RTL 4 (Radio Télévision Luxembourg 4) is a Dutch free-to-cable television channel; it is the most-watched commercial station in the country, popular especially with those aged between 20 and 49. RTL 4 is a general entertainment channel with infotainment,

television drama In film and television, drama is a category or genre of narrative fiction (or semi-fiction) intended to be more serious than humorous in tone. Drama of this kind is usually qualified with additional terms that specify its particular super- ...

talk shows A talk show (or chat show in British English) is a television programming or radio programming genre structured around the act of spontaneous conversation.Bernard M. Timberg, Robert J. Erler'' (2010Television Talk: A History of the TV Talk Sho ...

game shows A game show is a genre of broadcast viewing entertainment (radio, television, internet, stage or other) where contestants compete for a reward. These programs can either be participatory or demonstrative and are typically directed by a host, s ...

news News is information about current events. This may be provided through many different media: word of mouth, printing, postal systems, broadcasting, electronic communication, or through the testimony of observers and witnesses to events. N ...

and

talent shows A talent show is an event in which participants perform the arts of singing, dancing, lip-syncing, acting, martial arts, playing an instrument, poetry, comedy or other activities to showcase skills. Many talent shows are performances rather th ...

. It is owned by

RTL Nederland RTL Nederland is a Dutch media network, a subsidiary of the RTL Group. The media company is located in Hilversum, although the licences of its TV stations are issued in Luxembourg. History The history of the network dates back to 1989 when dut ...

, a subsidiary of

RTL Group RTL Group (for "Radio Television Luxembourg") is a Luxembourg-based international media conglomerate, with another corporate centre in Cologne, Germany. The company operates 68 television channels and 31 radio stations in Germany, France an ...

. The station has three sister TV channels:

RTL 5 RTL 5 is a Dutch free-to-cable television channel that was launched on 2 October 1993. It mainly broadcasts American films and hit series but also reality shows, comedy, travel, international shows and local productions including '' Expeditie Rob ...

, RTL 7 and RTL 8, and four thematic TV channels: RTL Z, RTL Lounge, RTL Crime and

RTL Telekids RTL Telekids is a Dutch pay television kids channel owned by RTL Nederland. In addition, RTL Telekids was broadcasting as a youth block on television channel RTL 8 during daytime till 31 December 2020. Like the rest of the Dutch RTL network, RTL ...

. Officially RTL 4 - along with

, RTL 7 and RTL 8 - is headquartered in Hilversum, broadcasting under a

Luxembourg Luxembourg ( ; lb, Lëtzebuerg ; french: link=no, Luxembourg; german: link=no, Luxemburg), officially the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg, ; french: link=no, Grand-Duché de Luxembourg ; german: link=no, Großherzogtum Luxemburg is a small lan ...

TV license. This allows them to avoid more strict control by the Dutch media authorities as Luxembourg's television watchdog is less strict. Despite being intended for Dutch audiences, RTL 4 is encrypted on the Dutch DVB-T Digitenne platform but free-to-air in Luxembourg.

History

It originally launched on the

Astra 1A Astra 1A was the first satellite launched and operated by SES (Société Européenne des Satellites), launched in December 1988. During its early days, it was often referred to as the Astra Satellite, as SES only operated one satellite origina ...

satellite as ''RTL Véronique'' on 2 October 1989, before re-branding as RTL 4 the next year. 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

. Private broadcasters were not allowed in 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 in order to protect the distribution rights sold by foreign studios to RTL. RTL 4 broadcasts the first and the longest running

soap Soap is a salt of a fatty acid used in a variety of cleansing and lubricating products. In a domestic setting, soaps are surfactants usually used for washing, bathing, and other types of housekeeping. In industrial settings, soaps are use ...

of the Netherlands, ''

Goede Tijden, Slechte Tijden ''Goede tijden, slechte tijden'' (, ), also known as ''GTST'' or simply ''Goede tijden'', is the longest-running Dutch soap opera, which began on 1 October 1990 on RTL4. The programme was the first daily (every workday) soap in the Netherlands a ...

'' (since 1 October 1990). RTL 4 logo 2005

RTL 4's latest radical change of programming was on 18 August 2007 when RTL obtained the soccer rights (Eredivisie) but lost the rights to the NOS the following year. In 2008 RTL 4 went back to its roots as a family entertainment channel with programmes such as '' Idols'', ''

X Factor ''The X Factor'' is a television music competition franchise created by British producer Simon Cowell and his company Syco Entertainment. It originated in the United Kingdom, where it was devised as a replacement for ''Pop Idol'' (2001–2003) ...

'', '' Dancing with the Stars'' and '' Dancing on Ice''. That year RTL 4 also launched ''

Ik Hou Van Holland ''Ik hou van Holland'' (English: ''I love Holland'') is a Dutch game show, presented by Linda de Mol. It is broadcasting during prime time, on Saturday nights on RTL4. The show tests Dutch celebrities on their knowledge of the Netherlands. Pres ...

