{{Short description|German television network}} {{Redirect|RTL (Germany)||RTL (disambiguation){{!}}RTL}} {{For-multi|the other TV channel known as RTLplus from 2016 to 2021|RTLup|the streaming service by RTL Deutschland and RTL Magyarország|RTL+}} {{more citations needed|date=August 2012}} {{Expand German|date=January 2021}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=November 2019}} {{Infobox television channel | name = RTL | logo = RTL Logo 2021.svg | logo_size = 250px | launch_date = {{Start date and age|1984|1|2|df=yes}} | picture_format = 2160p UHDTV<br />(downscaled to 1080i and 576i for the HDTV and SDTV feeds respectively) | owner = RTL Group | parent = RTL Deutschland | country = Germany | language = German | area = National<br/>''Also distributed in:''<br/>Austria<br/>Switzerland<br/>Luxembourg<br/>Liechtenstein | headquarters = Cologne, Germany | former_names = RTL plus {{small|(1984–1992)}}<br>RTL Television {{small|(1992–2004)}} | sister_channels = VOX<br>n-tv<br>Super RTL<br>RTL Zwei<br>Nitro<br>RTLup<br>VOXup<br>RTL Crime<br>RTL Living<br>RTL Passion<br>GEO Television | website = {{url|http://www.rtl.de/}} | terr_serv_1 = Digital terrestrial television | terr_chan_1 = <!-- Insert channel numbers depending on the region -->Channel numbers vary | online_serv_1 = Ziggo GO <small>(Netherlands)</small> | online_chan_1 = [https://www.ziggogo.tv/nl/tv/channel-asset.html/lgi-nl-prod-master%3ANL_000038_019063/location/65535.html#action=watch ZiggoGO.tv] | online_serv_2 = RTL LIVE | online_chan_2 = [https://www.tvnow.de/live-tv/rtl RTL]<br>[https://www.tvnow.de/live-tv/rtlplus RTL Up]<br>[https://www.tvnow.de/live-tv/rtlcrime RTL Crime]<br>[https://www.tvnow.de/live-tv/rtlpassion RTL Passion]<br>[https://www.tvnow.de/live-tv/rtlliving RTL Living] }}
'''RTL''' (from ''<span lang="fr" dir="ltr">Radio Télévision Luxembourg</span>''), formerly '''RTL plus''' and '''RTL Television''', is a German-language free-to-air television channel owned by RTL Deutschland, headquartered in Cologne. Founded as an offshoot of the German-language radio programme ''<span lang="de" dir="ltr">Radio Luxemburg</span>,'' RTL is considered a full-service broadcaster under the ''Medienstaatsvertrag'' (Interstate Media Treaty) and is the largest private television network in Germany. As of August 2010, RTL employs some 500 permanent staff, having outsourced its news and technical departments.
In September 2021, ''<span lang="de" dir="ltr">Mediengruppe RTL Deutschland</span>'' (RTL Germany Media Group) was renamed <span lang="de" dir="ltr">RTL Deutschland</span>. As part of the rebrand, both the group and the channel received new logos and branding.
== History == {{Expand section|date=February 2021}} RTL plus was already known through the radio station. Even before the broadcast began, the pressure on politicians to introduce private television in Germany was growing in Saarland, which could be reached from the broadcasting systems in Luxembourg.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.saarbruecker-zeitung.de/saarland/ich-war-quasi-der-mister-rtl_aid-964391 |title="Ich war quasi der Mister RTL" |work=Saarbrücker Zeitung |date=3 January 2014 |access-date=19 December 2023}}</ref> Private television began operations in the Federal Republic of Germany on January 1, 1984 with the two-year Ludwigshafen cable pilot project (Kabelpilotprojekt). It was the birth of PKS (later Sat.1). A day later, RTL plus, which was then broadcasting from Luxembourg and named after the Luxembourg radio and television broadcaster RTL (derived from Radio Télévision Lëtzebuerg, see also RTL Télé Lëtzebuerg), began its German-language program from 5:27 p.m. The unusual broadcast start took place in a small studio in Bertrange with the following scene: Chief doctor Rainer Holbe delivered a television with the RTL-plus logo in a delivery room with his obstetricians. The broadcast times were Monday to Friday from 5:30 p.m. to 10:30 p.m. and Saturday to Sunday from 5:30 p.m. to midnight. The first RTL broadcast after the starting signal was the news 7 vor 7 with Hans Meiser and Geert Müller-Gerbes.
