RTL 4 | |
---|---|
Launched | 2 October 1989 |
Network |
RTL Nederland (2004-present) Holland Media Groep (1996-2004) RTL 4 S.A. (1990-1996) |
Owned by | RTL Group |
Picture format |
576i (SDTV) 16:9 1080i (HDTV) 16:9 |
Audience share | 14,6% (2014, ) |
Slogan | "Natuurlijk bij RTL 4" (English: On RTL 4 of course) |
Country | Luxembourg |
Broadcast area |
Netherlands Luxembourg |
Headquarters |
Hilversum, Netherlands Luxembourg City, Luxembourg |
Formerly called | RTL Véronique (1989-1990) |
Sister channel(s) |
RTL 5 RTL 7 RTL 8 RTL Z RTL Lounge RTL Crime RTL Telekids |
Website | www.rtl4.nl |
Availability
|
|
Terrestrial | |
Digitenne | Channel 4 (SD) |
DVB-T (FTA) (Luxembourg) | 498 MHz (SD) |
Satellite | |
CanalDigitaal | Channel 4 (HD) |
Cable | |
Ziggo | Channel 4 (HD) Channel 928 (SD) |
CAIW | Channel 4 |
Kabel Noord | Channel 4 |
IPTV | |
KPN | Channel 4 |
Tele2 | Channel 4 |
Streaming media | |
Ziggo GO | ZiggoGO.tv (Netherlands only) |
RTL 4 (Radio Télévision Luxembourg 4) is a major commercial television station in the Netherlands. 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, talk shows, game shows, news and talent shows. It is owned by RTL Nederland, a subsidiary of RTL Group. The station has three sister TV channels: RTL 5, RTL 7 and RTL 8, and four thematic TV channels: RTL Z, RTL Lounge, RTL Crime and RTL Telekids.
Officially RTL 4 - along with RTL 5, RTL 7 and RTL 8 - is headquartered in Luxembourg, broadcasting under a Luxembourg TV license. This allows them to avoid more strict control by the Dutch media authorities as Luxembourg's television watchdog is less strict.
It originally launched on the Astra 1A satellite as RTL Véronique on 2 October 1989, before re-branding as RTL 4 (after 1, 2 and 3 were already used by the Netherlands' public broadcasters) the next year. It was one of the first private commercial broadcaster in the Netherlands. Officially, it still broadcasts from Luxembourg. 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 (mainly on the English language programmes carried with Dutch subtitles) in order to protect the distribution rights sold by foreign studios to RTL.