It's been exactly a year since RTL went on the offensive with a new news format. For the anniversary, the balance of "RTL Direkt" is all positive - even if the team around Jan Hofer and Pinar Atalay probably had no idea that it would get so busy.
"RTL Direkt" is one year old - and the makers can be extremely satisfied. The news program, which can usually be seen at 10:15 p.m., has achieved a high rating among the young target group. Exactly one year ago, on August 16, 2021, the format was launched.
The past twelve months have been more stressful than he expected, anchorman Jan Hofer reports. "Everyone probably knew that a completely new project would be exciting. But the fact that the show was changing at such a pace was probably a special challenge for everyone."
The workload was enormous. "Time for private things or other projects shrank to a minimum. My family had to show a lot of understanding this year because dad was almost always absent, either in time or mentally," regrets Hofer.
Pinar Atalay, the format's other figurehead, has also had, in his own words, "an extraordinary and challenging" year. "Election campaign, new government, Corona and above all the war in Ukraine. That's what's special about my job as a news journalist and presenter of a news magazine, you never know what's coming and face new topics every day."
Atalay accepts the task gratefully: "I'm glad that with 'RTL Direkt' we can reliably classify the world for our viewers so that they are well informed." Just like Hofer, she has had a long public service career. You, the ex-"Daily Topics" moderator. He, the ex-"Tagesschau" chief spokesman.
How has the show changed? Above all, the content has changed, explains Hofer: "We have developed from a focus-oriented program with relatively long talk parts to a more newsworthy magazine that depicts the day more comprehensively. Politically, socially and also sportingly." For this purpose, the viewers were constantly asked what interests them. Film contributions are deepened and classified with studio guests.
Atalay also emphasizes that the team questions “every day in the editorial work, whether we were really on the right track with the topics, which interlocutor is the right person, which expert we still need for the article. That is part of a news magazine, standstill and laziness do not fit into the news -Life."
According to Atalay, the young generation in particular has an increasing need for information in an increasingly complex world. "In a present that causes many concerns - from Corona to the energy crisis, fears for the future and financial worries. We are there to satisfy this need and to present the news in such a way that young people also feel included in their living environment."
This also explains Atalay's appeal to younger viewers in particular. Among 14 to 49 year olds, "RTL Direkt" has an average market share of 9.6 percent on Mondays to Thursdays, ahead of "Tagesthemen" (8.2 percent) and "heute-journal" (9.5 percent).
The moderators provide explanations for new crises in particular - this accumulation does not leave them untouched. "After so many years, the concentrated preoccupation with the crises of this world still weighs on me," says Hofer. "That hasn't changed at all and gives me many a night where I sleep badly and where I have nightmares. Then I regularly need a few days away from my family to understand that this world, alongside the many catastrophes, also has a livable side that is worth fighting for."
According to Hofer, "RTL Direkt" therefore tries to find a conciliatory conclusion at the end of each program that tells people: "Look here, the situation is serious, but by no means hopeless." The anchorman's conclusion on world events: "We have a chance, but we have to do a hell of a lot for it and unfortunately say goodbye to some of the things we have taken for granted."
