View source for RTL Zwei

{{Short description|German television station}}
{{Redirect|RTL II|the Hungarian TV channel|RTL II (Hungary)}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=March 2021}}
{{Infobox television channel
| name = RTL Zwei
| logo = RTLZWEI Logo 2019.svg
| logo_size = 150px
| launch_date = {{Start date and age|1993|3|6|df=y}}
| picture_format = [[1080i]] [[HDTV]]<br />(downscaled to [[16:9]] [[576i]] for the [[SDTV]] feed)
| owner = {{ubl|RTL Group S.A.|Heinrich Bauer Verlag KG|Tele-Munich Television Media Participation LP |Burda GmbH}}
| parent = [[RTL Deutschland]]
| country = Germany
| language = German
| area = Europe
| affiliates = [[RTL II You]]
| headquarters = [[Grünwald, Bavaria]], Germany
| former_names = RTL 2 (1993–1999)<br />RTL II (1999–2019)
| sister_channels = {{ubl|[[RTL (German TV channel)|RTL]]|[[VOX (German TV channel)|VOX]]|[[n-tv]]|[[Super RTL]]|[[Nitro (German TV channel)|Nitro]]|[[RTLup]]|VOXup|[[RTL Crime (German TV channel)|RTL Crime]]|[[RTL Living]]|[[RTL Passion]]|[[Geo Television (Germany)|GEO Television]]}} [[RTL9]]
| website = {{url|rtl2.de}}
| terr_serv_1 = [[Digital terrestrial television]]
| terr_chan_1 = Channel numbers vary in each region
}}

'''RTL Zwei''' (stylised as RTL'''ZWEI'''), formerly spelled '''RTL 2''' and '''RTL II''', is a German-language television channel that is operated by ''RTL2 Television [[GmbH & Co. KG]]''. RTL2 is a private [[Generalist channel|general entertainment ''(Vollprogramm)'' tv channel]] on the basis of the [[Interstate Broadcasting Agreement]] ''(Rundfunkstaatsvertrag)''. Variants of the channel are produced for Austria and Switzerland, with their own advertising. They can be received via cable networks in Austria and Switzerland, and more widely by digital satellite. RTL Zwei is part-owned by [[RTL Group]] in Germany.

==History==
RTL II was originally scheduled to begin broadcasting on 26 September 1992; some TV guides were anticipating the channel's launch. However, the channel's launch was delayed until 1993 because LPR Hessen (known as the ''Hessische Landesanstalt für privaten Rundfunk'') repeatedly raised concerns about the channel's shareholder structure to German media authorities. The shares of the channel's initial owners (RTL Television, CLT, Bertelsmann, Burda and FAZ) had to be reduced to below 25% before the licence for the channel could be awarded to RTL.<ref name="infst">Infosat No. 61 (April 1993). "RTL II sendet!", pp. 10.</ref> The channel eventually started broadcasting on 6 March 1993 at 6:09&nbsp;a.m., using what used to be [[Screensport]]'s transponder. (Screensport ceased operations five days earlier as a result of its merger with [[Eurosport]]) on the [[Astra satellite]] service. The first programme on the channel was the movie ''[[Little Miss Marker (1980 film)|Little Miss Marker]]''.

In 2000, RTL II began broadcasting the shows ''[[Popstars (German TV series)|Popstars]]'' and ''[[Big Brother Germany|Big Brother]]''. ''Popstars'' ran on the channel for two seasons before it moved to [[ProSieben]], while ''Big Brother'' continued to air until 2011.

The network began offering a [[video on demand]] service in February 2012.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.rtl-interactive.de/cms/presse/news.php?id=1012671|title=Mehr als 1.300 Programmstunden von RTL II im Internet: Neues Video-on-Demand Angebot www.RTL2now.de gestartet|work=RTL Interactive|date=2 February 2012|language=de}}</ref>

As of 7 October 2019, the channel was rebranded as ''RTL'''ZWEI'''''. The number ''2'' was spelt out for the first time in the station's history. The design was developed with the agency ''mehappy GmbH''.<ref>{{cite web |title=RTLZWEI präsentiert neues Design |url=https://www.presseportal.de/pm/6605/4393861 |website=presseportal.de |access-date=7 October 2019 |date=7 October 2019}}</ref>

