Original programming
Along with HRT and Nova TV, RTL is one of the three networks that air the largest amount of original television programming in Croatia. In recent years, the channel usually slots original series during the week in the evening, from around 17:00 CET, with the network's major shows airing in the prime time (20:15 to 22:00 CET). Earlier parts of the day are usually reserved for acquired programming and for re-runs of the shows from the previous day.[11]
News programming
RTL broadcasts its own news program daily. Currently, the main news program titled RTL Danas (transl. RTL Today) airs its short news program at 16:30 CET every day excluding Friday, followed by the main news program airing daily from 19:00 to 20:15 CET. RTL Danas, which was previously known as RTL Vijesti (transl. RTL News), covers the most prominent political, cultural and other news of the day that are relevant in Croatia and in the world.[12]
As of April 2015, a 30-minute late-night news program titled RTL Direkt airs Monday to Thursday, usually around 22:15 CET.[13] Although Direkt mostly recaps political and other events featured in RTL Danas, it also focuses on covering popular culture, an example being a special episode aired 13 May 2024 which was dedicated to the review of the 2024 Eurovision Song Contest.[14] Direkt usually features guests, varying from political persons, celebrities, experts in certain fields and other notable people. Its current host is Mojmira Pastorčić, who replaced Zoran Šprajc in 2022.[15]
Scripted series
RTL is known for Zabranjena ljubav, the first Croatian soap opera. It premiered in 2004 and aired over 800 episodes.[16] RTL also aired various original drama and comedy series through the years.
• Zabranjena ljubav (2004–2011)
• Bibin svijet (2006–2011)
• Sudnica (2006)
• Krim Tim 2 (2007)
• Ne daj se, Nina (2007–2008)
• Moja 3 zida (2009)
• Instruktor (2010)
• Krv nije voda (2011–2022)
• Ruža vjetrova (2011–2013)
• Tajne (2013–2014)
• Vatre ivanjske (2014–2015)
• Horvatovi (2015–2016)
• Prava žena (2016–2017)
• Dragi susjedi (2018)
• Pogrešan čovjek (2018–2019)
Reality series
A large chunk of RTL's original programming consists of reality series, which are mostly Croatian adaptations of foreign reality show formats. In September 2004, RTL began airing Big Brother, its first reality series. The finale of the first season reached a record audience of 1.8 million viewers.[17] The series went on to air seven seasons, concluding in May 2018.
The channel aired various dating reality series, the first being Scrolovka in 2004. Ljubav je na selu (transl. Love is at the Countryside), a Croatian iteration of Farmer Wants a Wife, premiered in September 2008, and is one of the longest-running Croatian reality series, having entered its seventeenth season in May 2024.[18] RTL also aired Croatian iterations of other popular dating series such as Brak na prvu (Married at First Sight) and Gospodin Savršeni (The Bachelor).[19]
Cooking and food-related reality series are also a part of RTL's staple programming. Večera za 5 (transl. Dinner for Five, based on Come Dine with Me), has been on air since 2007. The series was re-branded as Večera za 5 na selu (transl. Dinner for Five at the Countryside) from 2019 to 2022 until returning to its original title in 2023.
Game show series
• Veto (2004, based on Das Quiz mit Jörg Pilawa)
• Fear Factor (2006–2007, based on Fear Factor)
• Kunolovac (2007)
• Pobjedi Šolu (2009, based on Schlag den Raab)
• Tog se nitko nije sjetio! (2013, based on Pointless)
• Tko će ga znati? (2013)
• Pet na Pet (2014–2018, based on Family Feud)
• Kolo sreće (2015–2020, based on The Wheel of Fortune)
• Direktor svemira (2021, based on Taskmaster)
• Ma lažeš! (2021)
• Dođi, pogodi, osvoji (2021–, based on The Price Is Right)
• Tko bi rekao (2026)[24]
Other notable programming
• Sanja (2004, a talk-show hosted by Sanja Doležal)[25]
• Exkluziv Tabloid (2004, a lifestyle and celebrity gossip series with spin-offs such as Exkluziv Fashion and Exkluziv Vikend)
• Galileo (2011–2015, an educational series)
• Studio 45 (2011–2014, a talk-show)
• InDizajn s Mirajnom Mikulec (2012–, an interior design series)
• Ludi bar (2019, a talk-show)
• Gradi(ona) (2021–, an exterior and interior design series)
• Stanje nacije (2022–, a political satire series hosted by Zoran Šprajc)
• Dosje Jarak (2023–, a true-crime documentary)[26]
News programming
RTL broadcasts its own news program daily. Currently, the main news program titled RTL Danas (transl. RTL Today) airs its short news program at 16:30 CET every day excluding Friday, followed by the main news program airing daily from 19:00 to 20:15 CET. RTL Danas, which was previously known as RTL Vijesti (transl. RTL News), covers the most prominent political, cultural and other news of the day that are relevant in Croatia and in the world.[12]
As of April 2015, a 30-minute late-night news program titled RTL Direkt airs Monday to Thursday, usually around 22:15 CET.[13] Although Direkt mostly recaps political and other events featured in RTL Danas, it also focuses on covering popular culture, an example being a special episode aired 13 May 2024 which was dedicated to the review of the 2024 Eurovision Song Contest.[14] Direkt usually features guests, varying from political persons, celebrities, experts in certain fields and other notable people. Its current host is Mojmira Pastorčić, who replaced Zoran Šprajc in 2022.[15]
Scripted series
RTL is known for Zabranjena ljubav, the first Croatian soap opera. It premiered in 2004 and aired over 800 episodes.[16] RTL also aired various original drama and comedy series through the years.
