RTL Croatia
Croatian commercial television broadcaster and multimedia platform.
Last updated August 31, 2026
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Overview
RTL Croatia is a Croatian commercial television broadcaster whose principal free-to-air channel began broadcasting on 30 April 2004. It became the second commercial television network in Croatia to receive a national concession, following Nova TV, and competes with the public broadcaster Hrvatska radiotelevizija and other commercial services for audiences, advertising and programming rights. The channel emerged from the Croatian government's early-2000s decision to privatize the frequency previously associated with HRT 3. Several international media companies expressed interest in the concession, including RTL Group, News Corporation, SBS Broadcasting, HMTM and CME. RTL Group ultimately secured the opportunity, and RTL launched with an evening broadcast that included the first edition of its news service, initially called RTL Vijesti. Its first operation was modest, reportedly consisting of a single office, ten computers and ten employees. Over time, the operation expanded into a multimedia business employing more than 300 people, with television, digital publishing, streaming and a portfolio of related channels. RTL Croatia's programming mix combines locally produced news, entertainment, scripted series, reality formats, talent competitions, cooking shows and acquired international programming. Its original programming has included the long-running soap opera Zabranjena ljubav, the Croatian version of Big Brother, dating formats such as Ljubav je na selu and Brak na prvu, culinary franchises including Večera za 5, and the talent competition Superstar. The broadcaster has also carried major acquired series, children's programming, films and selected sports rights. News remains a central part of the schedule through RTL Danas and the late-night current-affairs and interview programme RTL Direkt. The network broadened its brand architecture with services such as RTL 2, RTL Kockica, RTL Passion, RTL Living and RTL Crime. It also entered streaming with RTL Play in January 2018. RTL Play initially offered advertising-supported access to programming and channel livestreams, with a paid premium tier for additional content. In 2023, the service was replaced by Voyo, a subscription video-on-demand platform offering early access to selected RTL programmes and exclusive acquired content. RTL was operated by RTL Group from its launch until 2022. RTL Group announced the sale of RTL Hrvatska to Central European Media Enterprises in February 2022, and the transaction was completed on 1 June 2022. The ownership change placed the broadcaster within the CME Group, which operates television and digital media businesses in Central and Eastern Europe. In 2024, RTL marked its twentieth anniversary with promotional idents and a two-part retrospective, 20 godina zajedno, hosted by Antonija Blaće. The broadcaster announced in April 2025 that its teletext service would close on 1 May 2025.
History
RTL Croatia originated in the privatization of a Croatian national television frequency in the early 2000s. In 2003, the Croatian government opened the opportunity to competing international and domestic media groups. RTL Group, News Corporation, SBS Broadcasting, HMTM and CME were among the interested parties. RTL Group was selected, enabling the launch of a new commercial national network. RTL began broadcasting on 30 April 2004 at 18:45 Central European Time. The launch included the first edition of its news programme, then known as RTL Vijesti, presented by Tomislav Jelinčić and Tanja Tomić. The operation started with a very small staff and infrastructure but expanded over the following years into a multimedia platform with more than 300 employees. RTL became one of the three major Croatian television networks, alongside HRT and Nova TV, with a schedule combining local production and acquired content. Entertainment and reality programming became important to the network's identity from its first year. Big Brother premiered in September 2004, and the first-season finale reportedly attracted 1.8 million viewers. RTL subsequently developed a substantial portfolio of Croatian adaptations of international formats, including Farmer Wants a Wife under the title Ljubav je na selu, dating formats, cooking competitions and talent shows. Its scripted output included Zabranjena ljubav, described as Croatia's first local soap opera, which ran for more than 800 episodes. The broadcaster also commissioned original drama and comedy series and acquired popular American, Spanish, Turkish, Serbian and Slovenian programming. News developed into a major pillar of the schedule. The principal service was later branded RTL Danas, while RTL Direkt added a late-evening format built around interviews, analysis, current affairs and elements of popular culture. The broadcaster also carried sports news and periodically acquired event rights, including Croatian national-team football away matches during part of the 2000s, the 2009 World Men's Handball Championship and selected boxing and Red Bull Air Race content. The handball rights generated a dispute with public broadcaster HRT after RTL declined to provide match highlights for HRT's news