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 is RTL Nederland's "youth & young adults channel" which 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.
Officially RTL 5 - along with RTL 4, RTL 7 and RTL 8 - is headquartered in Hilversum, broadcasting with a Netherlands TV licence since July 1, 2026. Until 30 June 2026, the TV station has been broadcasting with a Luxembourgish TV license. This allowed them to avoid more severe control by the Dutch media authorities as Luxembourg's television watchdog is less strict.
History Early years RTL 4 planned the creation of an RTL 5 as early as March 1992. The group conducted a feasibility study to create a second channel for targets that were not properly served by the main channel. In a board meeting at the end of June 1993, CLT publicly announced a 2 October launch date, aiming to complement the broader RTL 4. Executives believed that RTL 5 was set to start at the right time, and that the new channel would help develop the Dutch commercial television market.CLT aims to launch new Dutch TV channel Oct. 2 The channel planned to receive US$2,60 per subscriber for its cable fees during its first year of operation.World Briefs
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. Opening night started at 6pm with a preview programme that was partly simulcast with RTL 4, presented by Jan Lenferink, in which its guests searched for "the other side of television". It was followed by the film Dead Poets Society at 8pm, and at 10:05pm, Saturdaynight Five, featuring "a quiz that is not a quiz and a survey" into the preferences of the progressive Netherlands, with various styles of "top level" music. After an episode of The Twilight Zone (at 11:30pm), the evening finished at midnight with an eight-hour reading of Freek de Jonge's book (Dutch Blood) over an eight-hour period, recorded at the Concertgebouw in May 1991. De Jonge had previously appeared in the launch of RTL Veronique four years earlier and "reappeared" in the form of a video recording. In 1994 it changed the Roman number V into 5.
RTL 5 under the early days of HMG In February 1995, Veronica joined RTL 4 S.A., starting a joint venture called HMG (Holland Media Groep). Two of the channels already had defined targets (RTL 4 continued being a family channel and Veronica was set to be a youth channel), but RTL 5 "clashed" with RTL 4, causing the channel to find a new formula. In March, its founding director Fons von Westerloo left the channel and was appointed for the same position on the upstart network SBS6. Program coordinator Bart in't Houd also left the channel to join the same post on the new service.
With three major channels RTL could disrupt the television market in the Netherlands. A recommendation from the European Commission suggested the sale of RTL 5 to another company, with SBS Broadcasting being interested. The Competition Commission suggested by mid-September to formally create HMG only if RTL 5 was sold and if Endemol's share was reduced to a symbolic level.
Attempted reconversion to a news and weather format In the summer of 1996, the channel was aimed at reconverting itself into a news channel, but HMG executives were still pending a final decision.Nieuwszender RTL5 wordt betaaltelevisie 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. RTL 5 became a thematic news channel, with an 8pm news bulletin competing against the main edition of NOS Journaal. It also provided a ten-minute Weer & Verkeer (weather and traffic) bulletin after the main news.RTL 5 Nieuws & Weer mikt op het gevoel Weeks after the launch of the new format, SBS Broadcasting tried suing RTL 5 in front of the European Commission, under the grounds that HMG was not following EC recommendations in becoming a theme channel. Part of its line-up still consisted of feature films, going against the news channel concept, and one of the new local programmes, 5 in het land, was similar to SBS6's Hart van Nederland.SBS klaagt RTL5 aan in Brussel The EC suggested a gradual removal of the general entertainment fare in order to finish the conversion.HMG denies dodging EC regulations
Repositioning With the launch of NET5 in 1999, the channel changed its format again. The channel withdrew its news and weather format and increased its target demographic.RTL5 In September 2000, the European Commission reversed the restrictions on RTL 5 because competitive channels had been launched in the Netherlands. On 5 June 2001,RTL 5 wordt een financiële nieuwszender a Business and Financial News block called RTL Z started on RTL 5 during daytime. Regular RTL 5 programming started at 6pm.CONCENTRATION AND DIVERSITY OF THE DUTCH MEDIA 2002 RTL Z moved from RTL 5 to RTL 7 on 12 August 2005.Yorin wordt RTL7
Since 2005 Since then, in conjunction with the RTL rebrand, RTL 5 has become a 24-hours channel. It also absorbed the programmes of the former Yorin channel, while RTL 7, the former Yorin, took RTL5's former output.Yorin wijkt voor RTL7
On 15 January 2024, a new season of Big Brother premiered on the channel and on Videoland.Big Brother van start met nieuw seizoen op RTL5 en Videoland
Identity 1993–1994 The channel's first logo was a lowercase handwritten rtl wordmark in front of a large Roman numberal 5 (V). The launch jingle, composed by Hans Van Ejick, was Let's Take 5.
1994–1997 The logo was replaced with one similar to RTL 4's, using 5 inside a circle. The channel unveiled a new look in 1996 featuring some sort of hallway with the RTL 5 logo in the door. During this look, a library track was used. At closedown, the national anthem of Luxembourg, accompanied by aerial shots of the country, was played.