===Visual identity (logos)===
<gallery>
RTL_2_bis_1996.svg|RTL 2's logo from 6 March 1993 to 6 April 1996; similar to the logo used by [[KGAN]]/[[Cedar Rapids, Iowa|Cedar Rapids]] from 1993 to 2004
Logo rtl2.svg|RTL 2's logo from 6 April 1996 to 1999
Rtl2 logo 2002.svg|The first version of the channel's circular "II" logo was used from 1999 to 2001.
RTL-II-Logo.svg|Updated version of 1999 logo; used from 2001 to 2009
RTL-II-Logo ab Sommer 2009.svg|RTL II's from 2009 to 2019
</gallery>

==Ownership==
The channel is operated by RTL2 TV [[GmbH & Co. KG]], which was founded in 1992 and employs around 210 people. Andreas Bartl has been managing director since June 2014.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.dwdl.de/nachrichten/45926/andreas_bartl_wird_neuer_rtliigeschaeftsfuehrer/|title = Andreas Bartl wird neuer RTL-II-Geschäftsführer}}</ref> The company was originally headquartered in [[Cologne]], but is now run from the municipality of [[Grünwald, Bavaria|Grünwald]], to the south of Munich; only its news department is still based in Cologne, in order to share RTL news production facilities. The company is jointly owned by [[RTL Group]] [[S.A. (corporation)|S.A.]] (35.9%),<ref name="rtlgroup1">{{cite web|url=http://www.rtlgroup.com/www/htm/operationstelevision_273C5921EB184F7082A4C8983775C92C.aspx |title=Operations - Television -Germany - RTL II |publisher=RTL Group |date=19 October 2009 |access-date=15 March 2013}}</ref> [[Bauer Media Group]] (31.5%),<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.bauermedia.com/unternehmensbereiche-beteiligungen/ |title=Bauer Media Group: Beteiligungen |publisher=Bauermedia.com |access-date=15 March 2013}}</ref> [[List of assets owned by The Walt Disney Company#Germany|Tele-Munich Television Media Participation LP]] (31.5%, of which the [[Leonine Holding]] and [[The Walt Disney Company]] hold 50% each).<ref name="rtlgroup1"/> and [[Hubert Burda Media]] (1.1%)<ref name="rtlgroup1"/>

==Programming==
Programming pillars are daily episodes of the local ''[[Big Brother (TV series)|Big Brother]]'' in access [[prime-time]], and a prime-time lineup consisting mostly of docu soaps, movies and licensed series such as ''[[24 (television)|24]]'' and ''[[Stargate SG-1]]''. Recent efforts to move further towards quality programming with science magazine shows and documentaries have met with an indifferent audience response.{{citation needed|date=March 2013}}

The channel's prime-time newscast ''RTL II News'' is frequently criticized{{citation needed|date=March 2013}} for its selection of news stories, which cater to a younger audience; for example, it has been known to put a CD release or the launch of a new gaming console in the second headline slot directly after the day's top event.{{Original research inline|date=April 2012}} This unconventional approach has brought RTL II's broadcasting licence into jeopardy at least once, as a German [[commercial broadcaster]] has to feature minimum amounts of serious information and culture programming to be allowed a full channel licence.{{citation needed|date=March 2013}} In addition to its own news programmes (''RTL II News'', ''RTL II Spezial. Das Magazin'' and ''Das Nachrichtenjournal''), the channel commissions shows from independent producers which air in the afternoons.

=== Afternoon programming ===
In the afternoon, the channel now primarily features its own docu soap and reality show productions.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.quotenmeter.de/cms/?p1=n&p2=56935&p3= |title=RTL II verzichtet komplett auf Sitcoms – |publisher=Quotenmeter.de |date=26 May 2012 |access-date=15 March 2013}}</ref>

