RTL Zwei

RTL Zwei (stylised as RTLZWEI; Zwei is German for two) is a youth-oriented free-to-air television channel in Germany. It was originally launched in 1993 as RTL2 and known from 1999 to 2019 as RTL II (though it was often called RTL2). Unlike most other German RTL channels, RTL Zwei is not entirely owned by RTL Group but is a joint venture with Bauer Media Group, The Walt Disney Company, and Leonine (formerly Tele München Gruppe).
==RTL2==
===1993–1996===
RTL2 started broadcasting in March 1993. The original look for RTL2 was created by Novocom in the United States; a similar logo was used by CBS affiliate KGAN from 1993 to 2004.
===1996–1999===
On 6 April 1996, RTL2 introduced its second logo; the channel's first logo was forced to be withdrawn because of its excessive similarities to KGAN's logo at the time.
==RTL II==
===1999–2009===
Since its renaming to RTL II in 1999, the channel’s logo consisted of two vertical lines (representing the Roman numeral "II") in a circle resembling a pause symbol, with the word RTL below it, reflecting its youth-oriented positioning.
====1999–2001====
====2001–2003====
====2003–2009====
The Logo was slightly redesigned in 2003, the ring was made thicker and smaller, while the letters were pushed together.
===2009–2019===
From 2009 to 2019, the II symbol was placed in a filled-in circle, rather than in a ring.
====2009–2011====
RTL II got a new logo and look on 28 June 2009. The English slogan It‘s fun was introduced, which lasted until 2 May 2016.
* DWDL.de (1 and 2)
* Presseportal
* Designbote
The HD channel was launched in December 2010, the same month that the newly-launched Sixx from the competing ProSiebenSat.1 network launched its HD feed.
* DWDL.de (German)
====2011–2015====
RTL II received another new look on 10 August 2011. This graphics package contained several glowing 3D elements.
* The Branding Source (English) (contains links to other websites covering the rebrand)
====2015–2019====
RTL II received a new graphics package on 2 February 2015 that replaced the previous glossy 3D look with a flat, multicoloured look. The graphics were designed by Mehappy, a Munich-based branding agency. The on-screen typeface continues to be Helvetica Neue, which was introduced in 2009. Its Competitor ProSieben, would rebranded ten days later on 12 February, with a new graphics package.
* The Branding Source (English)
* DWDL.de (German)
* W&V (German)
* Mehappy
On 2 May 2016, the slogan It’s fun. from 2009 was retired and replaced by Zeig mir mehr! (meaning Show me more!). The rest of the graphics package remained unchanged.
* DWDL.de (German)
==RTL Zwei==
===2019–present===
On 7 October 2019, RTL II was renamed to RTL Zwei (stylised as RTLZWEI) and introduced a new graphics package, designed by Mehappy (as in 2015). The pause symbol from the previous logos is now enclosed inside an open square frame, rather than a circle. The word zwei is written in full for the first time in the history of the channel. The channel continues to use the Helvetica Neue font that has been used since 2009, as well as the slogan Zeig mir mehr!, introduced in 2016.
All links in German unless specified.
* Broadband TV News (English)
* Design Tagebuch
* Presseportal
* Horizont.net
* DWDL.de
==References==
Category:Television channels in Germany
Category:RTL Group
Category:Bertelsmann
Category:RTL Deutschland
Category:German-language television channels in Switzerland
Category:The Walt Disney Company
Category:Bauer Media Group
Category:Tele München Gruppe
Category:Leonine
Category:The Walt Disney Company Germany
Category:1993
Category:1990s
Category:Television channels and stations established in 1993
Category:RTL Zwei