Super RTL Live

Super RTL, a German-owned free-to-air TV network, is owned by the RTL Group. The channel was originally launched as a joint venture by the RTL Group’s predecessor company CLT–UFA and Disney’s Buena Vista International TV Investments division.

After Jeffrey Katzenberg’s resignation on August 24, 1994, Disney Company underwent a reorganization in which Richard Frank was appointed head of the newly created Disney Television and Telecommunications (DTT). This included Walt Disney Television International which owned Disney’s Super RTL stake. In 1995, the Luxembourgish CLT, owners of German RTL channels, made a deal to join Disney’s RTL Disney Fernsehen GmbH & Co.

Super RTL live finally launched 28 April 1995 with The New Adventures of Winnie the Pooh being its first program. DTT was split in April 1996 by Disney-CC/ABC. In the same month, Walt Disney Television International moved to Capital Cities/ABC. CC/ABC merged the international units of Walt Disney Television International (ACIBG) and CC/ABC International Television in July.

Fun & Action Tour is a Germany-wide event for children that was launched in 1997 with TV characters. Later, the tour was renamed to the Toggo Tour. The channel was voted the best-viewed channel among the target audience of 3-to-13 year-olds the following year.

The joint venture made a net profit in 1999 of DM 4.5 millions, launched its website, and established the Super RTL Licensing Agency, which will generate more revenue from TV licensing. In 2000, Claude Schmit became the new managing director of the venture.

The preschool program was also called “Toggolino” in 2000. Toggolino Club was established in 2002. It offers pre-school children educational content for a fee.