Super RTL Showcases New Lineup

COLOGNE: Among the shows added to Super RTL’s 2011 lineup is the hit U.S. series Glee, to be featured in the channel’s revamped prime-time grid.

At a special presentation in Cologne-Deutz, Claude Schmit, Super RTL’s managing director, and Carsten Göttel, head of programming, outlined the upcoming schedule for the channel. “Our shareholders put together a lavish package of films and series,” said Göttel. “Besides Toy Story 2 and Camp Rock 2, the series are going to be instrumental in upgrading our prime time.”

Glee joins the schedule in January 2011. “We will probably schedule the series somewhere close to Deutschland sucht den Superstar: Das Magazin,” said Schmit.

Super RTL will begin airing the remake of the classic Knight Rider, along with Merlin and Star Wars: The Clone Wars in prime time in October—the latter two will make their German premiere on Super RTL. Göttel explained the strategy: “We want to use prime time to show child-friendly adult programming for the whole family rather than children’s programming.”

Highlights of the new afternoon lineup include the new series Angelo Rules and Sally Bollywood as well as Teenage Rockstar Sommercamp. The talent show will be seen on Super RTL as of September. Ten finalists will compete for the title of Teenage Rockstar 2010. Super RTL will also be launching Zoom, a new celebrity magazine of its own, moderated by Nina Mogghadam. The series air early evenings. “Only on Super RTL will viewers see the stars seen in Bravo magazine, too, like Miley Cirus,” added Göttel. New additions to the program include the Disney series Kick Buttowski, Tripp’s Rockband and Meine Schwester Charlie.

On the preschool roster, Toggolino, there will be new episodes of hits such as Bob the Builder and Timmy Time, and there are brand-new formats: the animated series Dschungel, Dschungel! and the commissioned production Gustav, which brings the eponymous mascot of the parenting magazine Eltern onto German TV screens.

Super RTL will also be bringing music to its preschoolers’ programming in a cooperation with the children’s songwriter Detlev Jöcker. The music-and-dance clips tell stories from the everyday worlds of nursery school and preschool children.

“The new program lineup marks a new beginning for us,” commented Schmit. “I believe that we will be able to win over a wide range of viewers with our content, allowing us to grow our market share among 14- to 49-year-olds as well.”