerly RTL plus and RTL Television, is a German-language free-to-air television channel owned by RTL Deutschland, headquartered in Cologne. Founded as an offshoot of the German-language radio programme Radio Luxemburg, RTL is considered a full-service broadcaster under the Medienstaatsvertrag (Interstate Media Treaty) and is the largest private television network in Germany. As of August 2010, RTL employs some 500 permanent staff, having outsourced its news and technical departments.

In September 2021, Mediengruppe RTL Deutschland (RTL Germany Media Group) was renamed RTL Deutschland. As part of the rebrand, both the group and the channel received new logos and branding.

History

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RTL plus was already known through the radio station. Even before the broadcast began, the pressure on politicians to introduce private television in Germany was growing in Saarland, which could be reached from the broadcasting systems in Luxembourg.[1] Private television began operations in the Federal Republic of Germany on January 1, 1984 with the two-year Ludwigshafen cable pilot project (Kabelpilotprojekt). It was the birth of PKS (later Sat.1). A day later, RTL plus, which was then broadcasting from Luxembourg and named after the Luxembourg radio and television broadcaster RTL (derived from Radio Télévision Lëtzebuerg, see also RTL Télé Lëtzebuerg), began its German-language program from 5:27 p.m. The unusual broadcast start took place in a small studio in Bertrange with the following scene: Chief doctor Rainer Holbe delivered a television with the RTL-plus logo in a delivery room with his obstetricians. The broadcast times were Monday to Friday from 5:30 p.m. to 10:30 p.m. and Saturday to Sunday from 5:30 p.m. to midnight. The first RTL broadcast after the starting signal was the news 7 vor 7 with Hans Meiser and Geert Müller-Gerbes.

RTL plus was famous in its early years for showing low-budget films and American programmes. In 1988, it was the second most-viewed channel in Germany.[2]

After reunification in 1990, broadcasting was extended to the entire country. RTL moved to Cologne and received the right to broadcast on free-to-air frequencies. That same year, RTL acquired the first-run rights to the German Football First Division. Deals with Cannon and Universal Studios finally provided more high-profile films for the channel. In 2012, RTL made a deal with Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures to air films from its media library until 2016, when it switched to Universal, as Disney Channel was relaunched as a free-to-air channel competing with RTL.[3]

In July 2015, the channel introduced the slogan Willkommen zuhause (Welcome home) to complement Mein RTL, and launched its biggest advertising campaign in 20 years. This tagline (as Willkommen zu Hause, with a space between zu and Hause) was earlier used in the early 2000s.

On 1 September 2017, RTL flattened its logo, with brighter shades of the three colours. The slogan continues to be Willkommen zuhause, through Mein RTL would be used in rare cases. Another sister channel, n-tv was rebranded on the same day.

As part of a comprehensive restructuring within Mediengruppe RTL Deutschland, RTL unveiled a new identity, a new, multi-colourful logo and a new graphics package. The rebrand rolled out on 15 September 2021, as well as RTL Crime, RTL Living and RTL Passion.

