RTL Zwee
A Luxembourg national general-interest television channel aimed primarily at young adults.
Last updated August 31, 2026
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Overview
RTL Zwee is a Luxembourgish national general-interest television channel operated within the RTL Lëtzebuerg television operation and associated with RTL Group. It was launched on 15 March 2004 as the second television channel specifically created for the Luxembourgish market by RTL Group, following RTL Télé Lëtzebuerg, which had begun broadcasting thirteen years earlier. The channel was originally known as Den 2. RTL and was developed to broaden RTL's local television offer with a service intended for a younger audience. The channel's programming combines entertainment, television series, films and selected live sports. Its sports role has been particularly visible when RTL has held Luxembourg rights to major international competitions, including UEFA Champions League football and the UEFA European Championship. This gives RTL Zwee a function beyond that of a youth-oriented entertainment outlet: it can also serve as a national outlet for high-profile sports broadcasts when rights and scheduling require a second channel. RTL Zwee operates in close relationship with RTL Télé Lëtzebuerg. The two channels have shared the same on-air presentation since 2007, although their staff structures are separate. The common presentation system has been refreshed several times, including in 2011 and 2017. The 2017 refresh coincided with the relocation of RTL Lëtzebuerg to its new premises, known as RTL City, and with a corresponding update to the presentation of RTL Télé Lëtzebuerg's news bulletin, De Journal. A significant programming change occurred during the coronavirus disease 2019 epidemic in Luxembourg. Beginning on 23 March 2020, RTL Group changed the channel's name and, until further notice, placed a larger share of entertainment programmes and series produced by RTL Télé Lëtzebuerg on RTL Zwee's schedule. The temporary arrangement also included Luxembourgish and international films. This decision reflected the need to adapt the channel's schedule during an exceptional period rather than a clearly documented permanent change in its underlying market role. RTL Zwee is therefore best understood as a Luxembourg-focused television channel within the RTL Lëtzebuerg family rather than as a standalone international media company. Its brand proposition rests on local availability, complementary scheduling with RTL Télé Lëtzebuerg, entertainment programming for younger viewers and the ability to carry major live events. Publicly available reference material does not establish a separate corporate listing, independent ownership structure, named founder or a distinct executive team for the channel itself.
History
RTL Zwee was created by RTL Group as Luxembourg's second specifically Luxembourgish television channel. It began broadcasting on 15 March 2004, thirteen years after the launch of RTL Télé Lëtzebuerg. The new channel expanded the local RTL television portfolio and was designed to address a younger audience than the established service. Its general-interest remit allowed it to carry entertainment, series, films and other programming rather than being restricted to a single genre. One of RTL Zwee's distinctive functions has been the carriage of live international sport. Where RTL has acquired Luxembourg broadcasting rights, the channel has been used for coverage of major competitions, including the UEFA Champions League and UEFA European Championship. Sports rights have consequently formed an important part of the channel's national relevance and its ability to complement RTL Télé Lëtzebuerg's schedule. From 2007 onward, RTL Zwee and RTL Télé Lëtzebuerg shared the same on-air presentation, despite retaining different staff members. The common presentation was refreshed in 2011. A further update took place in 2017, at the same time that RTL Lëtzebuerg moved to its new RTL City premises and the visual presentation of the De Journal news bulletin was also updated. The most notable documented schedule intervention came during the coronavirus disease 2019 epidemic. On 23 March 2020, RTL Group introduced a temporary change affecting the channel's name and programming. Until further notice, RTL Zwee carried most of the entertainment programmes and series produced by RTL Télé Lëtzebuerg, as well as Luxembourgish and international films. The change demonstrated the channel's role as a flexible part of RTL's Luxembourg broadcasting infrastructure, capable of absorbing programming and supporting the wider service during an exceptional period. RTL Zwee's public identity remains tied to Luxembourg rather than to an international distribution network. It functions as a complementary channel within the RTL Lëtzebuerg family, combining youth-oriented positioning with broad general-interest programming and occasional major sports coverage. Available reference material does not provide a separate list of channel executives, a distinct legal owner, independent financial information or a separate corporate listing.
- 2020
Temporary programming and naming change during the coronavirus epidemic
[1]RTL Group temporarily altered the channel's name and schedule, adding RTL Télé Lëtzebuerg entertainment output and Luxembourgish and international films.
- 2017
Visual identity updated alongside RTL City move
[1]RTL Zwee's presentation was refreshed alongside RTL Lëtzebuerg's move to RTL City and an update to De Journal's presentation.
- 2011
Presentation refresh
[1]The channels' shared on-air presentation received a refresh.
- 2007
Shared on-air presentation begins
[1]RTL Zwee and RTL Télé Lëtzebuerg began using the same on-air presentation while maintaining separate staff.
- 2004
Launch of RTL Zwee
[1]RTL Group launched RTL Zwee on 15 March as the second specifically Luxembourgish television channel created for the group.
Products and positioning
A Luxembourg-focused general-interest channel with a younger-audience orientation, combining entertainment, series, films and selected live international sports in a schedule complementary to RTL Télé Lëtzebuerg.
National television broadcasting · 2004
RTL Zwee television channel
RTL Zwee is a Luxembourg national general-interest television service aimed at a younger audience than RTL Télé Lëtzebuerg. Its schedule has included entertainment programmes, television series, films and live broadcasts of selected international sporting events for which RTL holds Luxembourg rights. The channel is programmed as part of the RTL Lëtzebuerg television family and shares on-air presentation elements with RTL Télé Lëtzebuerg.
Brand decisions
2020
Temporary schedule expansion during the coronavirus epidemicStrategyBackground
The coronavirus disease 2019 epidemic in Luxembourg led RTL Group to reorganize the programming of its Luxembourg television services.
Action taken
From 23 March 2020, RTL Group changed the channel's name and placed most entertainment programmes and series produced by RTL Télé Lëtzebuerg on RTL Zwee, alongside Luxembourgish and international films, until further notice.
Aftermath
The measure showed RTL Zwee's role as a flexible complementary service within RTL Lëtzebuerg. The available reference does not specify the precise end date or any permanent structural consequence.
Recent events
- 2020
RTL Zwee schedule changed during Luxembourg's coronavirus epidemic[1]
Regulation
From 23 March 2020, RTL Group temporarily changed the channel's name and expanded its schedule with entertainment programmes and series produced by RTL Télé Lëtzebuerg, together with Luxembourgish and international films.
- 2017
RTL Lëtzebuerg moves to RTL City as channel presentation is refreshed[1]
Other
The on-air presentation for RTL Zwee and RTL Télé Lëtzebuerg was updated alongside RTL Lëtzebuerg's move to its new RTL City premises and a refresh of the De Journal news presentation.
- 2011
RTL Zwee presentation refreshed[1]
Other
The shared on-air presentation used by RTL Zwee and RTL Télé Lëtzebuerg was refreshed.
- 2007
RTL Zwee adopts shared on-air presentation with RTL Télé Lëtzebuerg[1]
Other
RTL Zwee and RTL Télé Lëtzebuerg began using the same on-air presentation system, while retaining separate staff members for the two channels.
- 2004
RTL Zwee launched as Luxembourg's second RTL television channel[1]
Product launch
RTL Group launched the channel on 15 March 2004 as the second television channel specifically created for the Luxembourgish market, with a focus on younger viewers.
Sources2 sources
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