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 Infotainment (a portmanteau of ''information'' and ''entertainment''), also called soft news as a way to distinguish it from serious journalism or hard news, is a type of media, usually television or online, that provides a combination of in ...

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 Show ...

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, ...

, news and talent shows. 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 du ...

, 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 and ...

. 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 RTL 7 is a Dutch free-to-cable television channel that was launched as ''Veronica'' on 1 September 1995. RTL 7 is RTL Nederland's "men's channel" with action films, reality television about crime and professions, soccer, motorsport and tal ...

and

RTL 8 RTL 8 is a Dutch free-to-cable television channel that was launched on 18 August 2007 replacing Tien, previously known as Talpa. RTL 8's main target audience consists of women. It broadcasts soap operas, talk shows, films and reruns of programm ...

, and four thematic TV channels: RTL Z, RTL Lounge,

RTL Crime RTL Crime may refer to: * RTL Crime (Croatian TV channel), the TV channel broadcasting in Croatia * RTL Crime (Dutch TV channel), the TV channel broadcasting in the Netherlands * RTL Crime (German TV channel), the TV channel broadcasting in German ...

and RTL Telekids. Officially RTL 4 - along with

and

- is headquartered in

Hilversum Hilversum () is a city and municipality in the province of North Holland, Netherlands. Located in the heart of the Gooi, it is the largest urban centre in that area. It is surrounded by heathland, woods, meadows, lakes, and smaller towns. Hil ...

, 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 land ...

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 origin ...

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 used ...

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 ...

'' (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'', ''

Dancing with the Stars ''Dancing with the Stars'' is the name of various international television series based on the format of the British TV series ''Strictly Come Dancing'', which is distributed by BBC Studios, the commercial arm of the BBC. Currently the form ...

'' and ''

Dancing on Ice ''Dancing on Ice'' is a British television series presented by Phillip Schofield alongside Holly Willoughby from 2006 to 2011, who then returned in 2018, and Christine Bleakley from 2012 to 2014. The series features celebrities and their pr ...

''. That year RTL 4 also launched '' Ik Hou Van Holland'', a quiz-show around and about the Netherlands with

Linda De Mol Linda Margaretha de Mol (born 8 July 1964 in Hilversum) is a successful Dutch television presenter and actress in the Netherlands and Germany. She is the sister of TV-producer and Endemol co-founder John de Mol, and has frequently appeared i ...

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 Johannes Hendrikus Hubert "John" de Mol Jr. (born 24 April 1955) is a Dutch media tycoon. De Mol is one of the men behind production companies Endemol and Talpa. He created the reality television formats '' Big Brother'', ''Fear Factor'' and'' T ...

their own talent show ''

The Voice of Holland ''The Voice of Holland'', also known as ''TVOH'', is a Dutch reality television, reality TV singing competition, that became a The Voice (franchise), near global TV format franchise, created by media tycoon John de Mol and musician VanVelzen, R ...

'' 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 Beat, beats or beating may refer to: Common uses * Patrol, or beat, a group of personnel assigned to monitor a specific area ** Beat (police), the territory that a police officer patrols ** Gay beat, an area frequented by gay men * Battery ...

''. 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 soa ...

'' 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, 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 broadcast ...

, one of the largest radio stations of the Netherlands.

Programming

Hits on RTL 4 include the

RTL Nieuws RTL Nieuws is a Dutch television news service produced by RTL Nederland. The national and international news service produces 17 bulletins each weekday and six weekend bulletins for RTL4 and RTL Z, reaching a total audience of about 1.5 million ...

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

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 * Telekids

Comedy

* Gooische Vrouwen *

Voetbalvrouwen Voetbalvrouwen is a Dutch dramedy favourably compared to ''Footballers' Wives''. Three seasons (all available on DVD) have been taped since 2006; the first was shown in 2007 on the demissionary channel Tien, the second and third on RTL 4. Cast ...

(

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, bu ...

)

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 ...

) * Eén tegen 100 * I Can See Your Voice ( Dutch version of the South Korean program of the same name) *

Vijf tegen Vijf ''Vijf tegen Vijf'' (or ''5 tegen 5'') was a Dutch game show based on the original American format of ''Family Feud''. In the game, two teams consisting of five contestants play against each other and have to answer questions based on surveys ta ...

(Family Feud) *De Zwakste Schakel (

The Weakest Link ''Weakest Link'' (also known as ''The Weakest Link'') is a television game show which first appeared in the United Kingdom on BBC Two on 14 August 2000 and originally ended on 31 March 2012 when its host Anne Robinson completed her contract. ...

) *The Big Music Quiz (Dutch version of Le Grand Blind test) * Dit was het nieuws (Dutch version of Have I Got News for You) * Ik hou van Holland * 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 pri ...

News

Reality

*Bouwval gezocht ( Property Ladder) *

*Dancing with the Stars (British version of

Strictly Come Dancing ''Strictly Come Dancing'' (informally known as ''Strictly'') is a British dance contest show in which celebrities partner with professional dancers to compete in mainly ballroom and Latin dance. Each couple is scored by a panel of usually 4 ...

) * Eigen Huis & Tuin * Holland's Got Talent *

* The Voice Kids *

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

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

for the fifth series) *Mijn Tent is Top ( My Restaurant Rules) (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

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 ...

Talk Shows

* BEAU * Jinek * Humberto

Imported

* Dr. Phil * ER

Notable television presenters

Vivienne van den Assem Vivienne Linette van den Assem (born 15 November 1983) is a Dutch actress and presenter. Life Youth Van den Assem spent her childhood in Oud-Beijerland. She attended the atheneum at the CSG Willem van Oranje. In her fourth class of the atheneum ...

(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 his c ...

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

Wendy van Dijk Wendy van Dijk (born 22 January 1971) is a Dutch actress, comedian and television presenter. She is best known for her portrayal of Ushi Hirosaki, a hapless Japanese journalist featured in both a series of Dutch television shows and a theatrica ...

(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 John van den Heuvel (born 26 December 1962) is a Dutch crime journalist, television presenter and former police officer. Career Since 1990, he works as crime reporter at the newspaper ''De Telegraaf''. He often appears in the television pro ...

(2001–present) * Jan de Hoop (1989–present) *

Mariska Hulscher Mariska Hulscher (born 8 March 1964, in Delft) is a Dutch TV presenter who worked for the NCRV, RTL 4, and RTL 5. Hulscher is also a columnist for a variety of magazines, and works as a divorce coach. Education, career After getting her VWO di ...

(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 mus ...

(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 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 par ...

(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 Linda Margaretha de Mol (born 8 July 1964 in Hilversum) is a successful Dutch television presenter and actress in the Netherlands and Germany. She is the sister of TV-producer and Endemol co-founder John de Mol, and has frequently appeared i ...

(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 (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 Rudolph van Veen (;Born 28 January 1967) is a Dutch TV chef and cookbook author. He is best known for his appearances on the 24Kitchen television channel, where he hosts four programs: '' Rudolph's Bakery'', '' De Makkelijke Maaltijd'' (Easy Meals ...

(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 (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