RTL 5

RTL 5 is a Dutch commercial television channel and part of the RTL Nederland family of services. It began broadcasting on 2 October 1993 as RTL V, a second service intended to complement the broader, family-oriented RTL 4. The channel was created during the expansion of commercial television in the Netherlands and initially sought a more differentiated audience through programming associated with cars, male viewers, films and general entertainment. Its first broadcast used the Astra 1C satellite and included a launch preview, the film Dead Poets Society, an entertainment and opinion programme, an episode of The Twilight Zone and a long-form literary broadcast featuring Freek de Jonge. In 1994, the channel adopted the RTL 5 name. RTL 5 underwent several strategic changes during its first decade. After Veronica joined RTL 4 S.A. in 1995 and the Holland Media Groep joint venture was formed, the channel’s position became less clear because RTL 4, Veronica and RTL 5 overlapped in parts of their target markets. Regulatory pressure from the European Commission also encouraged RTL 5 to develop a more clearly defined thematic identity. In 1997 it was relaunched as RTL 5 Nieuws & Weer, with news, weather and traffic programming, including an evening news bulletin designed to compete with established Dutch news broadcasts. The transformation was only partial, however, because films and other entertainment remained in the schedule. Following the arrival of NET5 in 1999 and changes in the Dutch television market, RTL 5 abandoned the news-and-weather concept and returned to a broader entertainment schedule aimed at a younger demographic. From 2001, RTL 5 carried RTL Z business and financial programming during daytime. That block later moved to RTL 7 in 2005, the same period in which RTL Nederland reorganized its channel portfolio and RTL 5 became a 24-hour service. Programming from the former Yorin channel was incorporated into RTL 5’s schedule, while RTL 7 took over much of RTL 5’s earlier output. This reshaped the channel as a youth and young-adult entertainment service rather than a news channel or a general family broadcaster. The channel’s programming mix has included American films and television series, imported reality and factual formats, comedy, travel programmes, lifestyle shows and locally produced adaptations of international formats. Recognizable Dutch productions associated with RTL 5 include Expeditie Robinson, Holland’s Next Top Model, Benelux’ Next Top Model, the Dutch editions of America’s Next Top Model and Project Catwalk, So You Think You Can Dance, and the Dutch version of Take Me Out. The schedule has also included reality, investigative and factual programmes, alongside acquired series such as CSI, The Blacklist, Breaking Bad, Friends, House, Prison Break and The Vampire Diaries. RTL 5 has repeatedly refreshed its visual identity. Its branding moved from the original RTL V presentation to a numbered RTL 5 logo, later adopting distinctive red and multicolor treatments that reflected wider RTL corporate design changes. In 2023, the channel adopted the three-box visual language associated with RTL Nederland’s RTL United identity. RTL 5 also operated a teletext service, which ended in 2017, although subtitle pages remained available. The service continues to operate as a Netherlands-focused free-to-air and free-to-cable commercial television brand, with content also distributed through RTL’s broader digital and streaming ecosystem where applicable.