RTL plus was famous in its early years for showing low-budget films and American programmes. In 1988, it was the second most-viewed channel in Germany.<ref>Audience shares 1988: RTL 4.1% and SAT.1 5.6%, see ''Marktanteile der Fernsehsender'' at Fernsehen in Deutschland (de)</ref>
After reunification in 1990, broadcasting was extended to the entire country. RTL moved to Cologne and received the right to broadcast on free-to-air frequencies. That same year, RTL acquired the first-run rights to the German Football First Division. Deals with Cannon and Universal Studios finally provided more high-profile films for the channel. In 2012, RTL made a deal with Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures to air films from its media library until 2016, when it switched to Universal, as Disney Channel was relaunched as a free-to-air channel competing with RTL.<ref>{{cite news|last=Roxborough|first=Scott|title=Disney Signs Multi-Year Package Deal With Germany's RTL|url=http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/disney-signs-multi-year-package-286373|access-date=10 February 2013|newspaper=The Hollywood Reporter|date=1 February 2012}}</ref>
In July 2015, the channel introduced the slogan Willkommen zuhause (Welcome home) to complement Mein RTL, and launched its biggest advertising campaign in 20 years. This tagline (as Willkommen zu Hause, with a space between zu and Hause) was earlier used in the early 2000s.
On 1 September 2017, RTL flattened its logo, with brighter shades of the three colours. The slogan continues to be ''Willkommen zuhause'', through ''Mein RTL'' would be used in rare cases. Another sister channel, n-tv was rebranded on the same day.
As part of a comprehensive restructuring within Mediengruppe RTL Deutschland, RTL unveiled a new identity, a new, multi-colourful logo and a new graphics package. The rebrand rolled out on 15 September 2021, as well as RTL Crime, RTL Living and RTL Passion.
== Station logos == <gallery> RTLplus1984.svg|Logo of RTL plus (1984–1987) RTLplus.svg|Logo of RTL plus (1987–1992) RTL.svg|Logo of RTL Television (30 October 1992 – 1999) RTL Logo.svg|Logo of RTL (31 August 2008 – 28 August 2014) RTL Logo 2014.svg|Logo of RTL (28 August 2014 – 31 August 2017) RTL Logo 2017.svg|Logo of RTL (1 September 2017 – 14 September 2021) RTL Logo 2021.svg|Logo of RTL (since 15 September 2021) RTL HD Logo 2021.svg|Logo of RTL HD (since 15 September 2021) </gallery>
==Audience share== ===Germany=== {| class="wikitable" style="width:100%; margin:auto; background:#ffffff;" ! style="background:#FFFFFF; color:#FFFFFF;" width="35px"| ! style="background:#E7E0DE; color:#FFFFFF;" width="60px"|January ! style="background:#E7E0DE; color:#FFFFFF;" width="60px"|February ! style="background:#E7E0DE; color:#FFFFFF;" width="60px"|March ! style="background:#E7E0DE; color:#FFFFFF;" width="60px"|April ! style="background:#E7E0DE; color:#FFFFFF;" width="60px"|May ! style="background:#E7E0DE; color:#FFFFFF;" width="60px"|June ! style="background:#E7E0DE; color:#FFFFFF;" width="60px"|July ! style="background:#E7E0DE; color:#FFFFFF;" width="60px"|August ! style="background:#E7E0DE; color:#FFFFFF;" width="60px"|September ! style="background:#E7E0DE; color:#FFFFFF;" width="60px"|October ! style="background:#E7E0DE; color:#FFFFFF;" width="60px"|November ! style="background:#E7E0DE; color:#FFFFFF;" width="60px"|December ! style="background:#000000; color:#FFFFFF;" width="75px"|Annual average |-align="center" |'''1985'''|| – || – || – || – || – || – || – || – || – || – || – || – ||0.4% |-align="center" |'''1986'''|| – || – || – || – || – || – || – || – || – || – || – || – ||{{increase}} 0.7% |-align="center" |'''1987'''|| – || – || – || – || – || – || – || – || – || – || – || – ||{{increase}} 1.2% |-align="center" |'''1988'''|| – || – || – || – || – || – || – || – || – || – || – || – ||{{increase}} 4.1% |-align="center" |'''1989'''|| – || – || – || – || – || – || – || – || – || – || – || – ||{{increase}} 10.0% |-align="center" |'''1990<ref>{{cite web|title=KEK/Zuschaueranteile 1990|url=http://www.kek-online.de/fileadmin/Download_KEK/Zuschaueranteile/Jaehrliche%20Zuschaueranteile%20seit%201990.pdf|website=kek-online.de|access-date=30 May 2017|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151208080954/http://www.kek-online.de/fileadmin/Download_KEK/Zuschaueranteile/Jaehrliche%20Zuschaueranteile%20seit%201990.pdf|archive-date=8 December 2015}}</ref>'''|| – || – || – || – || – || – || – || – || – || – || – || – ||{{increase}} 11.5% |-align="center" |'''1991<ref>{{cite web|title=KEK/Zuschaueranteile 1991|url=http://www.kek-online.de/fileadmin/Download_KEK/Zuschaueranteile/Jaehrliche%20Zuschaueranteile%20seit%201990.pdf|website=kek-online.de|access-date=30 May 2017|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151208080954/http://www.kek-online.de/fileadmin/Download_KEK/Zuschaueranteile/Jaehrliche%20Zuschaueranteile%20seit%201990.pdf|archive-date=8 December 2015}}</ref>'''|| – || – || – || – || – || – || – || – || – || – || – || – ||{{increase}} 14.4% |-align="center" |'''1992<ref>{{cite web|title=KEK/Zuschaueranteile 1992|url=http://www.kek-online.de/fileadmin/Download_KEK/Zuschaueranteile/Jaehrliche%20Zuschaueranteile%20seit%201990.pdf|website=kek-online.de|access-date=30 May 2017|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151208080954/http://www.kek-online.de/fileadmin/Download_KEK/Zuschaueranteile/Jaehrliche%20Zuschaueranteile%20seit%201990.pdf|archive-date=8 December 2015}}</ref>'''|| – || – || – || – || – || – || – || – || – || – || – || – ||{{increase}} 16.7% |-align="center" |'''1993<ref>{{cite web|title=KEK/Zuschaueranteile 1993|url=http://www.kek-online.de/fileadmin/Download_KEK/Zuschaueranteile/Jaehrliche%20Zuschaueranteile%20seit%201990.pdf|website=kek-online.de|access-date=30 May 2017|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151208080954/http://www.kek-online.de/fileadmin/Download_KEK/Zuschaueranteile/Jaehrliche%20Zuschaueranteile%20seit%201990.pdf|archive-date=8 December 2015}}</ref>'''|| – || – || – || – || – || – || – || – || – || – || – || – ||{{increase}} 18.9% |-align="center" |'''1994<ref>{{cite web|title=KEK/Zuschaueranteile 1994|url=http://www.kek-online.de/fileadmin/Download_KEK/Zuschaueranteile/Jaehrliche%20Zuschaueranteile%20seit%201990.pdf|website=kek-online.de|access-date=30 May 2017|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151208080954/http://www.kek-online.de/fileadmin/Download_KEK/Zuschaueranteile/Jaehrliche%20Zuschaueranteile%20seit%201990.pdf|archive-date=8 December 2015}}</ref>'''|| – || – || – || – || – || – || – || – || – || – || – || – ||{{decrease}} 17.5% |-align="center" |'''1995<ref>{{cite web|title=KEK/Zuschaueranteile 