=== Prime-time ===
Among its prime-time line-up the channel's own docu soap productions such as ''Die Geissens – Eine schrecklich glamouröse Familie'' and ''[[Frauentausch]]'' are particularly successful. Various US shows such as ''[[Game of Thrones]]''<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.spiegel.de/kultur/tv/gute-quoten-fuer-rtl-ii-fantasy-serie-game-of-thrones-in-drei-bloecken-a-823708.html |title=Gute Quoten für RTL-II-Fantasy-Serie "Game of Thrones" in drei Blöcken - SPIEGEL ONLINE |newspaper=Der Spiegel |date=26 March 2012 |publisher=Spiegel.de |access-date=15 March 2013}}</ref> and ''[[The Walking Dead (TV series)|The Walking Dead]]''<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.dwdl.de/zahlenzentrale/38236/the_walking_dead_erneut_voller_erfolg_fuer_rtl_ii/ |title="The Walking Dead": Erneut voller Erfolg für RTL II |publisher=DWDL.de |access-date=15 March 2013}}</ref> have been the most successful series of RTL II's prime-time slot. Its late-night line-up also featured North American series such as ''Autopsie – Mysteriöse Todesfälle'' and ''[[Flashpoint (TV series)|Flashpoint]]''.

=== Anime and children's programming ===
RTL II has offered the largest [[anime]] content of all free-to-air German-language TV channels.{{Citation needed|date=March 2013}} It aired about over 80 Anime series and also broadcast cartoons. On weekdays, RTL II also aired an anime afternoon in their children/youth "Pokito" slot. Following tensions with media authorities, RTL II's [[standards and practices]] department was believed{{by whom|date=May 2010}} to be especially sensitive about children's programming. As a consequence, the channel has cut scenes from anime series like [[Detective Conan]],<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.animedigital.de/conan-cuts.html |title=Animedigital-Conan Cuts |publisher=Animedigital.de |access-date=15 March 2013}}</ref> [[InuYasha]],<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.animedigital.de/Projekte/Inuyasha/ |title=Animedigital-Inuyasha Cuts |publisher=Animedigital.de |access-date=15 March 2013}}</ref> [[One Piece]]<ref>{{cite web|url=http://op-cuts.animedigital.de |title=Animedigital-One Piece Cuts |publisher=Op-cuts.animedigital.de |access-date=15 March 2013}}</ref> and [[Naruto]],<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.animedigital.de/naruto-cuts.html |title=Animedigital-Naruto Cuts |publisher=Animedigital.de |access-date=15 March 2013}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://archive.today/20131205152550/http://web.archive.org/web/20071212041145/www.schnittberichte.com/search.php?String=Naruto&Kat=Serie|title=Schnittberichte.com - Mehr als 3600 detaillierte Zensurberichte zu Fi…|date=12 December 2007|website=archive.ph}}</ref> for which it has received criticism from anime fans. Even some episodes where the original version had previously been given a [[Freiwillige Selbstkontrolle der Filmwirtschaft|FSK]] 6 rating, meaning that it was suitable for children ages 6 up and may legally be aired at all hours of the day, have been edited down.{{Citation needed|date=April 2012}} In February 2013, RTL II announced that its Sunday morning children's programme would be discontinued as of 21 April 2013. A separate and short-lived online channel for anime was launched in April.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.dwdl.de/nachrichten/39772/rtl_ii_verlagert_seine_animes_komplett_ins_internet/ |title=RTL II verlagert seine Animes komplett ins Internet |publisher=DWDL.de |date=26 February 2013 |access-date=15 March 2013}}</ref>

=== German premieres ===
RTL II was the first channel to introduce various foreign TV formats on German television such as:

*''The Final Countdown'': a show aired at the start of the new millennium lasting 24 hours and showing celebrations in various locations all over the world.
*''[[Popstars (German TV series)|Popstars]]'' in 2000 was the first casting show aired on German television.
*''Jack Point Jack'' in 2003 was the first interactive movie on German television.
*Bollywood movies: On 19 November 2004 RTL II aired Sometimes happiness, sometimes sadness (German: In guten wie in schweren Tagen - original title: [[Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham...|Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham]]), the first dubbed Bollywood movie on German television, and achieved an audience share of over 12.3% among the target group of 14- to 49-year-olds.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.dwdl.de/nachrichten/4317/bollywood_ist_fr_uns_ein_imageprodukt_rtl_ii_mag_es_indisch/ |title="Bollywood ist für uns ein Imageprodukt": RTL II mag es indisch |publisher=DWDL.de |access-date=15 March 2013}}</ref> Due to its success, Indian movies have been regularly aired on the channel ever since. Previously, Bollywood movies had been broadcast in Hindi with German subtitles on ARTE and VOX.