1997–1998 On 1 January 1997, the channel adopted a new look to match the proposed all-news format. The package mainly consisted of an ident and an intro for Weer & Verkeer. The menu was also changed accordingly.
1998–1999 With the withdrawal of the plans to make it a news channel, it adopted a red square as its logo, in a white background.
1999–2004 This look was designed by Valkieser and featured a white 5 inside a circle divided in two yellow "claws", doing several activities depending on the ident. These ended with a stinger composed by Hans Van Ejick, which was later reworked by Stephen Emmer.
2004–2005 RTL 5 withdrew its minimalistic 1999 look after five years in August 2004 with the start of the new television season, alongside Yorin. The graphics mainly featured the RTL 5 logo rendered in CGI.
2005–2012 RTL 5 adopted a new logo with red as its dominant colour in 2005, as part of the new corporate identity, and also the arrival of programmes from the former Yorin as part of a content exchange.
2012–2017 In September 2012, RTL 5 adopted a separate logo with its own wordmark; the central piece is the red number 5 which is used as a character in its own right.
2017–2023 The look only included bumpers for the following programme and a menu.
2023–present The introduction of the RTL United brand on RTL Nederland saw RTL 5 adopt the three boxes template, in two shades of red and one in pink.
Series and shows currently on air Ambulance Ambulance Australia Big Brother Big Brother Australia (from series 12) Bondi Vet De Augurkenkoning Dr. Phil Expeditie Robinson Gordon Ramsay's 24 Hours to Hell and Back Holland's Next Top Model RTL De Journaal
Series and shows previously shown or on hiatus 'Allo 'Allo! 18 Wheels of Justice 21 Jump Street 24 24: Live Another Day ALF A.U.S.A. Adam Zkt. Eva Age of Love Airwolf Aliens in America America's Next Top Model American Horror Story Australia's Next Top Model Babylon 5 Bad Girls Club Balls of Steel Beauty and the Geek Benelux' Next Top Model Biker Mice from Mars Bionic Woman Bodyshockers Bones Breaking Bad Breakout Kings Britain's Missing Top Model Britain's Next Top Model Burn Notice Cashmere Mafia Celebrity Rehab with Dr. Drew Chuck Cobra 11 C.O.P.S Crossing Lines CSI: Crime Scene Investigation CSI: Cyber CSI: Miami CSI: NY Dames in de Dop (Ladette to Lady) Dangerous Curves Days of Our Lives Degrassi: The Next Generation Dharma & Greg Dollhouse Don't Trust the B— in Apartment 23 Drop Dead Diva Echte Meisjes Everybody Loves Raymond Friends Game of Thrones Glee Gossip Girl Greek Grimm Hannibal Helicopter Heroes Heroes Hidden Palms Hotter Than My Daughter House How I Met Your Mother Huge Human Target Idols Jensen! Kees van der Spek: Oplichters Aangepakt Kitchen Nightmares Kyle XY In Plain Sight Ink Master Impractical Jokers Janice & Abbey Ladette to Lady Las Vegas Last Man Standing Late Show with David Letterman LAX Leverage Lie to Me Life Life Unexpected Lipstick Jungle Make It or Break It MasterChef MasterChef Australia Melissa & Joey Mercy Mighty Morphin Power Rangers Mijn Tent is Top (My Restaurant Rules) (moved to RTL 4) Modern Family Motive My Name Is Earl New Girl NewsRadio Oz Paradise Hotel Passion Cove Past Life Point Pleasant Pretty Little Liars Project Catwalk Project Runway Prison Break Raising Hope Renegade Robin Hood Robson Arms Rock School Royal Pains Rude Tube Running in Heels Saving Grace Secret Diary of a Call Girl Seinfeld Sleepy Hollow Smash So You Think You Can Dance So You Think You Can Dance: The Next Generation So You Think You Can Dance USA Spartacus Star Wars: The Clone Wars Stingers Suits Survival of the Richest Tabatha Takes Over Terra Nova Terriers The Americans The Benny Hill Show The Blacklist The Blacklist: Redemption The Cosby Show The Ellen DeGeneres Show The Event The Fashion Show The Glades The Golden Cage The Inside The Janice Dickinson Modeling Agency The King of Queens The L Word The Millionaire Matchmaker The Nanny The Phone The Rachel Zoe Project The Secret Life of the American Teenager The Simple Life The Sketch Show The Strip The Tribe The Tyra Banks Show The Ultimate Dance Battle The Unit The Unusuals The Vampire Diaries Third Watch Transporter: The Series Trauma Treasure Hunters True Beauty True Blood True Jackson, VP Tyrant Van etter tot engel (Brat Camp) Vijf tegen Vijf (Family Feud) White Collar Wipeout
Teletext RTL 5 offered a teletext service which stopped on 1 April 2017. The pages 888/889 are still available for subtitles.
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