RTL II was originally scheduled to begin broadcasting on 26 September 1992; some TV guides were anticipating the channel's launch.

Recent efforts to move further towards quality programming with science magazine shows and documentaries have met with an indifferent audience response.

[citation needed] The channel's prime-time newscast RTL II News is frequently criticized[citation needed] for its selection of news stories, which cater to a younger audience; for example, it has been known to put a CD release or the launch of a new gaming console in the second headline slot directly after the day's top event.

[7] Among its prime-time line-up the channel's own docu soap productions such as Die Geissens – Eine schrecklich glamouröse Familie and Frauentausch are particularly successful.

Various US shows such as Game of Thrones[8] and The Walking Dead[9] have been the most successful series of RTL II's prime-time slot.

Even some episodes where the original version had previously been given a FSK 6 rating, meaning that it was suitable for children ages 6 up and may legally be aired at all hours of the day, have been edited down.

[citation needed] In February 2013, RTL II announced that its Sunday morning children's programme would be discontinued as of 21 April 2013.

[15] RTL II was the first channel to introduce various foreign TV formats on German television such as: The average age of the viewers is 43.5 years (as of 2016).