RTL (Croatian TV channel)

Template:Use dmy dates Template:Infobox television channelRTL (previously known as RTL Televizija) is a Croatian free-to-air television network founded on 30 April 2004. It was owned by the RTL Group from 2004 to 2022.<ref name="facts">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Since 1 June 2022, it is owned by the CME Group.<ref name="CME">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> It is the second commercial television network in Croatia that has a national concession, following Nova TV.

History

In 2003, the Croatian government opted to privatize the HRT 3 frequency. In June 2003, five companies were interested: RTL Group, News Corporation, SBS Broadcasting, HMTM and CME. A final decision was expected by 1 October.<ref>HRT ready for competition</ref>

RTL began broadcasting on 30 April 2004 at 18:45 CET.<ref name="RTL2004">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> The first broadcast of RTL's news program, RTL Vijesti, was hosted that day by Tomislav Jelinčić and Tanja Tomić.<ref name="RTL2004-news">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> At the time of its launch, RTL was operated from one office which contained only 10 computers and 10 employees. Throughout the years, the network grew into a multi-medial platform with over 300 employees.<ref name="RTL2004"></ref>

On 15 May 2014, RTL Group announced that Henning Tewes, managing director of news provider Enex, would be appointed chief executive officer (CEO) of RTL Hrvatska from 1 July 2014. Tewes succeeded Johannes Züll, who left the RTL Group to become president and CEO of Studio Hamburg. Following a proposal from Tewes, Ivan Lovreček, former editor-in-chief and member of the executive board of RTL Hrvatska, was promoted to deputy CEO of the company on 1 July 2014.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

The blocks got a three-dimensional design on 16 September 2015. Mein RTL would be used in some idents.

On 12 November 2019, as part of a nationwide transition to the DVB-T2 broadcast standard among all Croatian broadcasters, the channel including with RTL 2, RTL Kockica, RTL Passion, RTL Living, and RTL Crime launched their HD feeds.<ref name="HD">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> A month later, on 20 December 2019, RTL debuted a new flat logo and graphics package that replaced the Phoenica font (used by RTL's parent channel in its on-air appearance) with the well-known FF DIN font. At this point, its slogan was "Više od Televizije" (Template:Langx).<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

On 15 September 2021, the German version of RTL was relaunched with a new multi-colored logo. It was confirmed that the new logo would debut in Croatia sometime in the near future, however this has not happened as of 2024.

On 14 February 2022, it was announced that RTL Group reached an agreement with Central European Media Enterprises for the sale of RTL Hrvatska. On 1 June 2022, the transaction of RTL Hrvatska to CME had been completed.<ref name="CME"></REF>

The channel celebrated 20 years of existence through April and May of 2024, featuring new ident bumpers with taglines such as "20 years of originality", "20 years ahead of everyone" and "20 years of changing lives." The bumpers featured RTL's most prominent television personalities, such as the news' and other program's hosts. A special two-part series titled 20 godina zajedno (Template:Abbr 20 Years Together) aired on 4 and 5 May.<ref name="20years">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Hosted by Antonija Blaće, the special series looked back on the most memorable moments in RTL's history.<ref name="20years"></ref>

On 28 April 2025, RTL announced that its teletext service would be shut down on 1 May of the same year.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

Programming

Original programming

Along with HRT and Nova TV, RTL is one of the three networks that air the largest amount of original television programming in Croatia. In recent years, the channel usually slots original series during the week in the evening, from around 17:00 CET, with the network's major shows airing in the prime time (20:15 to 22:00 CET). Earlier parts of the day are usually reserved for acquired programming and for re-runs of the shows from the previous day.<REF>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

News programming

RTL broadcasts its own news program daily. Currently, the main news program titled RTL Danas (Template:Abbr RTL Today) airs its short news program at 16:30 CET every day excluding Friday, followed by the main news program airing daily from 19:00 to 20:15 CET. RTL Danas, which was previously known as RTL Vijesti (Template:Abbr RTL News), covers the most prominent political, cultural and other news of the day that are relevant in Croatia and in the world.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

As of April 2015, a 30-minute late-night news program titled RTL Direkt airs Monday to Thursday, usually around 22:15 CET.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Although Direkt mostly recaps political and other events featured in RTL Danas, it also focuses on covering popular culture, an example being a special episode aired 13 May 2024 which was dedicated to the review of the 2024 Eurovision Song Contest.<ref name="DirektESCinsta">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Direkt usually features guests, varying from political persons, celebrities, experts in certain fields and other notable people. Its current host is Mojmira Pastorčić, who replaced Zoran Šprajc in 2022.<ref name="Sprajc">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

Scripted series

RTL is known for Zabranjena ljubav, the first Croatian soap opera. It premiered in 2004 and aired over 800 episodes.<ref name="ZLJ800">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> RTL also aired various original drama and comedy series through the years.