1995|url=http://www.kek-online.de/fileadmin/Download_KEK/Zuschaueranteile/Jaehrliche%20Zuschaueranteile%20seit%201990.pdf|website=kek-online.de|access-date=30 May 2017|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151208080954/http://www.kek-online.de/fileadmin/Download_KEK/Zuschaueranteile/Jaehrliche%20Zuschaueranteile%20seit%201990.pdf|archive-date=8 December 2015}}</ref>'''|| – || – || – || – || – || – || – || – || – || – || – || – ||{{increase}} 17.6% |-align="center" |'''1996<ref>{{cite web|title=KEK/Zuschaueranteile 1996|url=http://www.kek-online.de/fileadmin/Download_KEK/Zuschaueranteile/Zuschaueranteile_1996.pdf|website=kek-online.de|access-date=30 May 2017|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151208070537/http://www.kek-online.de/fileadmin/Download_KEK/Zuschaueranteile/Zuschaueranteile_1996.pdf|archive-date=8 December 2015}}</ref>'''||16.6% ||16.6% ||18.2% ||18.6% ||18.1% ||15.5% ||15.6% ||16.7% ||17.2% ||16.7% ||17.4% ||16.5% ||{{decrease}} 17.0% |-align="center" |'''1997<ref>{{cite web|title=KEK/Zuschaueranteile 1997|url=http://www.kek-online.de/fileadmin/Download_KEK/Zuschaueranteile/Zuschaueranteile_1997.pdf|website=kek-online.de|access-date=30 May 2017|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151208081154/http://www.kek-online.de/fileadmin/Download_KEK/Zuschaueranteile/Zuschaueranteile_1997.pdf|archive-date=8 December 2015}}</ref>'''||15.9% ||16.0% ||16.4% ||17.8% ||17.0% ||15.9% ||14.8% ||14.7% ||16.9% ||16.9% ||15.7% ||14.9% ||{{decrease}}16.1% |-align="center" |'''1998<ref>{{cite web|title=KEK/Zuschaueranteile 1998|url=http://www.kek-online.de/fileadmin/Download_KEK/Zuschaueranteile/Zuschaueranteile_1998.pdf|website=kek-online.de|access-date=30 May 2017|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151208071902/http://www.kek-online.de/fileadmin/Download_KEK/Zuschaueranteile/Zuschaueranteile_1998.pdf|archive-date=8 December 2015}}</ref>'''||14.2% ||14.2% ||16.2% ||16.2% ||15.6% ||13.8% ||14.4% ||15.7% ||16.3% ||15.1% ||15.2% ||14.6% ||{{decrease}} 15.1% |-align="center" |'''1999<ref>{{cite web|title=KEK/Zuschaueranteile 1999|url=http://www.kek-online.de/fileadmin/Download_KEK/Zuschaueranteile/Zuschaueranteile_1999.pdf|website=kek-online.de|access-date=30 May 2017|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151208080307/http://www.kek-online.de/fileadmin/Download_KEK/Zuschaueranteile/Zuschaueranteile_1999.pdf|archive-date=8 December 2015}}</ref>'''||13.6% ||13.9% ||15.0% ||15.8% ||15.9% ||15.3% ||14.9% ||15.3% ||15.5% ||15.4% ||14.3% ||13.6% ||{{decrease}} 14.8% |-align="center" |'''2000<ref>{{cite web|title=KEK/Zuschaueranteile 2000|url=http://www.kek-online.de/fileadmin/Download_KEK/Zuschaueranteile/Zuschaueranteile_2000.pdf|website=kek-online.de|access-date=30 May 2017|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151208062528/http://www.kek-online.de/fileadmin/Download_KEK/Zuschaueranteile/Zuschaueranteile_2000.pdf|archive-date=8 December 2015}}</ref>'''||14.0% ||14.0% ||13.8% ||14.3% ||14.4% ||13.7% ||14.0% ||14.2% ||14.0% ||14.6% ||15.1% ||14.7% ||{{decrease}} 14.3% |-align="center" |'''2001<ref>{{cite web|title=KEK/Zuschaueranteile 2001|url=http://www.kek-online.de/fileadmin/Download_KEK/Zuschaueranteile/Zuschaueranteile_2001.pdf|website=kek-online.de|access-date=30 May 2017|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151208052416/http://www.kek-online.de/fileadmin/Download_KEK/Zuschaueranteile/Zuschaueranteile_2001.pdf|archive-date=8 