==Audience share==
===Germany===
{{Graph:Chart
  | width=500
  | height=300
  | yAxisTitle=Audience in %
  | xAxisTitle=Year
  | yAxisMin=0
  | yAxisMax=7
  | type=line
  | x=1993,1994,1995,1996,1997,1998,1999,2000,2001,2002,2003,2004,2005,2006,2007,2008,2009,2010,2011,2012,2013,2014,2015,2016,2017,2018,2019
  | y1=2.6,3.9,4.6,4.5,4,3.8,4,4.8,4,3.9,4.7,4.9,4.2,3.8,3.9,3.8,3.9,3.8,3.6,4,4.2,3.9,3.7,3.5,3.2,3,2.9
|yGrid= |xGrid= 
 }}
{| class="wikitable" style="width:100%; margin:auto; background:#ffffff;"
! style="background:#FFFFFF; color:#FFFFFF;" width="35px"|
! style="background:#100E0D; color:#FFFFFF;" width="60px"|January
! style="background:#100E0D; color:#FFFFFF;" width="60px"|February
! style="background:#100E0D; color:#FFFFFF;" width="60px"|March
! style="background:#100E0D; color:#FFFFFF;" width="60px"|April
! style="background:#100E0D; color:#FFFFFF;" width="60px"|May
! style="background:#100E0D; color:#FFFFFF;" width="60px"|June
! style="background:#100E0D; color:#FFFFFF;" width="60px"|July
! style="background:#100E0D; color:#FFFFFF;" width="60px"|August
! style="background:#100E0D; color:#FFFFFF;" width="60px"|September
! style="background:#100E0D; color:#FFFFFF;" width="60px"|October
! style="background:#100E0D; color:#FFFFFF;" width="60px"|November
! style="background:#100E0D; color:#FFFFFF;" width="60px"|December
! style="background:#000000; color:#FFFFFF;" width="75px"|Annual average
|-align="center"
|'''1993<ref>{{cite web|title=KEK/Zuschaueranteile 1993|url=http://www.kek-online.de/fileadmin/Download_KEK/Zuschaueranteile/Jaehrliche%20Zuschaueranteile%20seit%201990.pdf|website=kek-online.de|access-date=30 June 2017|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151208080954/http://www.kek-online.de/fileadmin/Download_KEK/Zuschaueranteile/Jaehrliche%20Zuschaueranteile%20seit%201990.pdf|archive-date=8 December 2015}}</ref>'''|| - || - || - || - || - || - || - || - || - || - || - || - ||2.6%
|-align="center"
|'''1994<ref>{{cite web|title=KEK/Zuschaueranteile 1994|url=http://www.kek-online.de/fileadmin/Download_KEK/Zuschaueranteile/Jaehrliche%20Zuschaueranteile%20seit%201990.pdf|website=kek-online.de|access-date=30 June 2017|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151208080954/http://www.kek-online.de/fileadmin/Download_KEK/Zuschaueranteile/Jaehrliche%20Zuschaueranteile%20seit%201990.pdf|archive-date=8 December 2015}}</ref>'''|| - || - || - || - || - || - || - || - || - || - || - || - ||{{increase}} 3.8%
|-align="center"
|'''1995<ref>{{cite web|title=KEK/Zuschaueranteile 1995|url=http://www.kek-online.de/fileadmin/Download_KEK/Zuschaueranteile/Jaehrliche%20Zuschaueranteile%20seit%201990.pdf|website=kek-online.de|access-date=30 June 2017|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151208080954/http://www.kek-online.de/fileadmin/Download_KEK/Zuschaueranteile/Jaehrliche%20Zuschaueranteile%20seit%201990.pdf|archive-date=8 December 2015}}</ref>'''|| - || - || - || - || - || - || - || - || - || - || - || - ||{{increase}} 4.6%
|-align="center"
