RTL 4

It originally launched on the Astra 1A satellite as RTL Véronique on 2 October 1989,{{cite web|url=http://www.satellitemagazine.com/mobile/informatie.php?id=100|title=ASTRA Benelux leidt vakhandel de juiste weg en zet in op HD|publisher=SatelliteMagazine.com|access-date=24 November 2012|language=nl}} before rebranding as RTL 4 the next year,{{cite web|url=http://www.rtl.nl/service/rtlnederland/components/corporate/zenders/articles/rtl4.xml|title=RTL 4: Dé familiezender van Nederland|publisher=RTL Nederland|access-date=24 November 2012 |language=nl}} absorbing some of the assets of TV10, which never launched.{{citation |url=http://www.vandehakopdetak.nl/geschiedenis/1989.htm |title=Geschiedenis van 1989 - Het jaar 1989 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071031130310/http://www.vandehakopdetak.nl/geschiedenis/1989.htm |archive-date=2007-10-31 |access-date=2020-08-23 |language=nl}} 1, 2 and 3 were already used by the Netherlands' public broadcasters. It was one of the first private commercial broadcaster in the Netherlands. Officially, it still broadcasts from Luxembourg. Private broadcasters were not allowed in the Netherlands until 1992.{{cite web|url=http://www.innl.nl/page/4956|title=De commerciële doorbraak: Op de Nederlandse radio & televisie|publisher=Nationaal Historisch Museum|author=Jan Auke Brink|access-date=24 November 2012|language=nl}} The encryption system employed by both RTL 4 and 5 analogue services while on the Astra 1A and 1C satellites was Luxcrypt. This standard was employed to protect the distribution rights sold by foreign studios to RTL.{{cite web|url=http://www.volkskrant.nl/vk/nl/2844/Archief/archief/article/detail/379963/1994/05/26/Codering-RTL-5-wekt-verzet.dhtml|title=Codering RTL 5 wekt verzet|publisher=de Volkskrant|date=26 May 1994|language=nl}}

RTL 4 broadcasts the first and the longest running soap of the Netherlands, Goede tijden, slechte tijden (since 1 October 1990).{{cite web|url=http://www.gtstfanclub.nl/over-gtst/|title=Over GTST|date=8 January 2011|publisher=gtstfanclub.nl|access-date=24 November 2012|language=nl}} Ratings have increased by 1991, which by then had attracted a 30% share in both ratings and advertisers.[https://variety.com/1991/more/news/news-reigns-in-holland-99126727/ News Reights In Holland] By 1992, the channel has been steadily growing in the Netherlands, due to the increased penetration of cable television. An RTL 4 fan club was being suggested.{{cite news |title=Een RTL5 zou RTL4 kunnen aanvullen |url=https://www.nrc.nl/nieuws/1992/03/13/een-rtl5-zou-rtl4-kunnen-aanvullen-7136251-a1081395 |work=NRC Handelsblad |date=13 March 1992 |language=nl}}

The channel was under attack from the Media Commission in June 1993 for exceeding the limit of 20% commercials per hour, a violation of EU directives. The channel was accused of running ad breaks close to one another, as well as the airing of illicit advertising. The move came at the same time the Dutch government eased advertising restrictions during sports events.[https://variety.com/1993/tv/news/rtl-4-under-fire-over-ad-regs-108074/ RTL-4 under fire over ad regs]

In July 1998, the channel announced a rebrand which made the channel "more serious" with a mixture of news, drama and reality programming, in order to counter a regression in its growth in the previous autumn. A new look developed by Pittard Sullivan was introduced. Some successful shows from the past, such as 5 uur show, were cancelled due to lack of ratings.[https://www.volkskrant.nl/voorpagina/rtl-4-wil-meer-herkenbaarheid-met-nieuws-drama-en-docusoaps~b3684086/ RTL 4 wil meer herkenbaarheid met nieuws, drama en 'docusoaps']

