Cool TV

{{Infobox television channel

| name = Cool TV

| logo = Cool TV 2014.png

| logo_size = 175px

| logo_caption = Logo used since 2014.

| logo_alt =

| image =

| launch_date = {{Start date and age|df=yes|2003|9|15}} (as m+)
{{Start date and age|df=yes|2004|9|4}} (as Cool TV)

| closed_date =

| language = Hungarian

| picture_format = 16:9 576i (SDTV)
16:9 1080i (HDTV)

| network =

| owner = RTL Group

| parent = RTL Magyarország

| slogan =

| country = Hungary

| area = Hungary and its neighboring countries

| headquarters = Budapest

| former_names = m+ (2003–2004)

| replaced =

| replaced_by =

| sister_channels = RTL
RTL Kettő
RTL Három
RTL Gold
RTL Otthon
Muzsika TV
Film+
Sorozat+
Sorozatklub
Filmklub
Kölyökklub

| timeshift_service =

| website = {{URL|rtlmost.hu/cool}}

| terr_serv_1 = Hello Digital

| terr_chan_1 =

| terr_serv_2 = MinDigTV Extra

| terr_chan_2 =

}}

Cool TV is a Hungarian television channel owned by RTL Group. It was launched as m+ on 15 September 2003, but a year later, it was relaunched as Cool TV on 4 September 2004.

History

=2003–2010=

Originally Cool TV had the target audience of urban 15–29-year-olds who love music, externals, clothes, trendy lifestyle and extravagance. The channel was first launched as m+ on 15 September 2003, but a year later, it was relaunched as Cool TV on 4 September 2004, so the channel could be available in 2.5 million households.{{Cite web |title=Cool | R-Time |url=http://r-time.hu/csatornaink/cool |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121101211839/http://r-time.hu/csatornaink/cool |archive-date=1 November 2012 |access-date=22 February 2013}}

The channel broadcast 24 hours a day and aired reruns of series that RTL Klub originally purchased or produced as well as series targeting today's youth. In 2005, the channel has relocated on paper to Romania.

In 2007, Cool TV launched a series of topical shows produced by the channel, such as Cool Live and Cool Night, featuring younger hosts lent to Cool by RTL Klub; the former being a youth lifestyle show, and the latter being an adult show including interviews with Hungarian porn stars and producers, as well as occasionally showing soft-core porn video clips. These talkshows have now been cancelled.{{Cite web |date=31 August 2019 |title=Új műsort kap Valkó Eszter és Horváth Éva |url=https://www.origo.hu/teve/20070604ujmusort.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190831085829/https://www.origo.hu/teve/20070604ujmusort.html |archive-date=31 August 2019 |access-date=23 June 2022}}

In 2009, Cool TV purchased the airing rights of the successful Hungarian version of Whose Line Is It Anyway?, Beugró.

The channel broadcast 24 hours a day and aired reruns of series that RTL Klub originally purchased or produced, as well as series targeting today's youth. These included: South Park, Married... with Children (Egy rém rendes család), 24, Footballer's Wives (Futbalista feleségek), The L Word (L), Queer as Folk (A fiúk a klubból), The Unit (Az egység), Dead Like Me (Haláli hullák), Weeds (Spangli), Skins (Skins), Desperate Housewives (Született feleségek)

=2010–present=

From 30 August 2010, Cool TV changed image and was rebranded, aiming for a wider audience. Since then, the channel airs mostly crime procedurals. The move was successful because as of July 2012 Cool TV is the third most watched commercial TV channel, and most watched cable channel in Hungary (target audience 18–49, prime time 19.00-23.00) beating main competitor Viasat 3.{{Cite web |title=Cool, a 3. Csatorna* | R-Time |url=http://r-time.hu/csatornaink/cool/ajanlok/cool-a-3-csatorna |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130605115841/http://r-time.hu/csatornaink/cool/ajanlok/cool-a-3-csatorna |archive-date=5 June 2013 |access-date=22 February 2013}}

On 1 December 2014 at 09:00, Cool TV got its current image and it was rebranded again. The new logo is similar to the one introduced in 2010, however, the two red dots remained the same, but the previously gray circles turned white and 3D.