|'''1996<ref>{{cite web|title=KEK/Zuschaueranteile 1996|url=http://www.kek-online.de/fileadmin/Download_KEK/Zuschaueranteile/Zuschaueranteile_1996.pdf|website=kek-online.de|access-date=30 June 2017|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151208070537/http://www.kek-online.de/fileadmin/Download_KEK/Zuschaueranteile/Zuschaueranteile_1996.pdf|archive-date=8 December 2015}}</ref>'''||4.6% ||4.1% ||4.4% ||4.8% ||4.5% ||4.3% ||4.6% ||4.5% ||4.6% ||4.6% ||4.5% ||4.1% ||{{decrease}} 4.5%
|-align="center"
|'''1997<ref>{{cite web|title=KEK/Zuschaueranteile 1997|url=http://www.kek-online.de/fileadmin/Download_KEK/Zuschaueranteile/Zuschaueranteile_1997.pdf|website=kek-online.de|access-date=30 June 2017|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151208081154/http://www.kek-online.de/fileadmin/Download_KEK/Zuschaueranteile/Zuschaueranteile_1997.pdf|archive-date=8 December 2015}}</ref>'''||4.1% ||4.4% ||4.3% ||4.1% ||4.2% ||4.0% ||3.8% ||3.6% ||3.6% ||4.2% ||3.8% ||3.9% ||{{decrease}} 4.0%
|-align="center"
|'''1998<ref>{{cite web|title=KEK/Zuschaueranteile 1998|url=http://www.kek-online.de/fileadmin/Download_KEK/Zuschaueranteile/Zuschaueranteile_1998.pdf|website=kek-online.de|access-date=30 June 2017|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151208071902/http://www.kek-online.de/fileadmin/Download_KEK/Zuschaueranteile/Zuschaueranteile_1998.pdf|archive-date=8 December 2015}}</ref>'''||3.7% ||3.9% ||3.9% ||4.1% ||3.8% ||3.4% ||3.6% ||3.9% ||3.8% ||3.8% ||3.7% ||3.6% ||{{decrease}} 3.8%
|-align="center"
|'''1999<ref>{{cite web|title=KEK/Zuschaueranteile 1999|url=http://www.kek-online.de/fileadmin/Download_KEK/Zuschaueranteile/Zuschaueranteile_1999.pdf|website=kek-online.de|access-date=30 June 2017|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151208080307/http://www.kek-online.de/fileadmin/Download_KEK/Zuschaueranteile/Zuschaueranteile_1999.pdf|archive-date=8 December 2015}}</ref>'''||3.6% ||3.4% ||3.4% ||3.7% ||4.0% ||3.9% ||4.4% ||4.5% ||4.6% ||4.3% ||4.2% ||4.2% ||{{increase}} 4.0%
|-align="center"
|'''2000<ref>{{cite web|title=KEK/Zuschaueranteile 2000|url=http://www.kek-online.de/fileadmin/Download_KEK/Zuschaueranteile/Zuschaueranteile_2000.pdf|website=kek-online.de|access-date=30 June 2017|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151208062528/http://www.kek-online.de/fileadmin/Download_KEK/Zuschaueranteile/Zuschaueranteile_2000.pdf|archive-date=8 December 2015}}</ref>'''||4.3% ||4.1% ||4.6% ||5.5% ||5.7% ||5.0% ||4.5% ||4.8% ||4.8% ||5.6% ||4.9% ||4.5% ||{{increase}} 4.8%
|-align="center"
|'''2001<ref>{{cite web|title=KEK/Zuschaueranteile 2001|url=http://www.kek-online.de/fileadmin/Download_KEK/Zuschaueranteile/Zuschaueranteile_2001.pdf|website=kek-online.de|access-date=30 June 2017|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151208052416/http://www.kek-online.de/fileadmin/Download_KEK/Zuschaueranteile/Zuschaueranteile_2001.pdf|archive-date=8 December 2015}}</ref>'''||4.4% ||3.9% ||3.9% ||4.0% ||4.0% ||4.0% ||3.7% ||4.0% ||4.0% ||4.3% ||4.2% ||3.8% ||{{decrease}} 4.0%
|-align="center"
