Kloeppel and von der Groeben sign off from holding the world record
After over three decades, Peter Kloeppel and Ulrike von der Groeben bid their farewells to the screen, wrapping up their lengthy stint as co-hosts of RTL's main news broadcast, "RTL aktuell." With 4580 broadcasts under their belt, they officially hung up their boots, bringing an end to their 32-year partnership. In her closing remarks, von der Groeben expressed her gratitude, saying, "It's been an honor, a responsibility, and a pleasure to be here, keeping you informed on both good and bad days." Kloeppel echoed her sentiments, adding, "We bow in gratitude to you." As a parting gift, the duo was recognized for setting a world record - they remain the longest-serving news anchor team, having hosted for 32 years and 139 days without a break.
According to Kloeppel, his decision to spend more time in the United States with his wife and daughter was the reason behind his retirement. The 65-year-old shared that his sojourns in the US felt like a relaxing break, allowing him to be recognized simply as "Peter from Germany," devoid of his TV persona.
RTL announced that starting summer 2024, the news broadcast will continue with two permanent anchoring teams: Roberta Bieling and Andreas von Thien, and Christopher Wittich and Anna Fleischhauer. These teams will rotate hosting "RTL Aktuell" from Monday to Sunday. Along with them, Maik Meuser, Charlotte Maihoff, Pinar Atalay, Anna Kraft, Monica Lierhaus, and Birgit von Bentzel will form the extended moderation team for "RTL Aktuell."
Peter Kloeppel, the man behind the famed broadcast, embarked on his journalistic journey in Göttingen by studying agronomy. He then attended the Henri-Nannen-Journalistenschule in Hamburg, where he began his career at RTL plus in Luxembourg. His meteoric rise saw him progress from studio leader to US correspondent at RTL plus, and in 1992, he become the chief moderator of "RTL aktuell." Beyond this, Kloeppel held the post of editor-in-chief at RTL from 2004 to 2014.
Kloeppel's distinguished career has been honored numerous times, with awards including the Bambi, the Bavarian Television Award, the German Television Award, and the Adolf-Grimme-Preis. His coverage of the 9/11 terrorist attacks in New York earned him widespread acclaim. Lastly, since 2001, Kloeppel has been committed to fostering future journalistic talent as the director of the RTL Journalism School for TV and Multimedia.
The news of Peter Kloeppel's retirement from "RTL aktuell" was indeed a loss for The entertainment industry, as his charisma and expertise had been a staple for viewers. The upcoming teams of Roberta Bieling and Andreas von Thien, as well as Christopher Wittich and Anna Fleischhauer, will undoubtedly bring their own unique styles to The entertainment segment of RTL's main news broadcast.
