RTL 4

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

RTL 4
Image:RTL 4 logo.png
Launched	October 2, 1989
Network	RTL Nederland
Owned by	RTL Group
Audience share	14.7% (2006, [1])
Country	Netherlands
Headquarters	Hilversum, Netherlands & Luxembourg city, Luxembourg
Formerly called	RTL Véronique (until 1990)
Sister channel(s)	RTL 5, RTL 7, RTL 8
Website	www.rtl4.nl
Availability
Satellite
Astra 1H

RTL 4 is a commercial television station in the Netherlands. It is one of the biggest commercial television stations in the country, especially with those aged between 20 and 49. The station has three sister tv channels; RTL 5, RTL 7 (previously Yorin) and RTL 8 (previously Tien) . From May 1991 until September 2006, the station has had several accompanying radio stations, such as RTL4 Radio, Happy RTL, and RTL FM.

It originally launched on the Astra satellite as RTL Veronique on October 2, 1989, before rebranding as RTL 4 (after 1, 2 and 3 were already used by the Netherlands' public broadcasters) the next year. It was the first private commercial broadcaster in the Netherlands, and originally broadcast from Luxembourg (private broadcasters were not allowed to originate from the Netherlands until 1992). The encryption system employed by both RTL 4 and 5 analogue services whilst on the Astra 1a and 1C satellites was Luxcrypt. This standard was employed (mainly on the English language programmes carried with Dutch subtitles) in order to protect the distribution rights sold by foreign studios to RTL.

Image:RTL4 col.gif

RTL 4's old logo

RTL 4's latest relaunch was on 12 August 2005. New plans were introduced in order to broadcast more Dutch drama, RTL news programmes and entertainment shows using international formats. Hits on RTL 4 include Het Zes Uur Nieuws, Editie NL, RTL Boulevard and the detective series Baantjer and Grijpstra & de Gier. Idols (Pop Idol in the UK or American Idol in the USA) is also very popular. RTL 4 plans to become a family favourite on Saturday night with Idols, X Factor, Dancing with the Stars and Dancing on Ice.

RTL 4 plans to become more interactive with its viewers with Life and Cooking episodes shown on Sunday afternoons, on the relaunched network.

RTL 4 also bought the rights for the soaps As The World Turns and The Bold and The Beautiful. In January 2007, RTL sold the rights to B&B to SBS6. With more money and space to buy other tv shows, RTL 4 bought the rights for the successful drama show Brothers & Sisters and took over CSI: Miami.