Full-time widescreen broadcasts began on 1 June 2007.[https://www.villamedia.nl/artikel/rtl-volledig-in-breedbeeld RTL volledig in breedbeeld] RTL 4's had a radical change of programming on 18 August 2007 when RTL obtained the football rights (Eredivisie) shared with RTL 7, using the umbrella title {{lang|nl|RTL Voetbal}},{{cite news|title=Voetbal komend seizoen op RTL 4 en RTL 7|url=https://www.mediacourant.nl/2007/08/voetbal-komend-seizoen-op-rtl-4-en-rtl-7/|work=Media Courant|date=14 August 2007|language=nl}} but lost the rights to the NOS the following year, also due to the lack of interest by RTL and SBS.{{cite news|title='Eredivisie Live ruikt naar gras'|url=https://www.vi.nl/nieuws/eredivisie-live-ruikt-naar-gras|work=VI|date=21 July 2008|language=nl}} In 2008, RTL 4 went back to its roots as a family entertainment channel{{cite web|url=http://www.mediacourant.nl/?p=4741|title=Bert Habets: 'RTL 4 wordt weer familiezender'|publisher=Mediacourant.nl|date=21 January 2008|language=nl}} with programmes such as Idols, X Factor, Dancing with the Stars and Dancing on Ice. That year, RTL 4 also launched Ik hou van Holland, a quiz show around and about the Netherlands with Linda de Mol.{{cite web|url=http://www.telegraaf.nl/prive/3052800/_Linda_de_Mol_houdt_van_Holland__.html|title=Linda de Mol houdt van Holland|publisher=De Telegraaf|author=Marcel Frost|date=17 January 2008|url-status=bot: unknown|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080620001647/http://www.telegraaf.nl/prive/3052800/_Linda_de_Mol_houdt_van_Holland__.html|archive-date=20 June 2008|language=nl}}

From 2009, talent shows have played a major role in the programming of RTL 4, the X Factor has been rescheduled successfully to Friday night with higher ratings in Season{{nbsp}}2 (2009) and Season 3 (2010) on Fridays. In 2010, RTL 4 bought the rights for broadcasting Holland's Got Talent from SBS{{nbsp}}6{{cite web|url=http://www.mediacourant.nl/?p=67729|title=Robert ten Brink nieuwe presentator Holland's Got Talent|publisher=Mediacourant.nl|author=Marcel Frost|date=3 May 2012}} and created together with pioneer John de Mol their own talent show The Voice of Holland in the autumn of that same year.{{cite web|url=http://zappen.blog.nl/talpa/2010/08/17/john-de-mol-kijker-wordt-uit-stoel-geblazen-door-the-voice#more-10119|title=John de Mol: Kijker wordt uit stoel geblazen door The Voice|publisher=zappen.blog.nl|author=Herman Roggeveen|date=17 August 2010}} The Voice of Holland became a huge hit on Dutch television with ratings around 3{{nbsp}}million viewers every Friday night.{{cite web|url=http://www.televizier.nl/nieuws/tv-nieuws/the-voice-met-dik-3-miljoen-kijkers-ver-voor-op.727459.lynkx|title=The Voice met dik 3 miljoen kijkers ver voor op concurrentie|publisher=Televizier.nl|author=Jory Vijfschaft|date=22 September 2012}} In 2012, yet another new talent show started, Beat the Best.{{cite web|url=http://www.mediajournaal.nl/2012/04/19/weer-nieuwe-talentenshow-bij-rtl4-met-gordon-en-chantal-janzen.html|title=Weer nieuwe talentenshow RTL4, met Gordon en Chantal Janzen|publisher=Mediajournaal.nl|date=19 April 2012|access-date=24 November 2012|archive-date=30 June 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170630171107/http://www.mediajournaal.nl/2012/04/19/weer-nieuwe-talentenshow-bij-rtl4-met-gordon-en-chantal-janzen.html|url-status=dead}}

RTL 4 also owns the rights for the soaps As the World Turns and The Bold and the Beautiful. In January 2007, RTL sold the rights for B&B to SBS6, but repurchased the rights in December 2010. With more money and space to buy other TV shows, RTL 4 bought the rights for the first season of the successful drama show Brothers & Sisters{{cite web|url=http://www.rtl.nl/service/rtlnederland/components/persdienst/persberichten/2007/02_februari/Brothers_and_Sisters_op_RTL_4.xml|title=Nieuwe kwaliteitsserie 'Brothers And Sisters' vanaf 4 april primetime bij RTL 4|publisher=RTL Nederland|date=2 February 2007}} and took over CSI: Miami from sister channel RTL 5.{{cite web|url=http://www.mediacourant.nl/?p=3016|title=Misdaadserie CSI Miami verhuist naar RTL 4|publisher=Mediacourant.nl|date=17 April 2007}}

Television host Peter van der Vorst has been appointed Content and Marketing Director of RTL Nederland. He started on 1 March 2019.{{cite web|url=https://www.broadbandtvnews.com/2019/02/12/rtl-nederland-appoints-peter-van-der-vorst/|title=RTL Nederland appoints Peter van der Vorst|publisher=BroadbandTVNews.com|author=Robert Briel|date=12 February 2019}}

