RTL Focuses On Original Productions And Retro Trend
This spring and summer, beyond established formats, the Cologne-based channel RTL will focus on new original shows and revivals of beloved RTL classics. They include the crime series “Der König von Palma,” the drag celebrity guessing show “Viva la Diva,” and a revival of the classic “Die 100.000 Mark Show.” Also new: the expansion of the TV magazine show “Stern TV” with the Sunday edition “Stern TV am Sonntag.”
RTL is strengthening its lineup of original content this spring and summer with a variety of new programs. In entertainment, the Cologne-based channel is continuing the retro trend with revivals of beloved RTL classics, bringing back “Turmspringen,” produced by Stefan Raab, and presenting new and innovative show concepts like “Viva la Diva.” By launching a crime series in feature-film format and the free-TV premiere of “Der König von Palma” (see today’s BENET report), RTL is underpinning its strong fiction lineup in the spring and summer. And as part of the expansion of its news lineup, the channel will be showing an additional edition of the TV magazine “Stern TV” on Sunday evenings. RTL CEO Henning Tewes made the announcement at “Innovation Now,” an Ad Alliance event for advertisers and agencies held virtually in Cologne on Wednesday before an audience of about 1,000 guests.
“It is the breadth of our lineup of positive entertainment and independent journalism that makes us so strong and unique in the German video landscape,” commented Tewes. „A lot will be happening at RTL in the months ahead. In Fiction (Drama), we are investing in event-scale series as well as crime-movie series. Besides developing its established, popular brands, RTL is focusing on entirely new shows and revivals of popular RTL classics in entertainment. And as part of expanding its news programming, the broadcaster will introduce the strong ‘Stern TV’ brand to Sunday primetime.”
A lot of innovation in the program lineup
Starting April 24, RTL will expand its news programming with a strong brand in primetime by airing the weekly TV magazine “Stern TV am Sonntag” every Sunday at 10:15 PM. This summer, special talents, wagers, and a panel of celebrity judges will deliver family entertainment in the new live predictions show “Ich setz auf dich” (I’m Betting On You) hosted by Guido Cantz. Meanwhile, RTL celebrates tolerance and openness with the drag celebrity guessing game show “Viva la Diva.” Eight prominent male figures transform themselves into drag queens. And an equally prominent panel of judges gets to guess which queen is who, ensuring plenty of summertime guessing fun on RTL.RTL continues the retro trend with “Die 100.000 Mark Show” and 1990s feel in a new look. Then as now, the show is hosted by Ulla Kock am Brink. With “Der große IQ-Test,” RTL is relaunching an interactive show in which celebrities, as well as all viewers, can test their intelligence at home. Likewise, “Der Preis ist heiß” makes a comeback on RTL this spring. The new edition of one of the most popular game shows of the 1990s will of course feature Harry Wijnvoord, who also hosted the original. And this summer, RTL celebrates the return of an extraordinary show event from the past when celebrities venture into the water to compete with each other in individual and synchronized diving in the “RTL Tower Diving” competition.
As early as April, a new top-notch competition for quiz lovers beckons on RTL in the form of the new show “Jauch gegen Sigl.” In the new show, Günther Jauch will compete over two rounds against an equal opponent. The quiz legend’s first rival will be actor Hans Sigl. RTL is also serving up a strong lineup of new drama series this spring. On March 24, “Balko – Tenerife,” a feature-length movie reboot of the classic RTL series, kicks off a string of crime highlights. This will be followed on March 31 by the gripping 90-minute film “Einsatz in den Alpen” (Assignment in the Alps), starring Jochen Matschke and Peter Fieseler. And on three primetime evenings around Easter (April 15, 18 and 19), RTL will air the six-part drama “Der König von Palma” (The King of Palma), starring Henning Baum.