Station logos

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Audience share

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Germany

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January February March April May June July August September October November December Annual average
1985 0.4%
1986 Increase 0.7%
1987 Increase 1.2%
1988 Increase 4.1%
1989 Increase 10.0%
1990[4] Increase 11.5%
1991[5] Increase 14.4%
1992[6] Increase 16.7%
1993[7] Increase 18.9%
1994[8] Decrease 17.5%
1995[9] Increase 17.6%
1996[10] 16.6% 16.6% 18.2% 18.6% 18.1% 15.5% 15.6% 16.7% 17.2% 16.7% 17.4% 16.5% Decrease 17.0%
1997[11] 15.9% 16.0% 16.4% 17.8% 17.0% 15.9% 14.8% 14.7% 16.9% 16.9% 15.7% 14.9% Decrease16.1%
1998[12] 14.2% 14.2% 16.2% 16.2% 15.6% 13.8% 14.4% 15.7% 16.3% 15.1% 15.2% 14.6% Decrease 15.1%
1999[13] 13.6% 13.9% 15.0% 15.8% 15.9% 15.3% 14.9% 15.3% 15.5% 15.4% 14.3% 13.6% Decrease 14.8%
2000[14] 14.0% 14.0% 13.8% 14.3% 14.4% 13.7% 14.0% 14.2% 14.0% 14.6% 15.1% 14.7% Decrease 14.3%
2001[15] 14.3% 13.4% 15.3% 15.9% 16.9% 13.6% 14.3% 13.4% 15.5% 15.4% 14.6% 14.5% Increase 14.8%
2002[16] 15.0% 13.2% 14.9% 16.1% 15.2% 12.6% 14.5% 13.2% 15.4% 15.5% 15.2% 14.4% Decrease 14.6%
2003[17] 15.8% 15.7% 16.0% 15.3% 15.5% 14.3% 13.7% 13.5% 15.5% 14.9% 13.9% 13.8% Increase 14.9%
2004[18] 15.2% 13.8% 13.9% 14.1% 14.5% 12.2% 13.1% 12.3% 14.5% 14.4% 14.0% 12.8% Decrease 13.8%
2005[19] 13.1% 12.5% 12.9% 13.6% 14.1% 13.1% 12.7% 12.3% 14.0% 13.5% 13.5% 12.9% Decrease 13.2%
2006[20] 13.0% 12.3% 13.4% 12.8% 13.7% 12.8% 12.1% 12.7% 13.0% 13.1% 12.6% 11.9% Decrease 12.8%
2007[21] 12.6% 12.0% 12.6% 12.8% 12.9% 12.8% 12.4% 11.8% 13.1% 12.9% 12.1% 11.1% Decrease 12.4%
2008[22] 11.8% 11.5% 11.7% 12.5% 12.4% 9.8% 11.6% 10.5% 12.5% 12.1% 12.9% 11.5% Decrease 11.7%
2009[23] 12.6% 11.8% 12.4% 12.8% 12.4% 11.6% 11.4% 10.9% 13.3% 13.5% 14.0% 12.9% Increase 12.5%
2010[24] 12.7% 12.7% 13.7% 14.0% 13.6% 12.7% 12.5% 12.8% 14.5% 14.8% 15.3% 13.6% Increase 13.6%
2011[25] 15.2% 14.1% 13.7% 14.6% 14.9% 12.5% 13.3% 13.2% 14.8% 14.6% 14.3% 13.3% Increase 14.1%
2012[26] 14.1% 13.1% 13.4% 12.7% 11.9% 10.6% 11.5% 10.5% 12.7% 12.3% 12.7% 10.8% Decrease 12.3%
2013[27] 13.1% 11.3% 11.2% 12.1% 11.4% 10.8% 10.9% 10.4% 10.7% 11.7% 11.5% 10.3% Decrease 11.3%
2014[28] 12.8% 10.4% 10.6% 10.6% 10.6% 8.4% 9.0% 9.0% 10.0% 11.5% 10.7% 9.5% Decrease 10.3%
2015[29] 11.3% 9.6% 9.8% 9.9% 9.9% 9.7% 9.2% 9.0% 10.6% 10.6% 10.1% 9.1% Decrease 9.9%
2016[30] 11.7% 10.0% 9.6% 10.0% 9.8% 8.3% 9.0% 8.3% 10.1% 10.4% 10.0% 9.2% Decrease 9.7%
2017[31] 11.0% 8.8% 9.3% 9.4% 9.5% 9.0% 8.5% 8.5% 9.0% 9.4% 9.0% 8.1% Decrease 9.2%
2018[32] 9.7% 8.4% 8.5% 8.6% 8.3% 7.5% 7.8%

The average age of the viewers is 48.9 years (as of 2016).[33]