|'''2002<ref>{{cite web|title=KEK/Zuschaueranteile 2002|url=http://www.kek-online.de/fileadmin/Download_KEK/Zuschaueranteile/Zuschaueranteile_2002.pdf|website=kek-online.de|access-date=30 June 2017|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151208075915/http://www.kek-online.de/fileadmin/Download_KEK/Zuschaueranteile/Zuschaueranteile_2002.pdf|archive-date=8 December 2015}}</ref>'''||4.1% ||3.7% ||4.1% ||4.0% ||4.5% ||4.1% ||4.3% ||4.1% ||4.2% ||3.4% ||3.2% ||3.2% ||{{decrease}} 3.9%
|-align="center"
|'''2003<ref>{{cite web|title=KEK/Zuschaueranteile 2003|url=http://www.kek-online.de/fileadmin/Download_KEK/Zuschaueranteile/Zuschaueranteile_2003.pdf|website=kek-online.de|access-date=30 June 2017|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170811223609/http://www.kek-online.de/fileadmin/Download_KEK/Zuschaueranteile/Zuschaueranteile_2003.pdf|archive-date=11 August 2017}}</ref>'''||4.1% ||4.2% ||4.0% ||4.8% ||5.1% ||5.6% ||5.1% ||4.9% ||4.7% ||4.8% ||4.6% ||4.6% ||{{increase}} 4.7%
|-align="center"
|'''2004<ref>{{cite web|title=KEK/Zuschaueranteile 2004|url=http://www.kek-online.de/fileadmin/Download_KEK/Zuschaueranteile/Zuschaueranteile_2004.pdf|website=kek-online.de|access-date=30 June 2017|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170811223445/http://www.kek-online.de/fileadmin/Download_KEK/Zuschaueranteile/Zuschaueranteile_2004.pdf|archive-date=11 August 2017}}</ref>'''||4.5% ||4.5% ||5.3% ||5.1% ||5.1% ||4.8% ||5.2% ||4.9% ||5.4% ||4.9% ||4.7% ||4.5% ||{{increase}} 4.9%
|-align="center"
|'''2005<ref>{{cite web|title=KEK/Zuschaueranteile 2005|url=http://www.kek-online.de/fileadmin/Download_KEK/Zuschaueranteile/Zuschaueranteile_2005.pdf|website=kek-online.de|access-date=30 June 2017|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151208075524/http://www.kek-online.de/fileadmin/Download_KEK/Zuschaueranteile/Zuschaueranteile_2005.pdf|archive-date=8 December 2015}}</ref>'''||4.4% ||4.7% ||4.4% ||4.0% ||4.4% ||4.3% ||4.2% ||4.0% ||4.0% ||4.3% ||3.9% ||3.7% ||{{decrease}} 4.2%
|-align="center"
|'''2006<ref>{{cite web|title=KEK/Zuschaueranteile 2006|url=http://www.kek-online.de/fileadmin/Download_KEK/Zuschaueranteile/Zuschaueranteile_2006.pdf|website=kek-online.de|access-date=30 June 2017|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151208053549/http://www.kek-online.de/fileadmin/Download_KEK/Zuschaueranteile/Zuschaueranteile_2006.pdf|archive-date=8 December 2015}}</ref>'''||3.8% ||3.6% ||3.7% ||3.9% ||3.8% ||3.4% ||3.9% ||4.0% ||3.8% ||3.9% ||3.9% ||3.8% ||{{decrease}} 3.8%
|-align="center"
|'''2007<ref>{{cite web|title=KEK/Zuschaueranteile 2007|url=http://www.kek-online.de/fileadmin/Download_KEK/Zuschaueranteile/Zuschaueranteile_2007.pdf|website=kek-online.de|access-date=30 June 2017|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151208063320/http://www.kek-online.de/fileadmin/Download_KEK/Zuschaueranteile/Zuschaueranteile_2007.pdf|archive-date=8 December 2015}}</ref>'''||3.4% ||3.7% ||3.7% ||4.1% ||4.0% ||4.1% ||4.2% ||4.1% ||3.7% ||3.8% ||3.8% ||3.9% ||{{increase}} 3.9%
|-align="center"
