Editing RTL Zwei (section)

==Programming==
Programming pillars are daily episodes of the local ''[[Big Brother (TV series)|Big Brother]]'' in access [[prime-time]], and a prime-time lineup consisting mostly of docu soaps, movies and licensed series such as ''[[24 (television)|24]]'' and ''[[Stargate SG-1]]''. Recent efforts to move further towards quality programming with science magazine shows and documentaries have met with an indifferent audience response.{{citation needed|date=March 2013}}

The channel's prime-time newscast ''RTL II News'' is frequently criticized{{citation needed|date=March 2013}} for its selection of news stories, which cater to a younger audience; for example, it has been known to put a CD release or the launch of a new gaming console in the second headline slot directly after the day's top event.{{Original research inline|date=April 2012}} This unconventional approach has brought RTL II's broadcasting licence into jeopardy at least once, as a German [[commercial broadcaster]] has to feature minimum amounts of serious information and culture programming to be allowed a full channel licence.{{citation needed|date=March 2013}} In addition to its own news programmes (''RTL II News'', ''RTL II Spezial. Das Magazin'' and ''Das Nachrichtenjournal''), the channel commissions shows from independent producers which air in the afternoons.

=== Afternoon programming ===
In the afternoon, the channel now primarily features its own docu soap and reality show productions.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.quotenmeter.de/cms/?p1=n&p2=56935&p3= |title=RTL II verzichtet komplett auf Sitcoms – |publisher=Quotenmeter.de |date=26 May 2012 |access-date=15 March 2013}}</ref>

=== Prime-time ===
Among its prime-time line-up the channel's own docu soap productions such as ''Die Geissens – Eine schrecklich glamouröse Familie'' and ''[[Frauentausch]]'' are particularly successful. Various US shows such as ''[[Game of Thrones]]''<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.spiegel.de/kultur/tv/gute-quoten-fuer-rtl-ii-fantasy-serie-game-of-thrones-in-drei-bloecken-a-823708.html |title=Gute Quoten für RTL-II-Fantasy-Serie "Game of Thrones" in drei Blöcken - SPIEGEL ONLINE |newspaper=Der Spiegel |date=26 March 2012 |publisher=Spiegel.de |access-date=15 March 2013}}</ref> and ''[[The Walking Dead (TV series)|The Walking Dead]]''<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.dwdl.de/zahlenzentrale/38236/the_walking_dead_erneut_voller_erfolg_fuer_rtl_ii/ |title="The Walking Dead": Erneut voller Erfolg für RTL II |publisher=DWDL.de |access-date=15 March 2013}}</ref> have been the most successful series of RTL II's prime-time slot. Its late-night line-up also featured North American series such as ''Autopsie – Mysteriöse Todesfälle'' and ''[[Flashpoint (TV series)|Flashpoint]]''.

=== Anime and children's programming ===
RTL II has offered the largest [[anime]] content of all free-to-air German-language TV channels.{{Citation needed|date=March 2013}} It aired about over 80 Anime series and also broadcast cartoons. On weekdays, RTL II also aired an anime afternoon in their children/youth "Pokito" slot. Following tensions with media authorities, RTL II's [[standards and practices]] department was believed{{by whom|date=May 2010}} to be especially sensitive about children's programming. As a consequence, the channel has cut scenes from anime series like [[Detective Conan]],<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.animedigital.de/conan-cuts.html |title=Animedigital-Conan Cuts |publisher=Animedigital.de |access-date=15 March 2013}}</ref> [[InuYasha]],<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.animedigital.de/Projekte/Inuyasha/ |title=Animedigital-Inuyasha Cuts |publisher=Animedigital.de |access-date=15 March 2013}}</ref> [[One Piece]]<ref>{{cite web|url=http://op-cuts.animedigital.de |title=Animedigital-One Piece Cuts |publisher=Op-cuts.animedigital.de |access-date=15 March 2013}}</ref> and [[Naruto]],<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.animedigital.de/naruto-cuts.html |title=Animedigital-Naruto Cuts |publisher=Animedigital.de |access-date=15 March 2013}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://archive.today/20131205152550/http://web.archive.org/web/20071212041145/www.schnittberichte.com/search.php?String=Naruto&Kat=Serie|title=Schnittberichte.com - Mehr als 3600 detaillierte Zensurberichte zu Fi…|date=12 December 2007|website=archive.ph}}</ref> for which it has received criticism from anime fans. Even some episodes where the original version had previously been given a [[Freiwillige Selbstkontrolle der Filmwirtschaft|FSK]] 6 rating, meaning that it was suitable for children ages 6 up and may legally be aired at all hours of the day, have been edited down.{{Citation needed|date=April 2012}} In February 2013, RTL II announced that its Sunday morning children's programme would be discontinued as of 21 April 2013. A separate and short-lived online channel for anime was launched in April.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.dwdl.de/nachrichten/39772/rtl_ii_verlagert_seine_animes_komplett_ins_internet/ |title=RTL II verlagert seine Animes komplett ins Internet |publisher=DWDL.de |date=26 February 2013 |access-date=15 March 2013}}</ref>

=== German premieres ===
RTL II was the first channel to introduce various foreign TV formats on German television such as:

*''The Final Countdown'': a show aired at the start of the new millennium lasting 24 hours and showing celebrations in various locations all over the world.
*''[[Popstars (German TV series)|Popstars]]'' in 2000 was the first casting show aired on German television.
*''Jack Point Jack'' in 2003 was the first interactive movie on German television.
*Bollywood movies: On 19 November 2004 RTL II aired Sometimes happiness, sometimes sadness (German: In guten wie in schweren Tagen - original title: [[Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham...|Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham]]), the first dubbed Bollywood movie on German television, and achieved an audience share of over 12.3% among the target group of 14- to 49-year-olds.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.dwdl.de/nachrichten/4317/bollywood_ist_fr_uns_ein_imageprodukt_rtl_ii_mag_es_indisch/ |title="Bollywood ist für uns ein Imageprodukt": RTL II mag es indisch |publisher=DWDL.de |access-date=15 March 2013}}</ref> Due to its success, Indian movies have been regularly aired on the channel ever since. Previously, Bollywood movies had been broadcast in Hindi with German subtitles on ARTE and VOX.