'', a quiz-show around and about the Netherlands with Linda De Mol. RTL4 logo 2013

From 2009 the talent shows are playing a major role in the programming of RTL 4, the ''X-Factor'' has been rescheduled successfully to Friday night with higher ratings in Season 2 (2009) and Season 3 (2010) on Fridays. In 2010, RTL 4 bought the rights for broadcasting '' Holland's Got Talent'' from

SBS 6 SBS6 is a Dutch free-to-cable commercial TV channel and is a part of Talpa TV, formerly known as SBS Broadcasting B.V. and now owned by Talpa Network. Other channels of the group in the Netherlands are Net5, Veronica, and SBS9. History SB ...

and created together with pioneer John De Mol their own talent show ''

The Voice of Holland ''The Voice of Holland'', also known as ''TVOH'', is a Dutch reality TV singing competition, that became a near global TV format franchise, created by media tycoon John de Mol and musician Roel van Velzen, in the Netherlands airing on RTL 4. ...

'' in the Autumn of that same year. ''The Voice of Holland'' became a huge hit on Dutch Television with ratings around 3 million viewers every Friday Night. In 2012 yet another new talent show started, '' Beat the Best''. RTL 4 also owns the rights for the soaps ''

As the World Turns ''As the World Turns'' (often abbreviated as ''ATWT'') is an American television soap opera that aired on CBS for 54 years from April 2, 1956, to September 17, 2010. Irna Phillips created ''As the World Turns'' as a sister show to her other s ...

'' and ''

The Bold and the Beautiful ''The Bold and the Beautiful'' (often referred to as ''B&B'') is an American television soap opera created by William J. Bell and Lee Phillip Bell for CBS. It premiered on March 23, 1987, as a sister show to the Bells' other soap opera ''The Yo ...

''. In January 2007, RTL sold the rights for ''B&B'' to

SBS6 SBS6 is a Dutch free-to-air, free-to-cable commercial television channel, TV channel and is a part of Talpa TV, formerly known as SBS Broadcasting B.V. and now owned by Talpa Network. Other channels of the group in the Netherlands are Net5, Vero ...

, but bought the rights back 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'' and took over '' CSI: Miami'' from sister channel RTL 5. Television host Peter van der Vorst has been appointed Content and Marketing Director of RTL Nederland. He will start on 1 March 2019.

Radio

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, and RTL FM. Between June 2007 and 1 January 2012 RTL Nederland owned

Radio 538 Radio 538 () is a Dutch commercial radio station that was founded in Hilversum, Netherlands in 1992. It is the second-most listened to radio station in the Netherlands. Radio 538 refers to the wavelength on which Radio Veronica used to broadcas ...

, one of the largest radio stations of the Netherlands.

Programming

Hits on RTL 4 include the RTL Nieuws, Editie NL,

RTL Boulevard ''RTL Boulevard'' is a daily television programme on the Dutch TV channel RTL 4. It was set up as a television equivalent of a tabloid, with a lot of airy subjects, news items and gossip about the stars, fashion and criminality. The programme ...

and the Saturday night family show

Ik hou van Holland ''Ik hou van Holland'' (English: ''I love Holland'') is a Dutch game show, presented by Linda de Mol. It is broadcasting during prime time, on Saturday nights on RTL4. The show tests Dutch celebrities on their knowledge of the Netherlands. Pres ...

. Talent shows are also very popular on RTL 4, such as Idols,

, Holland's Got Talent,

Supernanny ''Supernanny'' is a British reality television programme about parents struggling with their children's behaviour, mealtime, potty training, etc. The show features professional nanny Jo Frost, who devotes each episode to helping a family wh ...

and

. RTL 4 also owns the rights for American TV series. As is the practice with other television and film services nationwide, programmes in another language as well as portions of local programmes with foreign language dialogue are carried with Dutch subtitles in lieu of dubbing.

Domestic

Children's Shows

De Club van Sinterklaas ''De Club van Sinterklaas'' (English literal title: ''The Club of Sinterklaas'', international title: ''St. Nicholas & Friends'') was a Dutch seasonal children's telenovella between 1999 and 2009 based on the legend of Sinterklaas and Zwarte Piet. ...

Telekids ''Telekids'' is a Dutch children's television programme showing on the RTL 4 channel from 1989 to 1999 and since 2010 on RTL 8. The show first aired on October 2, 1989, at 6:25pm, after the six o'clock news. Initially only Irene Moors presented ...

Comedy

* Gooische Vrouwen * Voetbalvrouwen (

Footballers' Wives ''Footballers' Wives'' is a British television drama about fictional Premier League football club Earls Park F.C., its players, and their wives, broadcast on ITV from 2002 to 2006. The show initially focuses on three very different couples, but ...

