RTL 7

RTL 7 is a Dutch free-to-cable television channel that was launched as Veronica on 1 September 1995. RTL 7 is RTL Nederland's "men's channel"[1] with action films, reality television about crime and professions, soccer, motorsport and talk shows about sports. During daytime business and financial news channel RTL Z was broadcasting on RTL 7 until RTL Nederland revamped RTL Z into a 24-hours channel on 7 September 2015.[2][3]

This article is about the Dutch TV channel. For the rebranded Polish RTL 7, see TVN 7.
RTL 7
Country
HeadquartersHilversum, Netherlands
Programming
Picture format
Ownership
OwnerRTL Group
ParentRTL Nederland
Sister channels
History
Launched1 September 1995 (1995-09-01)
Former names
  • Veronica (1995-2001)
  • Yorin (2001-2005)
Links
Websitertl7.nl
Availability
Terrestrial
DigitenneChannel 7 (HD)
DTT (Luxembourg)498 MHz (SD)
Streaming media
Ziggo GOZiggoGO.tv (Europe only)
KPN iTV OnlineWatch live (Europe only)

Officially RTL 7 along with RTL 4, RTL 5 and RTL 8 is headquartered in Hilversum, broadcasting under a Luxembourg TV license. This allows them to avoid more severe control by the Dutch media authorities as Luxembourg's television watchdog is less strict. Yorin used to be licensed in the Netherlands, but moved to Luxembourg after the RTL 7 rebrand.[4] There is a 40 kW DVB-T transmitter on the Dudelange Radio Tower in Luxembourg[5] that broadcasts the channel free-to-air, but the main audience in the Netherlands needs a subscription to a cable, satellite, IPTV, or DVB-T provider to get access. All providers include the channel in their base package.

History

Veronica (1995-2001)
RTL 7's logo as Veronica

The channel began as Veronica on 1 September 1995, and was a joint venture between RTL 4, RTL 5 and Veronica Association (in Dutch: Vereniging Veronica), and with the radio station Hitradio Veronica in the Holland Media Groep.

The Veronica Organisation had been a public broadcasting association since 1 January 1976[6] but left the Dutch Public Broadcasting system in 1995 and started a commercial channel.

In the first year it broadcasts a lot of American TV series, such as Beverly Hills, 90210, Melrose Place and Baywatch, films, Dutch programmes ranging from game shows to talk shows and Dutch TV series, such as Flodder and Onderweg naar Morgen. By the end of its first year Veronica dropped the news-related programmes and established its place in the Dutch television market as a young adult channel with programmes of a provocative nature. In the next years Veronica proved to be a pioneer in television making by introducing a wide range of reality shows with a real breakthrough when it launched the reality game show Big Brother in 1999.[7]

In 2000 Veronica announced it would leave the joint venture and wanted to start a channel of its own.[8] Eventually, Veronica Association closed a deal with SBS in 2003.

Main article: Veronica TV

Yorin (2001-2005)
RTL 7's old logo as Yorin

RTL had to change the name of the station. At first RTL came up with ME but a fashion label in the Netherlands WE complained about the similarity with its name.[9] Finally RTL rebranded Veronica to Yorin on 2 April 2001. Yorin referred to the English phrase "You're in". The Dutch version of The Price is Right, Cash en Carlo, referenced this fact when announcer Eddy Keur told contestants "Yorin the game!" when they came on down to Contestant's Row. All programmes previously on Veronica and also the television presenters moved to Yorin.[10] RTL didn't want to add RTL into the name so the channel would keep its own identity.[11]

In the auctioning off of FM radio frequencies called ZeroBase, Holland Media Group acquired a lot allowing them to broadcast a popular music station virtually nationwide; this station was called Yorin FM with its most notable DJs being Rob Stenders, Robert Jensen and Henk Westbroek. In 2006, due to disappointing results, Holland Media Group sold the station to SBS Broadcasting, who rebranded it Caz! and changed the programming to a fully middle-of-the-road all-music formula.

RTL 7 (2005-)
Logo from 2005 to 2010
Logo from 2010 to 2017
Logo from 2017 to 2023

When Dutch media tycoon and Big Brother-inventor John de Mol announced the launch of a TV channel named Talpa, and contracted many popular Dutch TV hosts, the RTL Group felt the need to reorganize its channels. Apart from a physical renewal, the setup of its channels RTL 4, RTL 5 and Yorin were changed. To emphasize the three channels' connection, the name Yorin was replaced by RTL 7 on 12 August 2005. Practically all former Yorin shows were moved to RTL 5, whereas that RTL 5's programmes continued on RTL 7. RTL Z also moved from RTL 5 to RTL 7.[12]

The origin of the number 7, instead of a more logical 6, goes back to 1995 when the original channel Veronica was founded. Around the same time, the commercial channels SBS 6 and TMF appeared and also claimed channel 6 on the remote control. Veronica and TMF lost the battle for remote control button 6. Also, SBS 6 was originally managed by Fons van Westerloo, who later became head of RTL Nederland before the rebranding operation.[13]

On 15 October 2009 RTL Nederland started simulcasting their RTL 7 and RTL 8 channels in 1080i high-definition.[14]

Programming

RTL 7 broadcasts a large number of sports programmes such as football, darts and motorsports, but in which motorsports is their main broadcast item. This include live coverage of Formula One and the MotoGP as the most notable. But also the A1 Grand Prix, Dakar Rally and the Indianapolis 500 are broadcast live on RTL 7. Movies, series and entertainment programmings also broadcast on this channel.

Imported

Football

Motorsports

Teletext

RTL 7 offered a teletext service which stopped on 1 April 2017. The pages 888/889 are still available for subtitles.[15]

References
  1. "Full year results 2020 financial report" (PDF). RTL Group. p. 41.
  2. "RTL 7: de enige echte mannenzender van Nederland". RTL Nederland. Retrieved November 25, 2012.
  3. Jarco Kriek. "Nederland is met RTL Z TV zender rijker". Totaal TV. Retrieved 7 September 2015.
  4. "Luxemburg: Geen uitzendlicentie Yorin aangevraagd | DutchMedia Blog 2003-2012".
  5. "Emetteur Dudelange (Ginsterberg) (Luxemburg) - DVB-T transmitter & mux detailed information (frequency, modulation, channels)". www.satbroadcasts.com. Retrieved 2021-03-26.
  6. Piet (May 21, 2010). "'76 – '94 Veronica aan land". VeronicaStory.nl.
  7. "Veronica (HMG)". Beeldengeluidwiki.nl. Retrieved November 25, 2012.
  8. Piet (July 10, 2009). "VERONICA STAPT UIT DE HMG, 'De daad van een waanzinnige'?". VeronicaStory.nl.
  9. "Modeketen WE vecht naam tv-zender aan". NRC Handelsblad. December 9, 2000.
  10. "Veronica wordt 'Yorin'". NRC Handelsblad. March 29, 2000.
  11. Japke D. Bouman & Dirk Limburg (February 24, 2001). "Hoor me, kijk me, voel me, beweeg me". NRC Handelsblad.
  12. "RTL Z verhuist naar nieuwe zender RTL 7: RTL Nederland hergroepeert haar televisiezenders. RTL Z verhuist naar de nieuwe zender RTL 7, Yorin verdwijnt". RTL Nederland. June 28, 2005.
  13. "Veronica (HMG)". Beeldengeluidwiki.nl. Retrieved November 25, 2012.
  14. "RTL 7 en RTL 8 vanaf 15 oktober te ontvangen in HD". RTL Nederland. October 10, 2009.
  15. "RTL".
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