programming; the available reference material does not establish that a court action ultimately succeeded. RTL expanded its channel family with RTL 2, RTL Kockica, RTL Passion, RTL Living and RTL Crime. Before RTL Kockica launched in 2014, the main channel also carried substantial children's programming, including Croatian-language dubs of animated series. Digital expansion followed with RTL Play, launched on 12 January 2018. The service combined a free advertising-supported offering, channel livestreams and a premium tier with additional or exclusive content. In November 2019, RTL's Croatian channels introduced HD feeds as part of the national DVB-T2 transition. The main channel refreshed its on-air identity the following month with a flatter logo, updated graphics and a new type treatment. Although a broader RTL logo change was later associated with the German RTL service, the Croatian channel had not adopted that identity according to the cited reference at the time covered. A major corporate turning point came in 2022. RTL Group agreed to sell RTL Hrvatska to Central European Media Enterprises, and ownership transferred on 1 June 2022. The broadcaster therefore moved from the RTL Group portfolio into the CME Group. In July 2023, RTL announced that RTL Play would be replaced by Voyo; Voyo launched on 27 August 2023 as a subscription video-on-demand service emphasizing early access to selected programmes and exclusive acquired content. RTL celebrated its twentieth anniversary during April and May 2024. The campaign used anniversary bumpers featuring prominent presenters and messages focused on originality, leadership and social impact. A two-part special hosted by Antonija Blaće reviewed memorable moments from the network's history. In April 2025, RTL announced the planned closure of its teletext service on 1 May, reflecting the continuing shift from legacy broadcast information services toward digital distribution.
- 2025
Teletext service scheduled to close
[1]RTL announced that its teletext service would be discontinued on 1 May 2025.
- 2024
Twentieth-anniversary programming
[1]RTL marked twenty years on air with anniversary idents and the retrospective special 20 godina zajedno.
- 2023
Voyo replaces RTL Play
[1]The broadcaster launched Voyo as its subscription-focused streaming successor to RTL Play.
- 2022
Ownership transfers to CME
[1]The sale of RTL Hrvatska from RTL Group to Central European Media Enterprises was completed on 1 June.
- 2019
HD distribution and visual refresh
[1]RTL's services launched HD feeds during the DVB-T2 transition, followed by a redesigned logo and graphics package.
- 2018
RTL Play launches
[1]RTL entered Croatian streaming with a service combining advertising-supported programming, livestreams and a premium tier.
- 2014
RTL Kockica launches
[1]The channel family expanded with RTL Kockica, allowing children's programming to move into a dedicated service.
- 2008
Ljubav je na selu begins
[1]RTL premiered its Croatian adaptation of Farmer Wants a Wife, which became one of the network's longest-running reality formats.
- 2004
RTL launches in Croatia
[1]RTL began national broadcasting on 30 April and introduced its news service on launch day.
- 2004
Big Brother premieres
[1]The first Croatian edition of Big Brother became a major early reality-programming property for RTL.
Products and positioning
A mass-market Croatian commercial broadcaster positioned around nationally distributed news, locally produced entertainment, reality television, scripted programming and a broader multi-channel and digital ecosystem.
Free-to-air television network · 2004
RTL
RTL is the flagship Croatian national commercial television channel. Its schedule combines locally produced news, entertainment, reality and scripted programming with acquired international series, films, children's content and occasional sports coverage. The channel is designed for broad national reach and remains the core broadcast brand of RTL Croatia.
Television news · 2004
RTL Danas
RTL Danas is RTL Croatia's main daily news service. It covers Croatian and international political, cultural, social and general-interest developments through shorter and longer editions across the schedule. The programme was previously known as RTL Vijesti.
Current affairs and interview programme · 2015
RTL Direkt
RTL Direkt is a late-evening news and current-affairs programme launched in 2015. In addition to recapping major events, it uses interviews, commentary and specialist or celebrity guests to address politics, culture, entertainment and public-interest topics. Mojmira Pastorčić became its host after Zoran Šprajc's departure from the role in 2022.
Ad-supported streaming service · 2018
RTL Play
RTL Play was RTL Croatia's digital video service, launched in 2018. It offered an advertising-supported catalogue, live streams of RTL channels and a paid premium option with additional or exclusive programming. The service was later replaced by Voyo.
Subscription video-on-demand service · 2023
Voyo
Voyo is RTL Croatia's subscription video-on-demand platform. It launched in August 2023 as the successor to RTL Play and provides subscribers with selected RTL originals and acquired programmes, including early access to some episodes before their linear television broadcast and content not otherwise shown on RTL.