)

Drama

* Baantjer * Moordvrouw * Peter R. de Vries: Crime Reporter

Game Shows

* BankGiro Miljonairs (

Who Wants to Be a Millionaire? ''Who Wants to Be a Millionaire?'' (often informally called ''Millionaire'') is an international television game show franchise of British origin, created by David Briggs, Mike Whitehill and Steven Knight. In its format, currently owned and l ...

) *

Eén tegen 100 ''Eén tegen 100'' (''1 vs. 100'') is a Dutch game show that has been airing since 3 September 2000 on various channels with Caroline Tensen as host. The game pits a single contestant against 100 other people for a chance to win a larger cash ...

I Can See Your Voice ''I Can See Your Voice'' (abbreviated ''ICSYV'' and stylized as ''I Can See Your Voice — Mystery music game show'') () is an international television mystery music game show franchise that originated in South Korea. History In 2012, prod ...

( Dutch version of the South Korean program of the same name) * Vijf tegen Vijf (Family Feud) *De Zwakste Schakel ( The Weakest Link) *The Big Music Quiz (Dutch version of Le Grand Blind test) * Dit was het nieuws (Dutch version of Have I Got News for You) *

* De Jongens tegen de Meisjes *

Het Moment Van De Waarheid ''Het Moment Van De Waarheid'' () was a Dutch game show based on the Colombian Nada más que la verdad ("Nothing More than the Truth") format. Contestants answer a series of 21 increasingly personal and embarrassing questions to receive cash pr ...

News

* RTL Nieuws

Reality

*Bouwval gezocht ( Property Ladder) * Dancing on Ice *Dancing with the Stars (British version of Strictly Come Dancing) * Eigen Huis & Tuin * Holland's Got Talent *

The Voice Kids ''The Voice Kids'' is a version of ''The Voice'' TV series franchise in which children participate. Versions The first such variation was '' The Voice Kids'' from the Netherlands, which was followed by other international variants: : Franchise wi ...

* The Voice Senior * Hoe schoon is jouw Huis? ( How Clean Is Your House?) * Idols (revived on

for the fifth series) *Mijn Tent is Top (

My Restaurant Rules ''My Restaurant Rules'' is an Australian reality television series that aired on the Seven Network. Overview The series pits five couples, one each from Australia's five largest cities, to compete against each other in opening a successful resta ...

) (series 2 & 3) * My Name Is... *

Soundmixshow ''Soundmixshow'' is a Dutch talent show which was a live-vocals version of the '' Playback Show''. It aired from 17 November 1985 to 27 April 2002 and was hosted by Henny Huisman. The format has since been sold to other countries,X Factor ''The X Factor'' is a television music competition franchise created by British producer Simon Cowell and his company Syco Entertainment. It originated in the United Kingdom, where it was devised as a replacement for ''Pop Idol'' (2001–2003) ...

Soap Operas

Goede tijden, slechte tijden ''Goede tijden, slechte tijden'' (, ), also known as ''GTST'' or simply ''Goede tijden'', is the longest-running Dutch soap opera, which began on 1 October 1990 on RTL4. The programme was the first daily (every workday) soap in the Netherlands a ...

Talk Shows

BEAU Beau may refer to: * Beau (name), a list of people and fictional characters with the given name, nickname or surname * Beau (guitarist) (born 1946), songwriter and 12-string guitar specialist * Beau (grape), another name for the Italian wine grape ...

* Jinek *

Humberto Humberto is a Portuguese and Spanish masculine given name of Germanic origin. It may refer to: *Humberto Aguilar Coronado *Humberto Ak'ab'al * Humberto Albiñana * Humberto Albornoz * Humberto Alonso Morelli * Humberto Alonso Razo * Humberto Andrad ...

Imported

* Dr. Phil * ER

Notable television presenters

* Vivienne van den Assem (2018–present) * Vivian Boelen (1991–2012) *

Carlo Boszhard Carlo Boszhard (born 26 June 1969) is a Dutch TV personality, singer, impersonator, and host. His brother is Ron Boszhard. Early life Carlo was born as the youngest son of the Boszhard family, he is the brother of Ron Boszhard. He spent hi ...

(1993–present) *

Patty Brard A patty or burger (in British English) is a flattened, usually round, serving of ground meat and/or legumes, grains, vegetables, or meat alternatives. Patties are found in multiple cuisines throughout the world. In British and American Eng ...

(1989-1990, 1994, 2011-2013, 2018) *

Robert ten Brink Robert ten Brink (Amsterdam, 20 October 1955) is a Dutch presenter. He won the Golden ''TeleVizier-Ring'' in 1993 for his television program ''All you need is love''. In 1997, he was chosen as the Netherlands' most popular TV personality. He h ...

