Film: the 20ies

1924              
The Anen brothers – François and Marcel – enthralled by radio broadcasting, install a transmitter in the attic of a house in rue Beaumont in Luxembourg. The name of this transmitter is Radio Luxembourg.

1925
After a trial period, Radio Luxembourg now broadcasts regularly, and the Anen brothers create the Association Radio Luxembourg to run the station. The brothers play records, broadcast sports results on Saturdays, and regularly invite an orchestra to play in their attic studio.

1927
Radio Luxembourg is now on air for two to three hours each week.

France adopts the Bokanowski law, which tightly regulates French radio broadcasting. At the same time the French Post and Telecom adopts restrictive new rules that make it hard for French radio pioneers to broadcast. As a result, they emigrate to Luxembourg.

1929
Businessmen from Paris and Luxembourg create the Société Luxembourgeoise d’Etudes Radiophoniques, and purchase the Anen brothers’ station. François Anen becomes technical head of the new company.

Film: the 30ies

1930
The Société Luxembourgeoise d’Etudes Radiophoniques obtains the exclusive licence for radio broadcasting from the Luxembourg government.

1931
The members of the Société Luxembourgeoise d’Etudes Radiophoniques found the Compagnie Luxembourgeoise de Radiodiffusion (CLR). The main shareholders are CSF, Paribas, Havas, Compagnie des Compteurs (Schlumberger) and the Banque Industrielle Belge.
                 
The construction of the transmitter site in Junglinster begins.

1932

Part of the Villa Louvigny – once a 17th century fort located in the heart of Luxembourg – is rented as headquarters for all radio activities except transmission.  

1933
An orchestra is founded under the direction of Henri Pensis, which will become the famous Orchestre Symphonique de Radio-Luxembourg.

Radio Luxembourg makes its first long wave broadcast in French, German and English, from the Villa Louvigny’s studios, using the most modern and powerful transmitter in Europe: the site in Junglinster. The international and multilingual programme is a huge success in Germany, Great Britain, France and Belgium, and astonishes CLR’s competitors.

Film: Radio Luxembourg - news in three languages

1934
Radio Luxembourg broadcasts live from the “Tour de France”, for the first time.
                                               
1936
A second Radio Luxembourg studio is set up, at 22 rue Bayard in Paris.
 
1937
Following the ongoing success of Radio Luxembourg, CLR buys the Villa Louvigny and extends the premises. 

1939
On the eve of war, the Luxembourg government, concerned about maintaining Luxembourg’s neutrality, asks CLR to stop broadcasting – a decision already considered by the management. Staff are made redundant, and operations are closed down.

Film: the 40ies

1940
On the day of the Nazi invasion, Radio Luxembourg installations are among the first objectives of the Wehrmacht in the Grand-Duchy. Four weeks later, German troops restart the station, using it for their communications needs until autumn 1940, when they incorporate it to the Reichsrundfunk network.

1944
American troops come to liberate the country. Broadcasting starts under US allied command after the transmitters – which have been damaged by the German army – are repaired.

1945
The Americans depart. The return to the Villa Louvigny is a bitter disappointment for re-hired staff, as most equipment has been destroyed and the Villa Louvigny plundered.

Radio Luxembourg begins broadcasting once more on 11 November 1945, with the famous words: “Bonjour le Monde, ici Radio Luxembourg.”

1948
An association of Radio Luxembourg admirers in France – Les Amis de Radio-Luxembourg – is born.

Film: the 50ies

1951
CLR’s new medium wave transmitter in Junglinster is inaugurated.

Radio Luxembourg transfers its English programme to medium wave 208. ‘Two-o-eight’ becomes a new reference for young Britons. Part of the broadcasting on medium wave is also occupied by a programme in German, Dutch and Luxembourgish. The success of Radio Luxembourg grows day by day.

1953
At the inauguration of the ‘new’ Villa Louvigny, the winged lion Alas Leoni dedit (it gave wings to the lion) is affixed to the front of the building.

1954
The management of CLR enters into a new era of broadcasting: television. On 1 July, CLR becomes CLT (Compagnie Luxembourgeoise de Télédiffusion) and begins the construction of a TV transmitter and studio in Dudelange.

1955
Télé Luxembourg – a TV channel in French – begins broadcasting within north-east France, Luxembourg and south Belgium.