December 2015}}</ref>'''||14.3% ||13.4% ||15.3% ||15.9% ||16.9% ||13.6% ||14.3% ||13.4% ||15.5% ||15.4% ||14.6% ||14.5% ||{{increase}} 14.8% |-align="center" |'''2002<ref>{{cite web|title=KEK/Zuschaueranteile 2002|url=http://www.kek-online.de/fileadmin/Download_KEK/Zuschaueranteile/Zuschaueranteile_2002.pdf|website=kek-online.de|access-date=30 May 2017|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151208075915/http://www.kek-online.de/fileadmin/Download_KEK/Zuschaueranteile/Zuschaueranteile_2002.pdf|archive-date=8 December 2015}}</ref>'''||15.0% ||13.2% ||14.9% ||16.1% ||15.2% ||12.6% ||14.5% ||13.2% ||15.4% ||15.5% ||15.2% ||14.4% ||{{decrease}} 14.6% |-align="center" |'''2003<ref>{{cite web|title=KEK/Zuschaueranteile 2003|url=http://www.kek-online.de/fileadmin/Download_KEK/Zuschaueranteile/Zuschaueranteile_2003.pdf|website=kek-online.de|access-date=30 May 2017|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170811223609/http://www.kek-online.de/fileadmin/Download_KEK/Zuschaueranteile/Zuschaueranteile_2003.pdf|archive-date=11 August 2017}}</ref>'''||15.8% ||15.7% ||16.0% ||15.3% ||15.5% ||14.3% ||13.7% ||13.5% ||15.5% ||14.9% ||13.9% ||13.8% ||{{increase}} 14.9% |-align="center" |'''2004<ref>{{cite web|title=KEK/Zuschaueranteile 2004|url=http://www.kek-online.de/fileadmin/Download_KEK/Zuschaueranteile/Zuschaueranteile_2004.pdf|website=kek-online.de|access-date=30 May 2017|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170811223445/http://www.kek-online.de/fileadmin/Download_KEK/Zuschaueranteile/Zuschaueranteile_2004.pdf|archive-date=11 August 2017}}</ref>'''||15.2% ||13.8% ||13.9% ||14.1% ||14.5% ||12.2% ||13.1% ||12.3% ||14.5% ||14.4% ||14.0% ||12.8% ||{{decrease}} 13.8% |-align="center" |'''2005<ref>{{cite web|title=KEK/Zuschaueranteile 2005|url=http://www.kek-online.de/fileadmin/Download_KEK/Zuschaueranteile/Zuschaueranteile_2005.pdf|website=kek-online.de|access-date=30 May 2017|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151208075524/http://www.kek-online.de/fileadmin/Download_KEK/Zuschaueranteile/Zuschaueranteile_2005.pdf|archive-date=8 December 2015}}</ref>'''||13.1% ||12.5% ||12.9% ||13.6% ||14.1% ||13.1% ||12.7% ||12.3% ||14.0% ||13.5% ||13.5% ||12.9% ||{{decrease}} 13.2% |-align="center" |'''2006<ref>{{cite web|title=KEK/Zuschaueranteile 2006|url=http://www.kek-online.de/fileadmin/Download_KEK/Zuschaueranteile/Zuschaueranteile_2006.pdf|website=kek-online.de|access-date=30 May 2017|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151208053549/http://www.kek-online.de/fileadmin/Download_KEK/Zuschaueranteile/Zuschaueranteile_2006.pdf|archive-date=8 December 2015}}</ref>'''||13.0% ||12.3% ||13.4% ||12.8% ||13.7% ||12.8% ||12.1% ||12.7% ||13.0% ||13.1% ||12.6% ||11.9% ||{{decrease}} 12.8% |-align="center" |'''2007<ref>{{cite web|title=KEK/Zuschaueranteile 2007|url=http://www.kek-online.de/fileadmin/Download_KEK/Zuschaueranteile/Zuschaueranteile_2007.pdf|website=kek-online.de|access-date=30 May 2017|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151208063320/http://www.kek-online.de/fileadmin/Download_KEK/Zuschaueranteile/Zuschaueranteile_2007.pdf|archive-date=8 December 2015}}</ref>'''||12.6% ||12.0% ||12.6% ||12.8% ||12.9% ||12.8% ||12.4% ||11.8% ||13.1% ||12.9% ||12.1% ||11.1% ||{{decrease}} 