(2006–present) * Daphne Bunskoek (2005-2008, 2013, 2018–present) * Pepijn Crone (2015–present) *

Nicolette van Dam Nicolette van Dam (born 14 August 1984) is a Dutch actress, model and television host. Biography Nicolette van Dam was born in Amsterdam in 1984. After finishing high school at the havo level at the age of 18, van Dam went to study at HBO. Sh ...

(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 Gordon may refer to: People * Gordon (given name), a masculine given name, including list of persons and fictional characters * Gordon (surname), the surname * Gordon (slave), escaped to a Union Army camp during the U.S. Civil War * Clan Gordon, ...

(2007–2018) * Angela Groothuizen (2009–present) * Olcay Gulsen (2016-2019) * John van den Heuvel (2001–present) * Jan de Hoop (1989–present) * Mariska Hulscher (200?-200?) * Twan Huys (2018-2019) * Luuk Ikink (2013–present) *

Chantal Janzen Chantal Janzen (; born 15 February 1979) is a Dutch actress, singer and TV presenter. She had parts in '' The Preacher'', ''Full Moon Party'' and '' Deuce Bigalow: European Gigolo'' and presented '' Idols''. She also played Belle in the Dutch mu ...

(2005-2006, 2011–present) * Eva Jinek (2020–present) *

Nicolette Kluijver Nicolette Rianne Staudt-Kluijver (born 29 September 1984) is a Dutch television presenter and former model. she works for RTL 5 (presenting the nude dating show, ''Adam Zkt. Eva''), after spending many years at BNN. When she was 17, she was d ...

(2014–present) * Jeroen van Koningsbrugge (2008-2019) * Martijn Krabbé (1995–present) * Pernille La Lau (2006-2008, 2010–present) *

Paul de Leeuw Paul Henri de Leeuw (born 26 March 1962) is a Dutch television comedian, singer and actor. De Leeuw gained national fame in the late eighties and early nineties with television shows for broadcasting company VARA. Though satire was only a part ...

(2013-2014, 2018–present) * Marc van der Linden (2003–present) * Bridget Maasland (2007-2012, 2016–present) *

Char Margolis Char Margolis is an American author and self-proclaimed psychic medium. Margolis's claims to have paranormal abilities have been criticised by several media outlets which suggest she uses standard cold reading and hot reading tricks to perfo ...

(2002–2008, 2010) * Jaap van Meekren (1989–1993) * Linda de Mol (2007–2019) *

Irene Moors Irene Moors (born 18 June 1967, Alkmaar) is a Dutch comedian, TV personality, singer, and host. Career Her career took off in 1989 with RTL 4's '' Telekids'', co-starring Carlo Boszhard, turning them both into TV icons of the Netherlands. In ...

(1989–2016) * Ruben Nicolai (2015–present) * Derek Ogilvie (2007–2013) * Jeroen Pauw (1989–2000) * Antoin Peeters (2002–present) * Jur Raatjes (1989–1999) *

Art Rooijakkers Art Rooijakkers (born 29 August 1976) is a Dutch television presenter. He is best known as the presenter of the popular television show ''Wie is de Mol?'' from 2012 to 2018. Career In 2011, Rooijakkers presented the Dutch version of the game ...

(2018–present) * Loretta Schrijver (1989-2007, 2010–present) *

Katja Schuurman Katja Schuurman (born 19 February 1975) is a Dutch actress, singer and television personality. Early life She grew up as the eldest daughter of a Dutch father and a Surinamese mother, born in Curaçao. Her sister Birgit is also a singer and a ...

(2018–present) * Gaston Starreveld (1990–present) *

Humberto Tan Humberto Tan-A-Kiam (born 26 October 1965), better known as Humberto Tan, is a Dutch radio and television presenter, sports journalist and writer of Surinamese descent. Career After obtaining his vwo-diploma Tan studied law at the University ...

(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 Frits Wester (born 29 March 1962) is a Dutch journalist. He is best known as parliamentary correspondent for RTL Nieuws. Biography Wester was born in 1962 in the Dutch town Veenendaal. He was already engaged in politics at a young age, and was ...

(1994–present) *

Merel Westrik Merel Westrik (born 1 November 1979 in Wormer, Netherlands) is a Dutch news presenter and television host. Career In 2013, she was a candidate in four episodes of the game show '' De Slimste Mens''. In 2019, Westrik participated in the real ...

(2014–2019) * John Williams (1995–present)

Teletext

RTL 4 offered a teletext service which stopped on 1 April 2017. The pages 888/889 are still available for subtitles.

References

External links

RTL 4
{{DEFAULTSORT:Rtl 4 Television channels in the Netherlands RTL Nederland 1989 establishments in the Netherlands Television channels and stations established in 1989