Reality series

A large chunk of RTL's original programming consists of reality series, which are mostly Croatian adaptations of foreign reality show formats. In September 2004, RTL began airing Big Brother, its first reality series. The finale of the first season reached a record audience of 1.8 million viewers.<ref name="20godina">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> The series went on to air seven seasons, concluding in May 2018.

The channel aired various dating reality series, the first being Scrolovka in 2004. Ljubav je na selu (Template:Abbr Love is at the Countryside), a Croatian iteration of Farmer Wants a Wife, premiered in September 2008, and is one of the longest-running Croatian reality series, having entered its seventeenth season in May 2024.<ref name="LJNS17">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> RTL also aired Croatian iterations of other popular dating series such as Brak na prvu (Married at First Sight) and Gospodin Savršeni (The Bachelor).<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

Cooking and food-related reality series are also a part of RTL's staple programming. Večera za 5 (Template:Abbr Dinner for Five, based on Come Dine with Me), has been on air since 2007. The series was re-branded as Večera za 5 na selu (Template:Abbr Dinner for Five at the Countryside) from 2019 to 2022 until returning to its original title in 2023. It is the longest-running Croatian culinary series.<ref name="VZ5">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> In 2013, RTL aired an original cooking reality series format titled Tri, dva jedan - peci! (transl. Three, two, one - bake!), and later its spin-off Tri, dva jedan - kuhaj! (transl. Three, two, one - cook!), which premiered in 2014. Croatian versions of Ramsay's Kitchen Nightmares and Hell's Kitchen were also aired by the channel.

A part of the channel's programming has also been dedicated to talent-show singing reality series. Hrvatska traži zvijezdu (Template:Abbr Croatia's Star Search), was the second Croatian iteration of Idol, following Nova TV's 2004 Hrvatski Idol. It aired three seasons from 2009 to 2011. A reboot of the series titled Superstar premiered on RTL in September 2023.<ref name="Superstarpremiere">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

Legend

Template:Dagger	Currently airing series
Template:Hash-tag	Series no longer in production
Template:‡	Upcoming season or series announced
Template:Asterism	Status of series unknown

Name	Based on	Host(s)	No. of seasons	Premiere
Big BrotherTemplate:Hash-tag	Big Brother	Template:Plainlist	7	Template:Start date
MjenjačnicaTemplate:Hash-tag	Original format	Template:Plainlist	2	Template:Start date
DvornikoviTemplate:Hash-tag	Original format	–	2	Template:Start date
Mijenjam ženuTemplate:Hash-tag	Wife Swap	–	Unknown	Template:Start date
Koledžicom po svijetuTemplate:Hash-tag	Original format	Template:Plainlist	2	Template:Start date
Večera za 5Template:Dagger	Come Dine With Me	–	17	Template:Start date
Hrvatski Top ModelTemplate:Hash-tag	America's Next Top Model	Template:Plainlist	2	Template:Start date
Punom paromTemplate:Hash-tag	Original format	–	1	Template:Start date
Ljubav je na seluTemplate:‡	Farmer Wants a Wife	Template:Plainlist	17	Template:Start date
Hrvatska traži zvijezduTemplate:Hash-tag	Idol	Template:Plainlist	3	Template:Start date
Najveći hrvatski misterijTemplate:Hash-tag	Original format	Template:Plainlist	1	Template:Start date
Jezikova juhaTemplate:Hash-tag	Ramsay's Kitchen Nightmares	Template:Plainlist	4	Template:Start date
Survivor: KostarikaTemplate:Hash-tag	Survivor	Template:Plainlist	1	Template:Start date
Tri, dva, jedan – peci!Template:Hash-tag	Original format	Template:Plainlist	4	Template:Start date
Tri, dva, jedan – kuhaj!Template:Hash-tag	Original format	Template:Plainlist	9	Template:Start date
Shopping kraljicaTemplate:Hash-tag	Shopping Monsters	Template:Plainlist	3	Template:Start date
ZvjezdiceTemplate:Hash-tag	Pinkove Zvezdice	Template:Plainlist	3	Template:Start date
Život na vagiTemplate:‡	The Biggest Loser	Template:Plainlist	8	Template:Start date
RTL ZvijezdeTemplate:Hash-tag	Pinkove Zvezde	Template:Plainlist	3	Template:Start date
Gospodin SavršeniTemplate:‡	The Bachelor	Template:Plainlist	4	Template:Start date
SuperparTemplate:Hash-tag	Power Couple	Template:Plainlist	4	Template:Start date
Brak na prvuTemplate:Dagger	Married at First Sight	–	4	Template:Start date
Masked SingerTemplate:Asterism	Masked Singer	Template:Plainlist	2	Template:Start date
Pet spojeva tjednoTemplate:Hash-tag	Five Guys a Week	–	1	Template:Start date
SuperstarTemplate:Asterism	Idol	Template:Plainlist	2	Template:Start date
Hell's Kitchen HrvatskaTemplate:Asterism	Hell's Kitchen	Template:Plainlist	1	Template:Start date
FarmaTemplate:‡	The Farm	Template:Plainlist	1Template:Efn	26 May 2025Template:Efn<ref name ="RTLMay2025">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
The TraitorsTemplate:‡	The Traitors	colspan="3"Template:TBA