1956
The medium wave transmitter is relocated from Junglinster to Marnach, to provide a better reception in England.

1957
A radio programme in German is reintroduced on medium wave 208. The programme is to become a phenomenal success. Years later, it will be renamed RTL – Der Oldie Sender, and will specialize in an ‘oldies’ format. Today we know it as RTL Radio, Die besten Hits aller Zeiten.

1959 
The radio programme in Luxembourgish is extended and transferred from medium wave to short wave 92.5. Today’s RTL Radio Lëtzebuerg is born.

Film: the 60ies

1969
A new TV programme in Luxembourgish is born. The two-hour mixed programming show, broadcast every Sunday – named Hei Elei Kuck Elei – is the predecessor of today’s RTL Télé Lëtzebuerg.

Film: the 70ies

1970
Powerful long wave transmitters are constructed in Beidweiler. The transmitters in Junglinster are to be used as back up.

1972
Télé Luxembourg makes its first colour broadcast. The success of the channel increases in north east France and south of Belgium.

1975
RTL Productions – a Luxembourg-based production company – is created. This is the predecessor of today’s BCE (Broadcasting Center Europe), RTL Group’s technical services provider.

1979
CLT buys the French TV-magazine TéléStar – created in 1976 – marking the company’s entry into the publishing business.

1984
The commercial TV channel RTL Plus is launched in partnership with UFA, a Bertelsmann company (today RTL Television, and market leader in Germany). On 2 January, the TV channel RTL Plus begins broadcasting a German programme from Luxembourg. The programme bears  the slogan ‘RTL Plus – the refreshingly different programme’ (‘Das erfrischend andere Programm’), and a new RTL Plus logo.

The launch of RTLplus

1987
The TV channels M6 in France and RTL-TVI in Belgium are launched.

CLT initially owns a 25 per cent stake in M6 which becomes a publicly listed company in September 1994.

Since February 2004, RTL Group has been recognised as the principal shareholder in Groupe M6 by the French media regulator, CSA, owning a 48.5 per cent economic interest.

Film of the launch of M6

1989
The Netherlands sees the launch of RTL Véronique (renamed RTL 4 in 1990), a TV channel in the Dutch language, while Atlantic 252 – a radio station in English – is launched in Ireland.

1991
The new building at Kirchberg is inaugurated: it will become the Group’s administrative and radio headquarters. TV activities remain in the now legendary Villa Louvigny.

Radio Luxembourg, the medium wave programme that contributed to the reputation of CLT in Europe – particularly the UK – for many decades, stops broadcasting on medium wave. This eventually leads to the shut-down of the station, though CLT is still present in the UK via Atlantic 252.

After the acquisition of a stake in Radio Contact in 1990, CLT launches the radio stations Bel RTL in Belgium and 104.6 RTL in Germany.
 
1993
The TV channel Vox is launched in Germany.

The TV channels RTL II in Germany and RTL 5 in the Netherlands are launched.

The company acquires a stake in Fun Radio, a French music radio station.

1995
Club RTL in Belgium and Super RTL in Germany – a joint venture with Disney – are launched.

Dutch-language radio and TV station, Veronica, is launched. The channel – based in Hilversum – is to become Yorin and Yorin FM in 2001.

RTL 2 – previously M40 – a French music radio station is launched.
 
1996
Following an agreement between CLT and the Luxembourgish government, the Orchestre Symphonique de RTL becomes the official state orchestra, and is renamed Grand Orchestre Philharmonique de Luxembourg.  

TV and radio stations in the Netherlands are united under a single organization, HMG (renamed RTL Nederland in 2004).

The opening ceremony of a second building at Kirchberg – the new TV centre – takes place. Television and radio are brought together on one site, and the Villa Louvigny is sold.

Téva, a digital thematic channel, is launched in France.

RTL7 is launched in Poland. This new TV channel in Polish – based in Warsaw and Luxembourg – is subsequently sold in 2001.

TPS, a new digital pay-TV offering, is launched in France. Plans for a similar offering in Germany – to be named Club RTL – are cancelled due to uncertainties surrounding technical stands and the high costs of broadcasting rights. Market conditions for TPS appear to be more favourable (20 per cent of TPS is subsequently sold to Suez Lyonnaise des Eaux and M6 in 1998).