From May 1991 until September 2006, the station has had several accompanying radio stations, such as RTL 4 Radio, RTL Radio, RTL Rock Radio, Happy RTL,{{cite web|url=http://www.radiopedia.nl/wiki/RTL_Radio|title=RTL Radio|publisher=Radiopedia.nl|access-date=November 24, 2012}} and RTL FM.{{cite web|url=http://beeldengeluidwiki.nl/index.php/RTL_FM|title=RTL FM|publisher=Beeldengeluidwiki.nl|access-date=November 24, 2012}} Between June 2007 and 1 January 2012 RTL Nederland owned Radio 538, one of the largest radio stations of the Netherlands; the station was sold to Talpa, which is RTL's commercial competitor on television.{{cite web|url=http://www.totaaltv.nl/nieuws/7400/Talpa_weer_eigenaar_van_Radio_538.html|title=Talpa weer eigenaar van Radio 538|publisher=Totaal TV|author=Jarco Kriek|date=January 2, 2012}}{{cite news|url=http://www.nrc.nl/nieuws/2011/07/28/talpa-koopt-radio-538-terug/|title=Talpa koopt Radio 538 terug|newspaper=NRC |publisher=NRC Handelsblad|date=July 28, 2011 |last1=Redacteuren |first1=een Onzer }}

The first look as RTL Véronique was designed by Top Drawers, who did the same for the VPRO. It consisted of a red, white and blue all-caps VERONIQUE wordmark, while the graphics were 3D featuring American-style skyscrapers. The channel executives Lex Harding and Ruud Hendriks told designer Willem van den Berg that American elements were to be used because, according to RTL, the United States were the example for commercial television. For efficiency, RTL decided to make all of its graphics for the Dutch channel from Luxembourg, which led to communication problems between French designers, the Luxembourgish parent and the Dutch office. The jingle was composed by Thompson Creative, whose owner Larry Thompson went to the Netherlands on purpose, with the master tapes to latter add a Veronique sonic logo in Dutch. The channel's menu and break bumpers used a track from the Carlin Production Music library.[https://www.nieuwstunes.nl/articles/special-25-jaar-rtl4-25-jaar-baanbrekende-vormgeving/ Special: 25 jaar RTL4, 25 jaar baanbrekende vormgeving]

Seeing the success of the Zet'm op 4 (Put it on 4) promotional campaign that began in December 1989, Veronique's name recognition grew. Partly due to its success, the channel adopted the RTL 4 name on 17 September 1990. This also included an all-new look and logo, with an all-italic logo featuring a 4 in a red circle (later changed to yellow). The design was originally used for the aborted TV10, with the jingle being re-recorded to feature the channel's name. The audio package was composed by Hans van Ejick.

Facing ratings losses in the mid-90s, the channel introduced a modified version of its circle 4 logo in the summer of 1997, without the RTL wordmark, here resembling a sun. The music was, again, composed by Hans van Ejick.

In an attempt to rebound RTL 4's public image and ratings following a series of rating regressions, the channel initiated a task force, led by Bert van de Weer. The new look was designed by the US agency Pittard Sullivan, while the music was composed by Bernhard Joosten Music Productions. The new logo was a black rectangle with a lowercase RTL wordmark, with an orange quarter-circle with a 4 in it. Rob van den Berg was in charge of additional seasonal elements.

A new look was introduced, putting emphasis on "ordinary people". This coincided with the creation of the in-house design team RTL Creatie, led by Geert van Ooijen. Bernhard Joosten continued to be in charge of the music.

File:RTL 4 logo 2005.svg

A new variation on the topic of "ordinary people" was introduced in 2004. The logo changed in August 2005, when this look was in use, due to the renaming of Yorin as RTL7 and the unification of the branding of the three channels.

The conversion of the channel to widescreen in June 2007 prompted RTL 4 to introduce a new identity. This time, the idents featured the stars of RTL 4's programmes, as well as a backstage view in which the camera did a 360º rotation. The music was composed by Stephen Emmer, who did the same for RTL Boulevard and Yorin.

A "calmer" identity was unveiled on 1 February 2008, seen by programme director Erland Galjaard as "providing a rest point for the channel", while also increasing its recognition and distinction.[https://www.mediacourant.nl/2008/01/erland-galjaard-zeer-trots-op-nieuwe-huisstijl/ Erland Galjaard: ‘Zeer trots op nieuwe huisstijl’] The first themed idents came on Valentine's Day.[https://www.mediacourant.nl/2008/01/rtl-4-met-nieuwe-station-idents/ RTL 4 met nieuwe station idents] The package used during this period had a large segmented version of the 4 mark, accompanied by flying objects, as well as programme or season-specific idents. The music was composed by Stephen Emmer for the second look in a row, through his company E-station.