|'''2008<ref>{{cite web|title=KEK/Zuschaueranteile 2008|url=http://www.kek-online.de/fileadmin/Download_KEK/Zuschaueranteile/Zuschaueranteile_2008.pdf|website=kek-online.de|access-date=30 June 2017|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151208051855/http://www.kek-online.de/fileadmin/Download_KEK/Zuschaueranteile/Zuschaueranteile_2008.pdf|archive-date=8 December 2015}}</ref>'''||3.6% ||3.9% ||4.0% ||4.1% ||4.3% ||3.5% ||4.1% ||3.8% ||3.8% ||3.7% ||3.6% ||3.6% ||{{decrease}} 3.8%
|-align="center"
|'''2009<ref>{{cite web|title=KEK/Zuschaueranteile 2009|url=http://www.kek-online.de/fileadmin/Download_KEK/Zuschaueranteile/Zuschaueranteile_2009.pdf|website=kek-online.de|access-date=30 June 2017|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151208064703/http://www.kek-online.de/fileadmin/Download_KEK/Zuschaueranteile/Zuschaueranteile_2009.pdf|archive-date=8 December 2015}}</ref>'''||3.7% ||3.7% ||3.9% ||4.2% ||4.1% ||4.3% ||4.1% ||4.0% ||3.7% ||4.0% ||3.9% ||4.0% ||{{increase}} 3.9%
|-align="center"
|'''2010<ref>{{cite web|title=KEK/Zuschaueranteile 2010|url=http://www.kek-online.de/fileadmin/Download_KEK/Zuschaueranteile/Zuschaueranteile_2010.pdf|website=kek-online.de|access-date=30 June 2017|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151208045246/http://www.kek-online.de/fileadmin/Download_KEK/Zuschaueranteile/Zuschaueranteile_2010.pdf|archive-date=8 December 2015}}</ref>'''||3.8% ||3.8% ||4.0% ||4.0% ||4.0% ||3.5% ||3.9% ||3.9% ||3.7% ||3.7% ||3.7% ||3.6% ||{{decrease}} 3.8%
|-align="center"
|'''2011<ref>{{cite web|title=KEK/Zuschaueranteile 2011|url=http://www.kek-online.de/fileadmin/Download_KEK/Zuschaueranteile/Zuschaueranteile_2011.pdf|website=kek-online.de|access-date=30 June 2017|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151208055949/http://www.kek-online.de/fileadmin/Download_KEK/Zuschaueranteile/Zuschaueranteile_2011.pdf|archive-date=8 December 2015}}</ref>'''||3.4% ||3.5% ||3.4% ||3.5% ||3.6% ||3.7% ||3.7% ||3.7% ||3.6% ||3.7% ||3.7% ||3.8% ||{{decrease}} 3.6%
|-align="center"
|'''2012<ref>{{cite web|title=KEK/Zuschaueranteile 2012|url=http://www.kek-online.de/fileadmin/Download_KEK/Zuschaueranteile/Zuschaueranteile_2012.pdf|website=kek-online.de|access-date=30 June 2017|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170811223815/http://www.kek-online.de/fileadmin/Download_KEK/Zuschaueranteile/Zuschaueranteile_2012.pdf|archive-date=11 August 2017}}</ref>'''||3.6% ||3.7% ||3.9% ||3.8% ||4.0% ||3.7% ||4.3% ||4.1% ||4.1% ||4.2% ||4.5% ||4.3% ||{{increase}} 4.0%
|-align="center"
|'''2013<ref>{{cite web|title=KEK/Zuschaueranteile 2013|url=http://www.kek-online.de/fileadmin/Download_KEK/Zuschaueranteile/Zuschaueranteile_2013_.pdf|website=kek-online.de|access-date=30 June 2017|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304085629/http://www.kek-online.de/fileadmin/Download_KEK/Zuschaueranteile/Zuschaueranteile_2013_.pdf|archive-date=4 March 2016}}</ref>'''||3.9% ||4.1% ||4.1% ||4.1% ||4.3% ||4.1% ||4.3% ||4.4% ||4.0% ||4.2% ||4.4% ||4.3% ||{{increase}} 4.2%
|-align="center"
|'''2014<ref>{{cite web|title=KEK/Zuschaueranteile 2014|url=http://www.kek-online.de/fileadmin/Download_KEK/Zuschaueranteile/Zuschaueranteile2014.pdf|website=kek-online.de|access-date=30 June 2017|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160207091745/http://www.kek-online.de/fileadmin/Download_KEK/Zuschaueranteile/Zuschaueranteile2014.pdf|archive-date=7 February 2016}}</ref>'''||3.9% ||3.8% ||3.8% ||4.1% ||4.0% ||3.4% ||3.6% ||3.9% ||3.9% ||3.9% ||4.0% ||3.9% ||{{decrease}} 3.9%