12.4% |-align="center" |'''2008<ref>{{cite web|title=KEK/Zuschaueranteile 2008|url=http://www.kek-online.de/fileadmin/Download_KEK/Zuschaueranteile/Zuschaueranteile_2008.pdf|website=kek-online.de|access-date=30 May 2017|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151208051855/http://www.kek-online.de/fileadmin/Download_KEK/Zuschaueranteile/Zuschaueranteile_2008.pdf|archive-date=8 December 2015}}</ref>'''||11.8% ||11.5% ||11.7% ||12.5% ||12.4% ||9.8% ||11.6% ||10.5% ||12.5% ||12.1% ||12.9% ||11.5% ||{{decrease}} 11.7% |-align="center" |'''2009<ref>{{cite web|title=KEK/Zuschaueranteile 2009|url=http://www.kek-online.de/fileadmin/Download_KEK/Zuschaueranteile/Zuschaueranteile_2009.pdf|website=kek-online.de|access-date=30 May 2017|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151208064703/http://www.kek-online.de/fileadmin/Download_KEK/Zuschaueranteile/Zuschaueranteile_2009.pdf|archive-date=8 December 2015}}</ref>'''||12.6% ||11.8% ||12.4% ||12.8% ||12.4% ||11.6% ||11.4% ||10.9% ||13.3% ||13.5% ||14.0% ||12.9% ||{{increase}} 12.5% |-align="center" |'''2010<ref>{{cite web|title=KEK/Zuschaueranteile 2010|url=http://www.kek-online.de/fileadmin/Download_KEK/Zuschaueranteile/Zuschaueranteile_2010.pdf|website=kek-online.de|access-date=30 May 2017|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151208045246/http://www.kek-online.de/fileadmin/Download_KEK/Zuschaueranteile/Zuschaueranteile_2010.pdf|archive-date=8 December 2015}}</ref>'''||12.7% ||12.7% ||13.7% ||14.0% ||13.6% ||12.7% ||12.5% ||12.8% ||14.5% ||14.8% ||15.3% ||13.6% ||{{increase}} 13.6% |-align="center" |'''2011<ref>{{cite web|title=KEK/Zuschaueranteile 2011|url=http://www.kek-online.de/fileadmin/Download_KEK/Zuschaueranteile/Zuschaueranteile_2011.pdf|website=kek-online.de|access-date=30 May 2017|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151208055949/http://www.kek-online.de/fileadmin/Download_KEK/Zuschaueranteile/Zuschaueranteile_2011.pdf|archive-date=8 December 2015}}</ref>'''||15.2% ||14.1% ||13.7% ||14.6% ||14.9% ||12.5% ||13.3% ||13.2% ||14.8% ||14.6% ||14.3% ||13.3% ||{{increase}} 14.1% |-align="center" |'''2012<ref>{{cite web|title=KEK/Zuschaueranteile 2012|url=http://www.kek-online.de/fileadmin/Download_KEK/Zuschaueranteile/Zuschaueranteile_2012.pdf|website=kek-online.de|access-date=30 May 2017|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170811223815/http://www.kek-online.de/fileadmin/Download_KEK/Zuschaueranteile/Zuschaueranteile_2012.pdf|archive-date=11 August 2017}}</ref>'''||14.1% ||13.1% ||13.4% ||12.7% ||11.9% ||10.6% ||11.5% ||10.5% ||12.7% ||12.3% ||12.7% ||10.8% ||{{decrease}} 12.3% |-align="center" |'''2013<ref>{{cite web|title=KEK/Zuschaueranteile 2013|url=http://www.kek-online.de/fileadmin/Download_KEK/Zuschaueranteile/Zuschaueranteile_2013_.pdf|website=kek-online.de|access-date=30 May 2017|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304085629/http://www.kek-online.de/fileadmin/Download_KEK/Zuschaueranteile/Zuschaueranteile_2013_.pdf|archive-date=4 March 2016}}</ref>'''||13.1% ||11.3% ||11.2% ||12.1% ||11.4% ||10.8% ||10.9% ||10.4% ||10.7% ||11.7% ||11.5% ||10.3% ||{{decrease}} 11.3% |-align="center" |'''2014<ref>{{cite web|title=KEK/Zuschaueranteile 2014|url=http://www.kek-online.de/fileadmin/Download_KEK/Zuschaueranteile/Zuschaueranteile2014.pdf|website=kek-online.de|access-date=30 May 