Apartment Cologne presents: the television station RTL

The city of Cologne is a media city so it is not surprising that one finds here some television stations. Among other things, the station RTL Television , which is simply known in Germany under the term RTL. It is a private TV channel of RTL Group. The program will be sent in German. Since 1988, the seat of the private broadcaster in Cologne. In the many years of history, the television station has emerged as a small offshoot of the radio station Radio Luxembourg. Therefore one found in the early years of the transmitter also the additional plus in the name. The station employs about 500 permanent employees in the cathedral city and is typed in Germany as a so-called full program.

The first years until 1992

The private television started in 1984. On 1 January started as a Ludwigshafen cable pilot project and recorded the program. As the first private television station, the transmitter PKS, which was later known under the name Sat1, must be called. Exactly one day later, shortly after 5 pm, the first minutes of RTLplus are sent from Luxembourg. Curiously, the first thing the audience got to see was the delivery of the RTLplus logo by chief physician Rainer Holbe.

The station was born and from now on the program was watched Monday through Friday from 5.30pm to 10.30pm. On the weekend, you send from 17:30 to midnight. That's how Messrs. Hans Meiser and Gerd Müller Gerbes start their 7th News Show 7th ago. At that time, RTL could even be purchased via the company's own antenna. Around 200,000 German television households were only now able to follow the program. However, the transmitter RTL plus extended its radius consistently further by being able to receive it in the year 1985 also over the satellite Eutelsat. In May 1986, the Westdeutsche Allgemeine Zeitung bought a 10 percent stake in the station. Further shareholders were Bertelsmann AG with 40% and the Compagnie Luxembourgeoise de Télédiffusion with 50%.

In 1986, 1.3 million German television households were already able to receive the RTL plus station. In the year 1987 the operating costs of the transmitter amounted to 130 million German marks and those were already contrary to advertising revenue of approximately 60 million German marks. The program was expanded more and more and therefore there was already in 1987 the so-called breakfast television to reach even more viewers. On January 1, 1988, it was time for RTLplus to relocate its headquarters from Luxembourg to Cologne. We also want to mention the small branch in Munich. By the granting of a further frequency by the country North Rhine-Westphalia one could reach nearly 5.5 million German households already in the middle of the yearly 1988. The whole venture gained momentum when in 1988 they started producing their first in-house productions to boost ratings and viewership even more.

Certainly they still like to remember the first shows with Hugo Egon Balder and Hella von Sinnen under the name "All or nothing" . There pies flew into the faces of the moderators. Other well-known and popular productions include "Explosive the hot chair" and the legendary erotic show "Tutti Frutti" , which was presented in 1990 by the presenter Hugo Egon Balder. Also very well known is the so-called "Mini Playback Show" from 1990, which was moderated by Marijke Amado.

History from the year 1993

The year 1993 was the most successful year for RTL . This year, the TV channel reached the highest market share in its history . He was also the market leader for the first time. The transmitter was able to defend this pole position until the year 1997 and with a short break also in 1999 and from 2001 to 2003. Thereafter, RTL lost the favor of viewers and slipped further behind the other major TV channels. The TV station can now be reached in various ways. So you can retrieve it via satellite and cable television network high definition as HD version. Likewise the transmitter is to be reached over DVB-T, however, with costs. With the offer RTL NOW the program parts can also be called up on the internet. Furthermore, the transmitter RTL can also be received via Zattoo, an online streaming service.

Who is watching the station

In 2012, the average age of television viewers is already 47 years.

Important people in the transmitter

From 2005 to 2013 Anke Schäferkordt was the CEO of RTL Television. She took over the helm of Gerhard Zeiler, who completely focused on and directed the RTL Group. Very well known is the editor-in-chief Peter Klöppel , who also presents the main news broadcast of RTL: "RTL aktuell" is a household name in Germany.

The managers of the transmitter

Enclosed briefly the overview:

• 1984 - 1998 Helmut Thoma
• 1985 - 1991 together Helmut Thoma it was Erich Staake
• 1998 - 2005 Gerhard Zeiler
• 2004 - 2005 Marc Conrad
• 2005 - 2013 Anke Schäferkordt
• 2013 - 2019 Frank Hoffmann
• 2019 till now Jörg Graf

Where to find RTL

The first location of RTL in Cologne in Cologne was Junkersdorf . At Aachener Straße 1044 was the broadcasting center. In 2010, however, the RTL Group relocated the broadcasting center from Junkersdorf to Cologne- Deutz . Old fair buildings or parts of the fairground were rebuilt for it. Also pulled the stations VOX and NTV and IP Germany in the new building. Many of the big current RTL shows are now being produced in Deutz or just outside Cologne in Hürth . Also in Cologne Ossendorf . Examples are the magazines "Extra", "Explosiv" or "Exclusiv das Starmagazin".

The own school

The station operates its own RTL school and trains to be a television editor. The training lasts 24 months.6 months thereof in Cologne, 13.5 months in all of Germany and even four and a half months worldwide.

The transmitter is thus not far from the apartments in Deutz and can be admired by you. Maybe you can take a look at the building once you are on your way to the Youth Park on the Rhine ?! We hope you enjoy exploring the area! Your holiday apartment Cologne!

Accommodation in the city center of Cologne!

You want to walk to the cathedral? You want to walk to the fair? Then book our Apartments Cologne , then you can easily reach the Cologne Cathedral on foot! Just cross the Rhine over the Deutzer bridge and stroll through the old town. In about 14 minutes you have reached the cathedral! We look forward to your inquiry!