File:RTL 4 Logo 2013.svg

File:RTL 4 Logo 2016.svg

Findesign created a new look and logo for RTL 4 in 2013, featuring a numeral 4 divided in four segments, three of them orange. It was adopted at the beginning of the new television season on 26 August.[https://www.villamedia.nl/artikel/nieuwe-huisstijl-rtl4 Nieuwe huisstijl RTL4] In 2016, the RTL wordmark changed, coinciding with the adoption of a uniform wordmark for RTL Nederland.[https://www.televizier.nl/actualiteiten/rtl-nederland-kondigt-naam-en-logoverandering-aan RTL Nederland kondigt naam- en logoverandering aan]

On 1 May 2023, in line with the corporate parent rolling out the RTL United rebrand campaign in the four countries where it operates television channels, RTL 4 adopted a new logo featuring the new corporate template, based on the longtime logo of the German channel, in three shades of orange.[https://www.adformatie.nl/creatie/design/rebranding-moet-de-eenheid-rtl-versterken-als-een-merk-fragmenteert-verdwijnt-het Rebranding moet de eenheid RTL versterken: 'Als een merk fragmenteert verdwijnt het']

• Vivienne van den Assem (2018–present)
• Vivian Boelen (1991–2012)
• Carlo Boszhard (1993–present)
• Patty Brard (1989–1990, 1994, 2011–2013, 2018)
• Robert ten Brink (2006–present)
• Daphne Bunskoek (2005–2008, 2013, 2018–present)
• Pepijn Crone (2015–present)
• Nicolette van Dam (2008–2015)
• Wendy van Dijk (2006–2019)
• Marieke Elsinga (2016–present)
• Beau van Erven Dorens (1998–2005, 2007–2009, 2015–present)
• Natasja Froger (2010–present)
• Gordon (2007–2018)
• Angela Groothuizen (2009–present)
• Olcay Gulsen (2016–2019)
• John van den Heuvel (2001–present)
• Jan de Hoop (1989–2022)
• Mariska Hulscher (200?–200?)
• Twan Huys (2018–2019)
• Luuk Ikink (2013–present)
• Chantal Janzen (2005–2006, 2011–present)
• Eva Jinek (2020–present)
• Nicolette Kluijver (2014–present)
• Jeroen van Koningsbrugge (2008–2019)
• Martijn Krabbé (1995–present)
• Pernille La Lau (2006–2008, 2010–present)
• Paul de Leeuw (2013–2014, 2018–present)
• Marc van der Linden (2003–present)
• Bridget Maasland (2007–2012, 2016–present)
• Char Margolis (2002–2008, 2010)
• Jaap van Meekren (1989–1993)
• Linda de Mol (2007–2019)
• Irene Moors (1989–2016)
• Ruben Nicolai (2015–present)
• Derek Ogilvie (2007–2013)
• Jeroen Pauw (1989–2000)
• Antoin Peeters (2002–present)
• Jur Raatjes (1989–1999)
• Art Rooijakkers (2018–present)
• Loretta Schrijver (1989–2007, 2010–present)
• Katja Schuurman (2018–present)
• Gaston Starreveld (1990–present)
• Humberto Tan (2007–2012, 2013–present)
• Caroline Tensen (1989–1999, 2019–present)
• Quinty Trustfull (2006, 2008–present)
• Rudolph van Veen (2000–2005, 2008–2011)
• Thomas Verhoef (2005–present)
• Peter van der Vorst (2006–2019)
• Peter R. de Vries (1995–1998, 2006–2010, 2013–2021)
• Frits Wester (1994–present)
• Merel Westrik (2014–2019)
• John Williams (1995–present)

RTL 4 offered a teletext service which stopped on 1 April 2017. The pages 888/889 are still available for subtitles.{{Cite web|url=https://winacties.rtl.nl/|title=RTL Text|website=winacties.rtl.nl}}

{{Reflist}}

• [http://www.rtl4.nl/ RTL 4] {{in lang|nl}}

{{RTL Group}}

{{Bertelsmann}}

{{Television in the Netherlands}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Rtl 4}}

Category:Television channels in the Netherlands

Category:RTL Nederland

Category:1989 establishments in the Netherlands

Category:Television channels and stations established in 1989