References

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  1. ^ "„Ich war quasi der Mister RTL"". Saarbrücker Zeitung. 3 January 2014. Retrieved 19 December 2023.
  2. ^ Audience shares 1988: RTL 4.1% and SAT.1 5.6%, see Marktanteile der Fernsehsender at Fernsehen in Deutschland (de)
  3. ^ Roxborough, Scott (1 February 2012). "Disney Signs Multi-Year Package Deal With Germany's RTL". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved 10 February 2013.
  4. ^ "KEK/Zuschaueranteile 1990" (PDF). kek-online.de. Archived from the original (PDF) on 8 December 2015. Retrieved 30 May 2017.
  5. ^ "KEK/Zuschaueranteile 1991" (PDF). kek-online.de. Archived from the original (PDF) on 8 December 2015. Retrieved 30 May 2017.
  6. ^ "KEK/Zuschaueranteile 1992" (PDF). kek-online.de. Archived from the original (PDF) on 8 December 2015. Retrieved 30 May 2017.
  7. ^ "KEK/Zuschaueranteile 1993" (PDF). kek-online.de. Archived from the original (PDF) on 8 December 2015. Retrieved 30 May 2017.
  8. ^ "KEK/Zuschaueranteile 1994" (PDF). kek-online.de. Archived from the original (PDF) on 8 December 2015. Retrieved 30 May 2017.
  9. ^ "KEK/Zuschaueranteile 1995" (PDF). kek-online.de. Archived from the original (PDF) on 8 December 2015. Retrieved 30 May 2017.
  10. ^ "KEK/Zuschaueranteile 1996" (PDF). kek-online.de. Archived from the original (PDF) on 8 December 2015. Retrieved 30 May 2017.
  11. ^ "KEK/Zuschaueranteile 1997" (PDF). kek-online.de. Archived from the original (PDF) on 8 December 2015. Retrieved 30 May 2017.
  12. ^ "KEK/Zuschaueranteile 1998" (PDF). kek-online.de. Archived from the original (PDF) on 8 December 2015. Retrieved 30 May 2017.
  13. ^ "KEK/Zuschaueranteile 1999" (PDF). kek-online.de. Archived from the original (PDF) on 8 December 2015. Retrieved 30 May 2017.
  14. ^ "KEK/Zuschaueranteile 2000" (PDF). kek-online.de. Archived from the original (PDF) on 8 December 2015. Retrieved 30 May 2017.
  15. ^ "KEK/Zuschaueranteile 2001" (PDF). kek-online.de. Archived from the original (PDF) on 8 December 2015. Retrieved 30 May 2017.
  16. ^ "KEK/Zuschaueranteile 2002" (PDF). kek-online.de. Archived from the original (PDF) on 8 December 2015. Retrieved 30 May 2017.
  17. ^ "KEK/Zuschaueranteile 2003" (PDF). kek-online.de. Archived from the original (PDF) on 11 August 2017. Retrieved 30 May 2017.
  18. ^ "KEK/Zuschaueranteile 2004" (PDF). kek-online.de. Archived from the original (PDF) on 11 August 2017. Retrieved 30 May 2017.
  19. ^ "KEK/Zuschaueranteile 2005" (PDF). kek-online.de. Archived from the original (PDF) on 8 December 2015. Retrieved 30 May 2017.
  20. ^ "KEK/Zuschaueranteile 2006" (PDF). kek-online.de. Archived from the original (PDF) on 8 December 2015. Retrieved 30 May 2017.
  21. ^ "KEK/Zuschaueranteile 2007" (PDF). kek-online.de. Archived from the original (PDF) on 8 December 2015. Retrieved 30 May 2017.
  22. ^ "KEK/Zuschaueranteile 2008" (PDF). kek-online.de. Archived from the original (PDF) on 8 December 2015. Retrieved 30 May 2017.
  23. ^ "KEK/Zuschaueranteile 2009" (PDF). kek-online.de. Archived from the original (PDF) on 8 December 2015. Retrieved 30 May 2017.
  24. ^ "KEK/Zuschaueranteile 2010" (PDF). kek-online.de. Archived from the original (PDF) on 8 December 2015. Retrieved 30 May 2017.
  25. ^ "KEK/Zuschaueranteile 2011" (PDF). kek-online.de. Archived from the original (PDF) on 8 December 2015. Retrieved 30 May 2017.
  26. ^ "KEK/Zuschaueranteile 2012" (PDF). kek-online.de. Archived from the original (PDF) on 11 August 2017. Retrieved 30 May 2017.
  27. ^ "KEK/Zuschaueranteile 2013" (PDF). kek-online.de. Archived from the original (PDF) on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 30 May 2017.
  28. ^ "KEK/Zuschaueranteile 2014" (PDF). kek-online.de. Archived from the original (PDF) on 7 February 2016. Retrieved 30 May 2017.
  29. ^ "KEK/Zuschaueranteile 2015" (PDF). kek-online.de. Archived from the original (PDF) on 17 May 2017. Retrieved 30 May 2017.
  30. ^ "KEK/Zuschaueranteile 2016" (PDF). kek-online.de. Archived from the original (PDF) on 28 February 2016. Retrieved 30 May 2017.
  31. ^ "KEK/Zuschaueranteile 2017" (PDF). kek-online.de. Archived from the original (PDF) on 17 November 2017. Retrieved 5 December 2017.
  32. ^ "KEK/Zuschaueranteile 2018" (PDF). kek-online.de. Archived from the original (PDF) on 25 August 2018. Retrieved 28 August 2018.
  33. ^ Mantel, Uwe (14 March 2017). "Langzeit-Entwicklung des TV-Markts: Wie die Sender gealtert sind – und wer sich dagegen stemmt". dwdl.de. Retrieved 3 November 2017.
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