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RTL 5

{{short description|Dutch television network}}

{{Infobox television channel

| name = RTL 5

| logo = RTL5 2023.svg

| logo_size = 250px

| logo_alt = RTL 5 logo

| launch_date = {{start date and age|1993|10|2|df=y}}

| picture_format = 1080i HDTV
{{small|(downscaled to 16:9 576i for the SDTV feed)}}

| owner = RTL Group

| parent = RTL Nederland (2004–present)
Holland Media Groep (1997–2004)
RTL 4 S.A. (1993–1997)

| country = Netherlands
Luxembourg

| area = Netherlands
Luxembourg

| headquarters = Hilversum, Netherlands

| former_names = RTL V (1993–1994)
RTL 5 Nieuws & Weer (1997–1998)

| sister_channels = RTL 4
RTL 7
RTL 8
RTL Z
RTL Lounge
RTL Crime
RTL Telekids

| website = [http://www.rtl5.nl/ www.rtl5.nl]

| terr_serv_1 = Digitenne

| terr_chan_1 = Channel 5 (HD)

| terr_serv_2 = DTT (Luxembourg)

| terr_chan_2 = 498 MHz (SD)

| online_serv_1 = Ziggo GO

| online_chan_1 = [https://www.ziggogo.tv/nl/tv/channel-asset.html/lgi-nl-prod-master%3ANL_000005_019462/location/65535.html#action=watch ZiggoGO.tv] (Europe only)

| online_serv_2 = KPN iTV Online

| online_chan_2 = [http://www.itvonline.nl/ Watch live] (Europe only)

}}

RTL 5 is a Dutch free-to-cable television channel that was launched on 2 October 1993, during the 4th anniversary of its sister channel. It mainly broadcasts American films and hit series but also reality shows, comedy, travel, international shows and local productions including Expeditie Robinson, Holland's Next Top Model & Benelux' Next Top Model, Dutch versions of America's Next Top Model, the Dutch version of Project Catwalk, So You Think You Can Dance and a Dutch version of ITV's Take Me Out.{{cite web|url=http://www.rtl.nl/service/rtlnederland/components/corporate/zenders/articles/rtl5.xml|title=RTL 5, Jong, Brutaal en Eigenzinnig|publisher=RTL Nederland|access-date=November 24, 2012}}

Officially RTL 5 - along with RTL 4, RTL 7 and RTL 8 - is headquartered in Hilversum, broadcasting with a Luxembourg TV license. This allows them to avoid more severe control by the Dutch media authorities as Luxembourg's television watchdog is less strict.

History

=Early years=

RTL 4 planned the creation of an RTL 5 as early as March 1992. The group conducted a feasibility study to create a second channel for targets that were not properly served by the main channel.[https://www.nrc.nl/nieuws/1992/03/13/een-rtl5-zou-rtl4-kunnen-aanvullen-7136251-a1081395 "Een RTL5 zou RTL4 kunnen aanvullen'] In a board meeting at the end of June 1993, CLT publicly announced a 2 October launch date, aiming to complement the broader RTL 4. Executives believed that RTL 5 was set to start at the right time, and that the new channel would help develop the Dutch commercial television market.[https://variety.com/1993/tv/news/clt-aims-to-launch-new-dutch-tv-channel-oct-2-108256/ CLT aims to launch new Dutch TV channel Oct. 2] The channel planned to receive US$2,60 per subscriber for its cable fees during its first year of operation.[https://variety.com/1993/biz/news/world-briefs-2-108828/ World Briefs]

RTL 5 started as RTL V via the Astra 1C satellite on 2 October 1993. The programming mainly consists of shows about cars and programmes for men.{{cite web|url=http://www.frankhallie.nl/media/selecttv/rtl5.htm|title=RTL 5|publisher=frankhallie.nl|access-date=November 24, 2012|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071204223032/http://www.frankhallie.nl/media/selecttv/rtl5.htm|archive-date=December 4, 2007}} Opening night started at 6pm with a preview programme that was partly simulcast with RTL 4, presented by Jan Lenferink, in which its guests searched for "the other side of television". It was followed by the film Dead Poets Society at 8pm, and at 10:05pm, Saturdaynight Five, featuring "a quiz that is not a quiz and a survey" into the preferences of the progressive Netherlands, with various styles of "top level" music. After an episode of The Twilight Zone (at 11:30pm), the evening finished at midnight with an eight-hour reading of Freek de Jonge's book Neerlands Bloed (Dutch Blood) over an eight-hour period, recorded at the Concertgebouw in May 1991.{{cite news |date=2 October 1993 |title=PROGRAMMA'S RTV ZATERDAG |url=https://leiden.courant.nu/issue/LD/1988-10-06/edition/0/page/27 |access-date=29 May 2025 |work=Leidse Courant |language=nl}} Frank de Jonge had previously appeared in the launch of RTL Veronique four years earlier and "reappeared" in the form of a video recording.[https://www.nrc.nl/nieuws/1993/10/02/freek-de-jonge-luistert-openingsavond-van-rtl5-op-7198008-a660070 Freek de Jonge luistert openingsavond van RTL5 op] In 1994 it changed the Roman number V into 5.{{cite web|url=http://beeldengeluidwiki.nl/index.php/RTL5-televisievormgeving|title=RTL5-televisievormgeving|publisher=Beeldengeluidwiki.nl|access-date=November 24, 2012}}

