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RTL is a German free-to-air television channel operating in the general entertainment and news format. The primary language of broadcasting is German. The channel was launched on January 2, 1984, under the name RTL plus, broadcasting from Luxembourg. In 1988, the channel moved its headquarters to Cologne, Germany, where it is still based today. Over the years, the channel was renamed RTL Television (1992–2004) and eventually shortened to simply RTL. RTL is owned by RTL Deutschland, which is itself a subsidiary of the RTL Group, Europe's leading entertainment company. As of 2010, the channel employed approximately 500 permanent staff, having outsourced its news and technical departments.

On air, RTL features a wide mix of programming, including daily soap operas, prime-time entertainment shows, news bulletins, investigative journalism, reality TV, sports broadcasts, and feature films. Flagship news programs include RTL Aktuell, the main evening news broadcast at 6:45 pm, and stern TV, a newsmagazine based on the print magazine Stern. Investigative formats such as Team Wallraff use undercover reporters to expose corruption and wrongdoing in German society. Entertainment programming includes Germany's version of Who Wants to Be a Millionaire? called Wer wird Millionär?, the long-running talent show Deutschland sucht den Superstar (German Idol), the jungle reality show Ich bin ein Star – Holt mich hier raus!, and the dance competition Let's Dance. Daily soap operas include Gute Zeiten, schlechte Zeiten (Good Times, Bad Times), which has been on air since 1992, and Unter Uns (Among Us).

RTL broadcasts in high definition and ultra-high definition (4K) via satellite on the Astra system at 19.2 degrees east, as well as on digital terrestrial television, cable networks, and IPTV platforms. The channel is available throughout Germany, Austria, Switzerland, and other European countries including France, Italy, Belgium, Luxembourg, Liechtenstein, the Netherlands, Turkey, Poland, Romania, Hungary, Israel, and Denmark. Viewers can watch online the live broadcast of RTL through the official RTL website and the RTL+ mobile application, available for smartphones and tablets. Online television of RTL is also accessible via the RTL+ streaming service, which offers 14 live TV streams, on-demand access to thousands of series and films, and exclusive original productions. The channel is additionally carried on streaming platforms such as Zattoo, Waipu.tv, and Joyn, many of which offer the live stream for free in their basic packages.

RTL also has a significant sports broadcasting portfolio. The channel holds rights to the UEFA Europa League, the UEFA Conference League, and the UEFA Nations League featuring the German national football team. RTL also broadcasts Formula 1 races in cooperation with Sky Deutschland. In addition, the channel has aired select matches from the 2nd Bundesliga and the English Premier League. Sports coverage is typically hosted by well-known presenters and features expert analysis from former athletes. The channel's sports rights agreements extend through the 2026-27 season for European competitions and through 2028 for the Nations League.

RTL strives to be Germany's leading private entertainment brand, standing for positive entertainment and independent journalism. The mission of the channel is to offer viewers a wide range of emotional, entertaining, engaging, and informative stories across all platforms. Under the branding slogan Willkommen zuhause (Welcome Home), RTL positions itself as a full-service broadcaster that reaches 99 percent of the German population. The channel is part of RTL Deutschland, which employs 7,500 people and operates 15 television channels, 50 premium magazines, and Germany's largest streaming platform, RTL+. Thanks to modern digital platforms, RTL provides the opportunity to watch online the live broadcast on any device - from smartphones to Smart TVs - ensuring that German-speaking audiences across Europe and around the world can access its entertainment, news, and sports programming wherever they are.

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