|-align="center"
|'''2015<ref>{{cite web|title=KEK/Zuschaueranteile 2015|url=http://www.kek-online.de/fileadmin/Download_KEK/Zuschaueranteile/Zuschaueranteile2015.pdf|website=kek-online.de|access-date=30 June 2017|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170517075134/http://www.kek-online.de/fileadmin/Download_KEK/Zuschaueranteile/Zuschaueranteile2015.pdf|archive-date=17 May 2017}}</ref>'''||3.6% ||3.7% ||4.0% ||3.9% ||3.8% ||3.7% ||3.8% ||3.5% ||3.6% ||3.5% ||3.2% ||3.3% ||{{decrease}} 3.7%
|-align="center"
|'''2016<ref>{{cite web|title=KEK/Zuschaueranteile 2016|url=http://www.kek-online.de/fileadmin/Download_KEK/Zuschaueranteile/Zuschaueranteile_2016.pdf|website=kek-online.de|access-date=30 June 2017|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160228135342/http://www.kek-online.de/fileadmin/Download_KEK/Zuschaueranteile/Zuschaueranteile_2016.pdf|archive-date=28 February 2016}}</ref>'''||3.3% ||3.6% ||3.5% ||3.7% ||3.8% ||3.2% ||3.4% ||3.3% ||3.5% ||3.5% ||3.5% ||3.2% ||{{decrease}} 3.5%
|-align="center"
|'''2017<ref>{{cite web|title=KEK/Zuschaueranteile 2017|url=https://www.kek-online.de/fileadmin/user_upload/KEK/Medienkonzentration/Zuschaueranteil/Zuschaueranteile_2017.pdf|website=kek-online.de|access-date=10 February 2018|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171117174603/https://www.kek-online.de/fileadmin/user_upload/KEK/Medienkonzentration/Zuschaueranteil/Zuschaueranteile_2017.pdf|archive-date=17 November 2017}}</ref>'''||3.1% ||3.1% ||3.2% ||3.2% ||3.2% ||3.2% ||3.4% ||3.1% ||2.9% ||3.1% ||3.1% ||3.2% ||{{decrease}} 3.2%
|-align="center"
|'''2018<ref>{{cite web|title=KEK/Zuschaueranteile 2018|url=https://www.kek-online.de/fileadmin/user_upload/KEK/Medienkonzentration/Zuschaueranteil/Zuschaueranteile_2018.pdf|website=kek-online.de|access-date=17 May 2018|archive-date=16 February 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180216204815/https://www.kek-online.de/fileadmin/user_upload/KEK/Medienkonzentration/Zuschaueranteil/Zuschaueranteile_2018.pdf|url-status=dead}}</ref>'''||2.9% ||3.1% ||3.0% ||3.0% || || || || || || || || ||
|}

The average age of the viewers is 43.5 years (as of 2016).<ref>{{cite web|last1=Mantel|first1=Uwe|title=Langzeit-Entwicklung des TV-Markts: Wie die Sender gealtert sind - und wer sich dagegen stemmt|url=https://www.dwdl.de/magazin/60418/wie_die_sender_gealtert_sind__und_wer_sich_dagegen_stemmt/|website=dwdl.de|access-date=3 November 2017|date=14 March 2017}}</ref>

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
*[http://www.rtl2.de/ Official website] {{in lang|de}}

{{Television in Germany}}
{{RTL Group}}
{{Bertelsmann}}
{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Rtl Ii}}
[[Category:Television stations in Germany]]
[[Category:Television stations in Austria]]
[[Category:Television stations in Switzerland]]
[[Category:RTL Group]]
[[Category:Television channels and stations established in 1993]]
[[Category:Mass media in Munich]]