Dating reality television · 2008
Ljubav je na selu
Ljubav je na selu is RTL Croatia's Croatian adaptation of the Farmer Wants a Wife format. It follows farmers seeking relationships while meeting prospective partners in a rural setting. The programme premiered in 2008 and became one of RTL's most durable locally produced reality franchises.
Cooking reality television · 2007
Večera za 5
Večera za 5 is a Croatian culinary reality format based on Come Dine with Me. Participants host one another for meals and are assessed on their food, hospitality and overall evening. It has been a long-running part of RTL's daytime and early-evening schedule, including a rural-era title variation between 2019 and 2022.
Singing talent competition · 2023
Superstar
Superstar is RTL Croatia's singing talent competition, introduced in 2023 as a reboot of the broadcaster's earlier Hrvatska traži zvijezdu. It uses auditions and competitive live or studio stages to identify Croatian vocal talent and extends RTL's long-standing involvement with locally adapted entertainment formats.
Scripted soap opera · 2004
Zabranjena ljubav
Zabranjena ljubav was RTL Croatia's first major Croatian soap opera and is described in the reference material as the first Croatian soap opera. It premiered in 2004 and ran for more than 800 episodes, establishing local scripted production as an important part of RTL's early identity.
Reality television · 2004
Big Brother
RTL's Croatian edition of Big Brother premiered in September 2004 and became an early ratings and publicity driver for the new network. The franchise ultimately ran for seven seasons in Croatia, concluding in 2018, and helped establish RTL's reputation for large-scale locally adapted reality formats.
Marketing campaigns
- 2024RTL Croatia twentieth anniversary
Croatia
RTL marked two decades of Croatian broadcasting with anniversary bumpers featuring prominent presenters and taglines centered on originality, leadership and the network's effect on viewers' lives.
Outcome. The anniversary culminated in the two-part retrospective 20 godina zajedno, broadcast on 4 and 5 May and hosted by Antonija Blaće.
- 2019Više od Televizije
Croatia
RTL introduced a refreshed visual identity using a flatter logo, revised on-air graphics and the slogan “Više od Televizije,” positioning the broadcaster as more than a conventional television channel.
Outcome. The campaign accompanied the network's broader transition toward a multi-channel and digital media platform.
Brand decisions
2025
Closure of teletext serviceStrategyBackground
The broadcaster's digital services had expanded while legacy teletext usage declined.
Action taken
RTL announced that its teletext service would shut down on 1 May 2025.
Aftermath
The decision marked a further move away from legacy broadcast information delivery toward digital platforms.
2023
Voyo replaces RTL PlayProduct launchBackground
RTL sought to develop a subscription-oriented over-the-top video proposition beyond its earlier advertising-supported streaming service.
Action taken
Voyo launched on 27 August 2023, offering selected early releases, exclusive acquired programming and access to RTL content.
Aftermath
RTL Play was superseded as the broadcaster's primary named streaming service in Croatia.
2022
Sale of RTL Hrvatska to Central European Media EnterprisesM&ABackground
RTL Hrvatska had been owned and operated by RTL Group since the Croatian channel launched in 2004.
Action taken
RTL Group agreed to sell RTL Hrvatska to Central European Media Enterprises; the transaction completed on 1 June 2022.
Aftermath
RTL Croatia became part of the CME Group and continued operating as a Croatian commercial television and digital media business.
2018
Launch of RTL PlayProduct launchBackground
Audience consumption was expanding beyond linear television, creating an opportunity for RTL to distribute its programmes through a digital service.
Action taken
RTL launched RTL Play with advertising-supported access, channel livestreams and a premium tier.
Aftermath
RTL Play became the broadcaster's initial streaming platform before being replaced by Voyo in 2023.
2009
Acquisition of 2009 World Men's Handball Championship rightsOtherBackground
Croatia hosted the 2009 World Men's Handball Championship, creating a significant domestic television-rights opportunity.
Action taken
RTL acquired rights to broadcast all matches of the tournament in Croatia.
Aftermath
The rights deal was described as a major success for RTL and contributed to tension with HRT after RTL declined to provide match highlights for HRT news programmes. The cited material says HRT threatened legal action but does not establish a final legal outcome.
- Hrvatska radiotelevizija — HRT reportedly threatened legal action after RTL refused to sell or provide match highlights for its news programmes.
Sources2 sources
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