RTL 5 was conceived in early 1992 as a possible second Dutch channel for RTL’s commercial television operation. The purpose was to reach viewers whose interests were not fully addressed by RTL 4, then the group’s broad, family-oriented service. A feasibility study preceded a formal announcement by CLT in June 1993, and the launch was scheduled for the fourth anniversary of RTL’s first Dutch service. RTL 5 began on 2 October 1993 as RTL V via the Astra 1C satellite. Its initial schedule emphasized films, automotive material and programming aimed at male viewers, although the launch evening itself mixed entertainment, fiction, a quiz-like format and a literary performance. The service became RTL 5 in 1994. Its early differentiation was complicated by the formation of Holland Media Groep in 1995, when Veronica joined RTL 4 S.A. The combined portfolio contained several channels with overlapping youth and general-entertainment ambitions. RTL 5’s founding director Fons von Westerloo and programme coordinator Bart in't Houd left in 1995 for the emerging SBS6 operation, adding to a period of strategic uncertainty. Competition concerns also attracted attention from the European Commission. Recommendations connected to the creation of HMG encouraged a clearer thematic definition and raised the possibility that RTL 5 might be sold, with SBS Broadcasting reported as an interested party. During 1996 and 1997, RTL considered turning the channel into a news service. The result was a relaunch as RTL 5 Nieuws & Weer, a news-and-weather format that included an evening news bulletin and short weather and traffic updates. The channel still carried films and other entertainment, which weakened the consistency of the thematic conversion. SBS Broadcasting challenged the arrangement, arguing that RTL 5 had not fully complied with the intended transformation and that some local programming resembled SBS6’s Hart van Nederland. European regulatory pressure led to calls for a gradual reduction of general entertainment content. The news strategy was short-lived. After NET5 launched in 1999 and the competitive structure of Dutch commercial television changed, RTL 5 withdrew from the news-and-weather format and repositioned itself for a wider young audience. In September 2000, the European Commission reversed the earlier restrictions after new competitive channels had entered the market. RTL Z, a business and financial news block, began on RTL 5 in June 2001 and occupied daytime hours until moving to RTL 7 in August 2005. The 2005 RTL portfolio changes were an important turning point. RTL 5 became a 24-hour channel and absorbed programming associated with the former Yorin service, while RTL 7 assumed much of RTL 5’s previous output. Since then, RTL 5 has operated primarily as RTL Nederland’s youth and young-adult entertainment channel. Its schedule has combined imported American films and series with reality television, factual programming, travel, lifestyle, comedy and Dutch adaptations of international formats. Expeditie Robinson, Holland’s Next Top Model, Benelux’ Next Top Model, So You Think You Can Dance and Take Me Out are among the formats connected with the service. The brand’s presentation has changed repeatedly. Early logos used the RTL wordmark alongside a large Roman V, followed by a circular RTL 5 symbol. The 1997 news positioning brought a more informational design, while the post-news period introduced additional red and white treatments. A distinctive 1999 identity used a white five within a divided circular form, and later packages used computer-generated versions of the RTL 5 mark. The channel adopted a red-centered corporate identity in 2005, a separate wordmark in 2012 and a simplified presentation in 2017. In 2023, it aligned with RTL Nederland’s RTL United system through a three-box design. RTL 5 ended its teletext service in 2017 but retained subtitle pages. It remains a Netherlands-focused commercial television brand within RTL Nederland and RTL Group.

• 2024

  Big Brother returns

  [1]RTL 5en.wikipedia.org

  A new season premieres on RTL 5 on 15 January, with associated availability on Videoland.

• 2023

  RTL United branding introduced

  [1]RTL 5en.wikipedia.org

  RTL 5 adopts the three-box visual identity used across RTL Nederland’s RTL United architecture.

• 2017

  Teletext service is discontinued

  [1]RTL 5en.wikipedia.org

  The general RTL 5 teletext service ends, although subtitle pages continue.

• 2005

  Channel portfolio is reorganized

  [1]RTL 5en.wikipedia.org

  RTL 5 becomes a 24-hour service, receives programming from Yorin and relinquishes RTL Z to RTL 7.

• 2001

  RTL Z launches on RTL 5

  [1]RTL 5en.wikipedia.org

  The business and financial news block begins airing during daytime.

• 1999

  Return to entertainment programming

  [1]RTL 5en.wikipedia.org

  The channel ends its news-focused experiment and adopts a broader youth-oriented entertainment strategy.

• 1997

  News-and-weather repositioning

  [1]RTL 5en.wikipedia.org

  RTL 5 is relaunched as RTL 5 Nieuws & Weer with news, weather and traffic programming.

• 1995

  Holland Media Groep is formed

  [1]RTL 5en.wikipedia.org

  Veronica joins RTL 4 S.A., creating a larger channel group and prompting a review of RTL 5’s role.

• 1994

  Brand changes to RTL 5

  [1]RTL 5en.wikipedia.org

  The channel replaces its Roman-numeral identity with the RTL 5 name.

• 1993

  RTL V begins broadcasting

  [1]RTL 5en.wikipedia.org

  The service launches on 2 October by satellite, initially using the RTL V name.

• 1992

  Second-channel concept is developed

  [1]RTL 5en.wikipedia.org

  RTL undertakes planning and feasibility work for a second Dutch channel intended to complement RTL 4.

A youth and young-adult commercial entertainment channel combining international films and series with Dutch reality, factual, lifestyle and formatted programming.

• Reality competition

  Expeditie Robinson

  A Dutch survival and reality competition format in which contestants face physical challenges, limited resources and social elimination. It is one of the recognizable locally produced or locally presented formats associated with RTL 5’s entertainment positioning.

• Fashion reality

  Holland's Next Top Model

  A Dutch adaptation of the international Next Top Model format, combining modeling challenges, photo shoots, judging and contestant elimination. The programme supports RTL 5’s focus on young audiences, popular culture and reality entertainment.

