Media pioneer Helmut Thoma: A life's work that made RTL big!

Media pioneer Helmut Thoma: A life's work that made RTL big!

On May 3, 2023, the prominent media manager Helmut Thoma died in Vienna, on his 86th birthday. Thoma was considered one of the most influential personalities in the media industry and played a crucial role in the development of German private television. Especially in the 80s and 90s, he made a name for himself as managing director of the broadcaster RTL and shaped the face of television in Germany and Austria. His death, confirmed by various media outlets, marks the end of an era in broadcasting.

Thoma grew up in Vienna and began his career in the Austrian broadcaster ORF. From there he moved to Radio Luxembourg and was involved in the founding of the German private television channel RTL in 1984. Under his leadership, RTL developed from a small team of 25 employees into one of the largest media companies in Europe. The number of viewers rose steadily, and RTL achieved annual market shares of over 17 percent. These successes led to him and his then business partner Erich Staake managing the station's fortunes until 1998.

Television visionary

Thoma saw television as a service for the audience. His focus on the needs of the audience was a central aspect of his philosophy. At a time when television in Germany was just beginning to change, he made a significant contribution to the introduction of new program formats and opened the way for diversity in private television. These developments were a significant step in the emergence of the dual broadcasting system in Germany, which began with the introduction of RTL and Sat.1 in the 1980s.

However, the history of television goes back a long way and is a continuous development process. Visionaries like Paul Nipkow recognized the possibility of image transmission as early as the 19th century, while various technical innovations shaped television over the course of the 20th century. In 1950, a five-hour daily television program was broadcast in the Federal Republic of Germany, with the focus on education. With the introduction of RTL, the offering was finally diversified and new formats such as comedy and reality TV emerged, which enriched the viewing experience. [planet-wissen.de](https://www.planet-wissen.de/kultur/medien/ Fernsehengeschichte_in_deutschland/index.html) has documented the development of television in detail.

Helmut Thoma will be remembered as one of the most colorful figures in the Austrian and German media landscape. His skillful management and visionary ideas left a lasting impression on the industry, which became what it is today thanks to his contributions. His death is seen by many as a great loss for the media world.

In the last years of his life, Thoma looked back on important developments in the industry that brought with them many changes. These changes contributed not only to entertainment but also to education and information for viewers. They illustrate the influence that the media has on society, especially in the rapidly changing digital times in which we live.

Thoma leaves a rich legacy in the media landscape that will accompany generations of viewers for a long time. As television continues to evolve, Thoma remains a symbol of the pioneering work that laid the foundation for modern private television. wien.orf.at reports on the reactions to his death and the accumulated regret in the industry.