Overview

• RTL aired the final episode of “RTL Direkt” on July 23, concluding the 22:15 news magazine that launched in August 2021
• Programming chief Inga Leschek attributed the cancellation to shifting viewer habits and the goal of reducing channel-switch points
• Pinar Atalay, solo anchor since Jan Hofer’s departure in August 2024, will continue as part of the core team for “RTL Aktuell”
• RTL is developing a Berlin-based talk show with Atalay to debut on ntv this autumn, though formal details remain under wraps
• The decision reflects RTL’s broader strategy to reallocate resources from pre-recorded late-night programs toward live primetime event coverage