Following the sale of Groupe TéléStar to EMAP, the Group decides to withdraw from the publishing business to focus on its strengths: television and radio.

1997
CLT-UFA is created. Bertelsmann, shareholder of UFA, and Audiofina, shareholder of CLT, merge their TV, radio and production businesses to create Europe’s leading commercial TV, radio and production company. The new company combines the strengths of CLT – a leader in pan-European broadcasting, and creator of the RTL brand – with historic UFA, a major player in broadcasting, production and rights.

As a result of the merger, CLT-UFA significantly reinforces its position in Germany, and becomes the major shareholder in RTL Television and RTL II. The move sees the merger of a number of major assets, including:

• TV
  Vox, Premiere
• Radio
  Radio NRW, Antenne Bayern, Radio Hamburg
• Production and rights
  UFA Sports, UFA Film, Trebitsch
  
  The company Ufa Film- und Fernseh-GmbH was founded in 1984 on the basis of the historic Hamburg-based Universum Film AG (UFA), which was founded in 1917. Its creation brought together the broadcasting and production business of Bertelsmann AG.

TV channels RTL Klub and Channel 5 are launched, in Hungary and the UK respectively. Channel 5 – the UK’s only purely advertising-based terrestrial channel – subsequently becomes Five in 2002.

Film of the launch of Channel 5

Film of the launch of RTL KLUB

The company purchases Havas Intermédiation, a French company with subsidiaries across Europe, mostly operating under the IP (‘Information et Publicité’) name. IP sells advertising space for CLT-UFA’s radio stations and TV channels. In 1998, IP’s national companies are integrated in the respective national stations and channels.  

Following the merger, CLT-UFA’s priority is to realise potential for synergies and to create new links between the various divisions and companies. CLT and UFA bring together their fiction rights to form CLT-UFA International. The newly created UFA Sports – Europe’s leading sports rights company – provides the TV channels with sports coverage. At the same time, channels start to share their knowledge.
 
1998
The EU Commission rejects the planned pay-TV merger of Premiere and DF1 (Kirch Group). The deal was designed to develop pay-TV in Germany through a restructured Premiere. In 1999, CLT-UFA sells its 45 per cent stake in Premiere to Kirch Group, and focuses on free-to-air TV.

1999
Groupe M6 becomes the main shareholder of the French football club FC Girondins de Bordeaux.

2000
CLT-UFA increases its stakes in Vox and Channel 5.

The merger of CLT-UFA and Pearson Televison – a London–based content production company – creates Europe’s leading integrated broadcaster and content provider: RTL Group. RTL Group is listed on the London, Brussels and Luxembourg stock exchanges. The merger significantly reinforces RTL Group’s position in the content business. Pearson Group’s stakes in Antena 3 – a Spanish TV channel – and in Channel 5 (today Five) are brought into RTL Group as part of the merger.

2001
Following a share swap with GBL, in which GBL exchanged its 30 per cent stake in RTL Group for a 25 per cent stake in Bertelsmann AG, Bertelsmann becomes majority shareholder of RTL Group. On 11 May, the European Commission approves RTL Group’s new shareholding structure. Bertelsmann now holds a 67 per cent majority in RTL Group.  

RTL Group, Canal Plus Group and Groupe Jean-Claude Darmon sign an agreement to merge their sports rights activities, creating Sportfive, the leading sports rights company.

RTL Group retreats from the UK radio market and the Polish TV market, selling Atlantic 252 to Teamtalk, and RTL 7 to ITI Group.

In December, Bertelsmann enters into an agreement with Pearson, to acquire Pearson’s 22 per cent stake in RTL Group.

2002
The final of the FremantleMedia (formerly Pearson Television) production Pop Idol wins a huge UK audience, inspiring the start of a successful international roll-out of the Idols format.

RTL Group acquires German news channel N-TV, plus various holdings in German radio stations from Holtzbrinck, including Radio NRW, Antenne Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, Antenne Thüringen, BB Radio, Antenne Niedersachsen, and Radio Brocken.

RTL Group delists from the London Stock Exchange but remains listed on the Brussels and Luxembourg stock exchanges.