• Talent competition

  So You Think You Can Dance

  A dance competition built around auditions, choreographed performances and expert judging. RTL 5 has carried the Dutch version as well as related international or successor editions, making it part of the channel’s format-led entertainment portfolio.

• Reality television · 2024

  Big Brother

  A surveillance-based reality format in which housemates live together under continuous observation while facing nominations, tasks and eliminations. A new season premiered on RTL 5 in January 2024, with complementary distribution through Videoland.

• News and weather programming · 1997

  RTL 5 Nieuws & Weer

  A former thematic programming identity used during RTL 5’s attempted conversion into a news-and-weather channel. The schedule included an evening news bulletin and short weather and traffic updates, while some entertainment content remained.

• Business and financial news · 2001

  RTL Z

  A daytime business and financial news block that aired on RTL 5 from 2001. It was subsequently moved to RTL 7 in 2005 as RTL Nederland assigned more distinct roles to its channels.

• 2005

  Reallocate programming across RTL channelsStrategy

  Background

  RTL Nederland reorganized its channel portfolio following the integration of the former Yorin service.

  Action taken

  RTL 5 became a 24-hour channel and received programming from Yorin, while RTL Z and much of RTL 5’s previous output moved to RTL 7.

  Aftermath

  RTL 5 became more clearly associated with youth-oriented entertainment and imported series.

  Source

• 1999

  Reposition RTL 5 as a youth entertainment channelStrategy

  Background

  The launch of NET5 changed the competitive environment and reduced the need for RTL 5 to maintain a news-focused identity.

  Action taken

  RTL 5 withdrew its news-and-weather format and expanded general entertainment programming for younger viewers.

  Aftermath

  The channel developed the youth and young-adult positioning it broadly retains today.

  Source

• 1997

  Convert RTL 5 into a news-and-weather serviceStrategy

  Background

  The channel faced overlap within the expanding Holland Media Groep portfolio and regulatory pressure to adopt a distinct thematic role.

  Action taken

  RTL 5 was branded RTL 5 Nieuws & Weer and introduced scheduled news, weather and traffic programming.

  Aftermath

  The conversion was incomplete because films and other entertainment remained in the schedule, and the format was later abandoned.

  • SBS Broadcasting — SBS Broadcasting challenged the conversion, arguing that RTL 5 had not fully become a thematic news channel.

  Source

• 2024

  Big Brother returns to RTL 5[1]RTL 5en.wikipedia.org

  Product launch

  A new season of Big Brother premiered on RTL 5 on 15 January 2024, with related availability through Videoland.

• 2023

  RTL 5 adopts the RTL United visual identity[1]RTL 5en.wikipedia.org

  Product generation

  The channel introduced a three-box logo and presentation system in two red shades and pink, aligning it with RTL Nederland’s RTL United brand architecture.

• 2017

  RTL 5 teletext service ends[1]RTL 5en.wikipedia.org

  Other

  RTL 5 discontinued its general teletext service on 1 April 2017, while subtitle pages remained available.

• 2005

  RTL Z moves from RTL 5 to RTL 7[1]RTL 5en.wikipedia.org

  Other

  RTL Nederland transferred the RTL Z block to RTL 7 as part of a broader reorganization of its channel portfolio.

• 2001

  RTL Z begins daytime programming on RTL 5[1]RTL 5en.wikipedia.org

  Product launch

  RTL 5 began carrying the business and financial news block RTL Z during daytime hours.

• 1999

  RTL 5 abandons the news-channel format[1]RTL 5en.wikipedia.org

  Other

  After the Dutch market gained another major channel, RTL 5 withdrew its news-and-weather positioning and returned to broader entertainment programming.

• 1997

  RTL 5 is repositioned as RTL 5 Nieuws & Weer[1]RTL 5en.wikipedia.org

  Product generation

  Under competitive and regulatory pressure, RTL 5 adopted a news-and-weather identity with scheduled news, weather and traffic programming.

• 1994

  RTL V adopts the RTL 5 name[1]RTL 5en.wikipedia.org

  Other

  The channel replaced its Roman-numeral presentation with the RTL 5 name as part of its early brand development.

• 1993

  RTL 5 launches as RTL V[1]RTL 5en.wikipedia.org

  Product launch

  The second RTL Nederland service began broadcasting by satellite on 2 October 1993, initially using the RTL V name and targeting audiences not fully served by RTL 4.

1. 1RTL 5en.wikipedia.org
2. 2RTL 5 official websitertl5.nl