Acquired programming

The channel mostly acquires English-language programming, as well as a smaller chunk of regional (Serbian or Slovene) programming. Throughout late 2000s and early 2010s, RTL aired popular American sitcoms such as Family Matters (1989–1998), Full House (1987–1994), How I Met Your Mother (2005–2014), Malcolm in the Middle (2000–2005), Step by Step (1991–1997), and The Nanny (1993–1998).<ref name="rtlsitcom">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> During this period, Spanish-language telenovelas were also popular on the channel, including Dame Chocolate (2007) and El Rostro de Analía (2008–2009), until Turkish series such as Muhteşem Yüzyıl (2011–2014) took over in the early 2010s.<ref name="sulejman">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Most of such programs were moved to RTL 2 after its launch in 2011, and later to RTL Passion. Serbian series that aired on the channel include Južni vetar (2022) and Toma (2023–2024).

Before launching RTL Kockica in 2014, the channel also focused on programming for children, airing animated series every day in the morning. Croatian dubs of series such as Ben 10 (2005–2008), Dexter's Laboratory (1995–2003), PopPixie (2011), Strawberry Shortcake (2003), and Trollz (2005) premiered on RTL. The Croatian dub of SpongeBob SquarePants (2000–) also originally premiered RTL, before the series was moved to Nickelodeon with its Croatian-language audio launch in 2011. The channel occasionally featured a programming block titled Disney dan (Template:Abbr Disney Day), airing popular Disney movies such as Finding Nemo (2003) and Frozen (2013).<ref name="disneydan">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

Sports

Throughout all of its daily news programs, RTL Televizija has broadcast daily sports news throughout all of its daily news programs. The Croatian national football team used to broadcast its away matches there between 2004 and 2007. Since 2008, HRT has been broadcasting these matches once again.Template:Citation needed

RTL Televizija occasionally also broadcast boxing bouts and the highlights of the Red Bull Air Race events. They also bought the TV rights for all the matches of the 2009 World Men's Handball Championship, which was held in Croatia. This proved to be a big hit to Croatia's public broadcaster HRT, who even threatened to take legal action against RTL after they refused to sell them the rights to broadcast the match highlights during their news programs.<ref name="tuzba">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

Sister channels

Channel	Launch	Type	Description	Template:Abbr
RTL 2	2 January 2011	Free-to-air	Entertainment channel dedicated to re-runs of RTL flagship channel's original programming and various acquired programming, such as sitcoms.	citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
RTL Kockica	11 January 2014		Children's programming.	citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
RTL Crime	12 March 2015	Cable	Crime television series.	<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
RTL Living			Lifestyle television series. The channel also re-runs RTL's news programming.
RTL Passion			Telenovelas, soap operas, drama and romance television series.
RTL Croatia World	11 July 2016		RTL's news and entertainment programming for audiences outside of Croatia.	citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
RTL Adria	24 February 2020		Entertainment channel.	citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>

Streaming

RTL launched its streaming service RTL Play on 12 January 2018.<ref name="rtlplay">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> It was a free ad-supported service that offered access to RTL's programming, as well as a livestream of RTL's channels. A paid Play Premium option was also available; it featured access to locked content and programming exclusive to the service, such as new episodes of the scripted drama series Krv nije voda.<ref name="rtlplay2">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

In July 2023, RTL announced that RTL Play is getting replaced with Voyo, a subscription-based video on demand over-the-top service.<ref name="voyo">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Voyo launched on 27 August, offering subscribers an access to new episodes of RTL's both original and acquired television series 24 hours prior to their television broadcast. The service also focuses on offering exclusive acquired programming that has not been broadcast on RTL.

Viewership

Audience and advertising share

Year	2004	2005	2006	2007	2008	2009	2010	2011	2012	2013	2014	2015	2016	2017	2018
Audience share	7.3%	6.2%	5.9%	5.3%	5.1%	4.4%	4.2%	4.3%	3.2%	4.2%	4.4%	2.2%	2.2%	6.3%	7.3%
Audience share (target 18–49)<ref name="facts"/>	29.5%	28.6%	28.6%	26.4%	26.2%	26.1%	26.4%	13.4%	colspan=7 Template:Unknown
Advertising share<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>	16.3%	38.4%	42.9%	colspan=12Template:Unknown

External links

• Template:Official website Template:In lang