• Zabranjena ljubav (2004–2011)
• Bibin svijet (2006–2011)
• Sudnica (2006)
• Krim Tim 2 (2007)
• Ne daj se, Nina (2007–2008)
• Moja 3 zida (2009)
• Instruktor (2010)
• Krv nije voda (2011–2022)
• Ruža vjetrova (2011–2013)
• Tajne (2013–2014)
• Vatre ivanjske (2014–2015)
• Horvatovi (2015–2016)
• Prava žena (2016–2017)
• Dragi susjedi (2018)
• Pogrešan čovjek (2018–2019)
Reality series
A large chunk of RTL's original programming consists of reality series, which are mostly Croatian adaptations of foreign reality show formats. In September 2004, RTL began airing Big Brother, its first reality series. The finale of the first season reached a record audience of 1.8 million viewers.[17] The series went on to air seven seasons, concluding in May 2018.
The channel aired various dating reality series, the first being Scrolovka in 2004. Ljubav je na selu (transl. Love is at the Countryside), a Croatian iteration of Farmer Wants a Wife, premiered in September 2008, and is one of the longest-running Croatian reality series, having entered its seventeenth season in May 2024.[18] RTL also aired Croatian iterations of other popular dating series such as Brak na prvu (Married at First Sight) and Gospodin Savršeni (The Bachelor).[19]
Cooking and food-related reality series are also a part of RTL's staple programming. Večera za 5 (transl. Dinner for Five, based on Come Dine with Me), has been on air since 2007. The series was re-branded as Večera za 5 na selu (transl. Dinner for Five at the Countryside) from 2019 to 2022 until returning to its original title in 2023.
Game show series
• Veto (2004, based on Das Quiz mit Jörg Pilawa)
• Fear Factor (2006–2007, based on Fear Factor)
• Kunolovac (2007)
• Pobjedi Šolu (2009, based on Schlag den Raab)
• Tog se nitko nije sjetio! (2013, based on Pointless)
• Tko će ga znati? (2013)
• Pet na Pet (2014–2018, based on Family Feud)
• Kolo sreće (2015–2020, based on The Wheel of Fortune)
• Direktor svemira (2021, based on Taskmaster)
• Ma lažeš! (2021)
• Dođi, pogodi, osvoji (2021–, based on The Price Is Right)
• Tko bi rekao (2026)[24]
Other notable programming
• Sanja (2004, a talk-show hosted by Sanja Doležal)[25]
• Exkluziv Tabloid (2004, a lifestyle and celebrity gossip series with spin-offs such as Exkluziv Fashion and Exkluziv Vikend)
• Galileo (2011–2015, an educational series)
• Studio 45 (2011–2014, a talk-show)
• InDizajn s Mirajnom Mikulec (2012–, an interior design series)
• Ludi bar (2019, a talk-show)
• Gradi(ona) (2021–, an exterior and interior design series)
• Stanje nacije (2022–, a political satire series hosted by Zoran Šprajc)
• Dosje Jarak (2023–, a true-crime documentary)[26]
Acquired programming
The channel mostly acquires English-language programming, as well as a smaller chunk of regional (Serbian or Slovene) programming. Throughout late 2000s and early 2010s, RTL aired popular American sitcoms such as Family Matters (1989–1998), Full House (1987–1994), How I Met Your Mother (2005–2014), Malcolm in the Middle (2000–2005), Step by Step (1991–1997), and The Nanny (1993–1998).[27] During this period, Spanish-language telenovelas were also popular on the channel, including Dame Chocolate (2007) and El Rostro de Analía (2008–2009), until Turkish series such as Muhteşem Yüzyıl (2011–2014) took over in the early 2010s.[28] Most of such programs were moved to RTL 2 after its launch in 2011, and later to RTL Passion. Serbian series that aired on the channel include Južni vetar (2022) and Toma (2023–2024).
Before launching RTL Kockica in 2014, the channel also focused on programming for children, airing animated series every day in the morning. Croatian dubs of series such as Ben 10 (2005–2008), Dexter's Laboratory (1995–2003), PopPixie (2011), Strawberry Shortcake
Sports
Throughout all of its daily news programs, RTL Televizija has broadcast daily sports news throughout all of its daily news programs. The Croatian national football team used to broadcast its away matches there between 2004 and 2007. Since 2008, HRT has been broadcasting these matches once again.
RTL Televizija occasionally also broadcast boxing bouts and the highlights of the Red Bull Air Race events. They also bought the TV rights for all the matches of the 2009 World Men's Handball Championship, which was held in Croatia. This proved to be a big hit to Croatia's public broadcaster HRT, who even threatened to take legal action against RTL after they refused to sell them the rights to broadcast the match highlights during their news programs.[30]
