Broadcaster RTL Hungary is gearing up for a strong autumn season with new shows, as the company is facing its new seeks regarding content and new programs at international markets, according to Chief Content Officer Péter Kolosi, who offered some insights on this recently.
Kolosi talked about the company’s programming strategy for the second half of 2024, with a focus on major shows like formats The Traitors and The X Factor, as well as the broadcasting of UEFA Champions League matches.
Reflecting on the first half of the year, Kolosi expressed satisfaction with RTL Hungary’s market performance, particularly its ability to outpace rival TV2 in six out of eight months. ‘I’m very happy with our results this year’, he said.
The executive explained that the autumn lineup was designed to maintain RTL’s competitive edge, with an early launch of the popular reality show Sztárbox. This move was intended to get ahead of TV2‘s offerings. ‘Both commercial channels “tacticise” when making decisions about the autumn season’, he noted, underscoring the importance of timing in the network’s strategy.
Also, the second season of Sztárbox kicked off on September 1 and opened to even stronger ratings than its first season. Kolosi is confident in the show’s continued success, stating, ‘i’m sure that this autumn, like last year, this show will not only be the talk of television, but also one of the most popular topics in the country’.
Another addition to the lineup is Kalandra fal! (Adventure Wall!), a family-friendly game show featuring celebrities that debuted on September 2. Produced by UFA, the show aims to entertain a broad audience. ‘I think anyone who spends that one hour in front of the screen has a lot of fun’, Kolosi remarked.
One of the major highlights for RTL Hungary is securing the broadcasting rights for the UEFA Champions League starting with the 2024/25 season. The network will air 192 matches through its streaming service, RTL+, with select games available on linear TV. Kolosi emphasized the logistical challenges of managing such a large-scale broadcast operation, especially when covering multiple matches simultaneously. ‘I’m expecting a very exciting season. So football fans have to subscribe to RTL+ for exclusive access to key matches’.
As part of its football-focused content, RTL Hungary has also launched Kabát FC, a reality show with a football theme, designed to appeal to a wide audience. Kolosi told that the show aligns with the network’s broader strategy of offering light and accessible entertainment at the start of the autumn season.
In addition to sports programming, the broadcaster is bringing back several well known formats this autumn: The X Factor, which has been revamped with a new panel of mentors, and The Traitors, which will feature both celebrity and non-celebrity editions. ‘It’s very interesting how different it is when you have celebrities and when you have civilians – even the atmosphere is different’ he said.
Kolosi is also excited about the relaunch of Fort Boyard, which premiered on September 16. The iconic game show, originally developed in France, has been refreshed for Hungarian audiences. ‘I believe that Fort Boyard will be a new face in Hungarian television’, commented, adding that the production team enjoyed working on the show, and he hopes it resonates with viewers.
When asked about the challenges RTL Hungary might face this season, Kolosi referred to the ongoing competition for ratings. ‘The ratings race itself’, adding that, ‘much like a football match, the final outcome can only be evaluated later in the year’.