2003
HMG is awarded a frequency for a new radio station, RTL FM, and improved coverage for Yorin FM.

2004
The Belgian family of RTL channels is expanded, with the launch of Plug TV (renamed Plug RTL in 2008).

Film Launch of Plug TV

M6 acquires Paris Première, a pay-TV channel based in Paris.

RTL Group launches the Croatian TV channel RTL Televizija, increasing the company’s presence in Eastern Europe.

Film Launch of RTL Televizija

RTL Group sells its interest in Sportfive and completes a new transaction with Advent International. Funds managed by Advent International and RTL Group form a new company that purchases the shares in Sportfive that were formerly held by RTL Group and Canal Plus Group. RTL Group holds 25 per cent of this new company.

RTL Group acquires an 11.6 per cent holding in Grupo Media Capital – a leading Portuguese television and media company – through the free-to-air broadcaster TVI.

2005
RTL Group celebrates the 50th anniversary of television broadcasts from Luxembourg.

M6 Group launches the free digital terrestrial channel, W9.

RTL Group acquires a 30 per cent shareholding in the Russian TV network, Ren TV.

The Group buys the remaining shares in the UK TV channel Five, taking RTL Group’s shareholding to 100 per cent.

2006
In the UK, Five launches two new digital thematic channels – Five Life and Five US. Meanwhile, in Germany, RTL Television launches RTL Crime, RTL Living and Passion (a joint venture with UFA).

RTL Group sells its stake in the sports and marketing company Sportfive.

2007
RTL Group sells its entire shareholding in the Portuguese media company Grupo Media Capital to Grupo Prisa.

RTL Nederland launches the family’s fourth free-TV channel, RTL 8.

The asset deal between RTL Group and John de Mol’s Talpa Media Holding – which brought Radio 538 into the Group – is closed.

RTL Radio in France launches the digital radio station RTL L’Equipe.

2008

RTL Group acquires 66.6 per cent of Alpha Media Group in Greece.

RTL Group and FremantleMedia jointly launch UFA Cinema and re-establish the marketing agency UFA Sports.

RTL Interactive acquires a 49 per cent stake in the internet platform Wer-kennt-wen.de, and sells RTL Shop to Aurelius.

Groupe M6 acquires Cyréalis Group and launches Girondins TV.

RTL Nederland launches the first news channel for mobile phones: RTL 24.

2009

RTL Interactive acquires Wer-kennt-wen.de’s remaining shareholdings as part of the existing partnership agreement.

FremantleMedia acquires a 75 per cent stake in Original Productions, the US-based creator of hit television shows such as Ice Road Truckers, Deadliest Catch, Monster Garage and Ax Men.

Alpha Media Group sells the radio stations Alpha 98.9 and Palmos 96.5.

RTL Nederland launches RTL Lounge – the fifth TV channel in its portfolio – a special-interest digital channel that broadcasts the best Dutch and foreign drama and lifestyle programmes. In October, RTL Nederland also launches RTL Lounge Radio.

Alpha Media Group sells the TV channel Kanali 9 Thessaloniki.

RTL Radio Deutschland sells its stake in Antenne Mecklenburg-Vorpommern.

2010

RTL Nederland acquires Radio 10 Gold from Talpa Radio.

FremantleMedia buys a further 25 per cent stake of production company Blu, taking its ownership to 100 per cent, and acquires 100 per cent of Netherlands-based independent production company FourOne Media.

RTL Group sells Five Group (“Five”) to the Northern & Shell company owned by British publisher Richard Desmond.

Grupo Antena 3 is test-launching its third digital channel on 2 August. Called Nitro, the new channel takes up its regular operation from 23 August, and caters primarily to men aged 35 to 55.

RTL Group sells its stake in Content Union.

RTL Nederland launches the new radio station VI Radio.

2011

In Croatia, RTL Televizija launches a second channel: RTL 2.

RTL Nederland starts a new digital radio station named Radio 53Z8.

RTL Nederland acquires the Dutch radio station Slam FM and its TV sister channel Slam TV.

RTL Nederland launches a second digital chnnel: RTL Crime.

2012

RTL Group exercises its put option towards John de Mol’s Talpa Media Holding. Following this put option, RTL Group gets back Talpa Media’s 26.3 per cent minority shareholding in RTL Nederland in exchange for 100 per cent of the shares in Radio 538. In addition, Talpa Medial also takes over Radio 10 Gold and Slam FM from RTL Nederland.