2017|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160207091745/http://www.kek-online.de/fileadmin/Download_KEK/Zuschaueranteile/Zuschaueranteile2014.pdf|archive-date=7 February 2016}}</ref>'''||12.8% ||10.4% ||10.6% ||10.6% ||10.6% ||8.4% ||9.0% ||9.0% ||10.0% ||11.5% ||10.7% ||9.5% ||{{decrease}} 10.3% |-align="center" |'''2015<ref>{{cite web|title=KEK/Zuschaueranteile 2015|url=http://www.kek-online.de/fileadmin/Download_KEK/Zuschaueranteile/Zuschaueranteile2015.pdf|website=kek-online.de|access-date=30 May 2017|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170517075134/http://www.kek-online.de/fileadmin/Download_KEK/Zuschaueranteile/Zuschaueranteile2015.pdf|archive-date=17 May 2017}}</ref>'''||11.3% ||9.6% ||9.8% ||9.9% ||9.9% ||9.7% ||9.2% ||9.0% ||10.6% ||10.6% ||10.1% ||9.1% ||{{decrease}} 9.9% |-align="center" |'''2016<ref>{{cite web|title=KEK/Zuschaueranteile 2016|url=http://www.kek-online.de/fileadmin/Download_KEK/Zuschaueranteile/Zuschaueranteile_2016.pdf|website=kek-online.de|access-date=30 May 2017|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160228135342/http://www.kek-online.de/fileadmin/Download_KEK/Zuschaueranteile/Zuschaueranteile_2016.pdf|archive-date=28 February 2016}}</ref>'''||11.7% ||10.0% ||9.6% ||10.0% ||9.8% ||8.3% ||9.0% ||8.3% ||10.1% ||10.4% ||10.0% ||9.2% ||{{decrease}} 9.7% |-align="center" |'''2017<ref>{{cite web|title=KEK/Zuschaueranteile 2017|url=https://www.kek-online.de/fileadmin/user_upload/KEK/Medienkonzentration/Zuschaueranteil/Zuschaueranteile_2017.pdf|website=kek-online.de|access-date=5 December 2017|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171117174603/https://www.kek-online.de/fileadmin/user_upload/KEK/Medienkonzentration/Zuschaueranteil/Zuschaueranteile_2017.pdf|archive-date=17 November 2017}}</ref>'''||11.0% ||8.8% ||9.3% ||9.4% ||9.5% ||9.0% ||8.5% ||8.5% ||9.0% ||9.4% ||9.0% ||8.1% ||{{decrease}} 9.2% |-align="center" |'''2018<ref>{{cite web|title=KEK/Zuschaueranteile 2018|url=https://www.kek-online.de/fileadmin/user_upload/KEK/Medienkonzentration/Zuschaueranteil/Zuschaueranteile_2018_01.pdf|website=kek-online.de|access-date=28 August 2018|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180825143209/https://www.kek-online.de/fileadmin/user_upload/KEK/Medienkonzentration/Zuschaueranteil/Zuschaueranteile_2018_01.pdf|archive-date=25 August 2018}}</ref>'''||9.7% ||8.4% ||8.5% ||8.6% ||8.3% ||7.5% ||7.8% || || || || || || |}
The average age of the viewers is 48.9 years (as of 2016).<ref>{{cite web|last1=Mantel|first1=Uwe|title=Langzeit-Entwicklung des TV-Markts: Wie die Sender gealtert sind – und wer sich dagegen stemmt|url=https://www.dwdl.de/magazin/60418/wie_die_sender_gealtert_sind__und_wer_sich_dagegen_stemmt/|website=dwdl.de|access-date=3 November 2017|date=14 March 2017}}</ref>
==References== {{Reflist|30em}}
==External links== *[http://www.rtl.de/ Official website] {{in lang|de}}
{{Television in Germany}} {{RTL Group}} {{Bertelsmann}} {{Authority control}}
Category:RTL Group Category:Bertelsmann subsidiaries Category:Television stations in Germany Category:Television stations in Austria Category:Television stations in Switzerland Category:Television channels in North Macedonia Category:Television channels and stations established in 1984 Category:Companies based in Cologne Category:Mass media in Cologne Category:1984 establishments in Luxembourg