RTL 5 | |
Logo Alt: | RTL 5 logo |
Picture Format: | 1080i HDTV |
Owner: | DPG Media |
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: | 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: | ZiggoGO.tv (Europe only) |
Online Serv 2: | KPN iTV Online |
Online Chan 2: | 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.[1]
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.
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.[2] In 1994 it changed the Roman number V into 5.[3] In 1995 Veronica joined RTL 4 S.A., starting a joint venture called HMG (Holland Media Groep). With three major channels RTL could disrupt the television market in the Netherlands. Therefore, 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.[3] RTL 5 became a thematic news channel. In 2001 the European Commission reversed the restrictions on RTL 5 because competitive channels had been launched in the Netherlands. In 2001 a Business and Financial News block called RTL Z started on RTL 5 during daytime.[2] RTL Z moved from RTL 5 to RTL 7 on 12 August 2005. Since 2005 RTL 5 has become a 24-hours channel.[4]
RTL 5 offered a teletext service which stopped on 1 April 2017. The pages 888/889 are still available for subtitles.[5]