[Kojak]

I don't get it, is it something to do with the Russians?

Exactly. Probably could've rename it to RTL Nieuws, considering their financial news output (especially when their website is basically part of it)?

I don't think anyone is going to see RTL Z and think 'ooh, that channel is affiliated with Putin'.   It's called RTL Z because it was originally set up in partnership with a Belgian business news channel called Kanaal Z. In the evenings it shows documentaries, so I suspect it's easier for them to stick with a more generic name.

I love the new VRT 1 idents. Very clever with the logo being formed by different objects (and it's all CGI, which will please some here). I think the promo graphics look dated, though, and the logo itself looks a bit too much like the ARD logo:



I suspect their other channels will rebrand with the VRT prefix in time.