=RTL 5 under the early days of HMG=

In February 1995, Veronica joined RTL 4 S.A., starting a joint venture called HMG (Holland Media Groep). Two of the channels already had defined targets (RTL 4 continued being a family channel and Veronica was set to be a youth channel), but RTL 5 "clashed" with RTL 4, causing the channel to find a new formula.[https://variety.com/1995/tv/features/dutch-channel-ready-to-go-99124484/ Dutch Channel Ready To Go] In March, its founding director Fans von Westerloo left the channel and was appointed for the same position on the upstart network SBS6. Program coordinator Bart in't Houd also left the channel to join the same post on the new service.[https://variety.com/1995/scene/markets-festivals/sbs-firing-up-its-cable-web-99124108/ SBS Firing Up Its Cable Web]

With three major channels RTL could disrupt the television market in the Netherlands. A recommendation from the European Commission suggested the sale of RTL 5 to another company, with SBS Broadcasting being interested. The Competition Commission suggested by mid-September to formally create HMG only if RTL 5 was sold and if Endemol's share was reduced to a symbolic level.[https://variety.com/1995/scene/markets-festivals/sbs-set-to-bid-on-rtl-5-web-99128876/ SBS set to bid on RTL 5 web]

=Attempted reconversion to a news and weather format=

In the summer of 1996, the channel was aimed at reconverting itself into a news channel, but HMG executives were still pending a final decision.[https://web.archive.org/web/20021126053133/http://www.nrc.nl/W2/Nieuws/1996/07/31/Med/01.html Nieuwszender RTL5 wordt betaaltelevisie] Under pressure of the European Commission the channel was rebranded as RTL 5 Nieuws & Weer (in English: RTL 5 News & Weather) between 1997 and 1998. RTL 5 became a thematic news channel, with an 8pm news bulletin competing against the main edition of NOS Journaal. It also provided a ten-minute Weer & Verkeer (weather and traffic) bulletin after the main news.[https://www.volkskrant.nl/cultuur-media/rtl-5-nieuws-weer-mikt-op-het-gevoel~b9721e23/ RTL 5 Nieuws & Weer mikt op het gevoel] Weeks after the launch of the new format, SBS Broadcasting tried suing RTL 5 in front of the European Commission, under the grounds that HMG was not following EC recommendations in becoming a theme channel. Part of its line-up still consisted of feature films, going against the news channel concept, and one of the new local programmes, 5 in het land, was similar to SBS6's Hart van Nederland.[https://web.archive.org/web/20050225155446/http://www.nrc.nl/W2/Nieuws/1997/01/24/Med/02.html SBS klaagt RTL5 aan in Brussel] The EC suggested a gradual removal of the general entertainment fare in order to finish the conversion.[https://variety.com/1997/scene/vpage/hmg-denies-dodging-ec-regulations-1117436277/ HMG denies dodging EC regulations]

=Repositioning=

With the launch of NET5 in 1999, the channel changed its format again. The channel withdrew its news and weather format and increased its target demographic.[https://tvenradiodb.nl/index.php/25/rtl5.html RTL5] In September 2000, the European Commission reversed the restrictions on RTL 5 because competitive channels had been launched in the Netherlands. On 5 June 2001,[https://web.archive.org/web/20060510233021/http://www.nrc.nl/W2/Nieuws/2001/04/12/Med/03.html RTL 5 wordt een financiële nieuwszender] a Business and Financial News block called RTL Z started on RTL 5 during daytime. Regular RTL 5 programming started at 6pm.[https://www.cvdm.nl/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/Concentration-and-Diversity-of-the-Dutch-Media-2002.pdf CONCENTRATION AND DIVERSITY OF THE DUTCH MEDIA 2002] RTL Z moved from RTL 5 to RTL 7 on 12 August 2005.[https://www.nu.nl/economie/548137/yorin-wordt-rtl7.html Yorin wordt RTL7]

=Since 2005=

Since then, in conjunction with the RTL rebrand, RTL 5 has become a 24-hours channel.{{cite web|url=http://www.rtl.nl/components/financien/rtlz/2005/06_juni/28-RTLZ_verhuist.xml|title=RTL Z verhuist naar nieuwe zender RTL 7|date=June 28, 2005}} It also absorbed the programmes of the former Yorin channel, while RTL 7, the former Yorin, took RTL5's former output.[https://www.adformatie.nl/creatie/craft/yorin-wijkt-voor-rtl7 Yorin wijkt voor RTL7]

On 15 January 2024, a new season of Big Brother premiered on the channel and on Videoland.[https://mediamagazine.nl/big-brother-van-start-met-nieuw-seizoen-op-rtl5-en-videoland/ Big Brother van start met nieuw seizoen op RTL5 en Videoland]

Series and shows currently on air

Series and shows previously shown or on hiatus

Teletext

RTL 5 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}}

Logos

RTL 5 Logo 1999.svg|RTL 5's seventh from 1999 to 2004

RTL 5 Logo 2004.svg|RTL 5's eighth from 2004 to 2005

RTL 5 Logo.svg|RTL 5's ninth logo from 2005 to 2012

RTL5 logo 2012.png|RTL 5's tenth logo from 2012 to 2017

RTL 5 Logo 2017.svg|RTL 5's eleventh logo from 2017 to 2023

References

{{Reflist}}

External links

{{commons category}}

  • {{Official website|http://www.rtl5.nl/ }}

{{RTL Group}}

{{Bertelsmann}}

{{Television in the Netherlands}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Rtl 5}}

Category:Television channels in the Netherlands

Category:RTL Nederland

Category:Television channels and stations established in 1993

Category:1993 establishments in the Netherlands