Zweites Deutsches Fernsehen is beginning to implement the program reform it announced last year.
This has serious consequences – and annoys many viewers. ZDF originally wanted to attract younger viewers with its secondary channel ZDFneo. This didn’t really work, now the main program is to be radically rebuilt.
Intendant Norbert Himmler (52) announced in November 2022 that 100 million euros, which were originally intended for other purposes, would be used for the rejuvenation “to do justice to our mission in the modern world.”
“Soko Hamburg” with Marek Erhardt (53, left) and Thiago Braga de Oliveira (35) has been investigating on ZDF since 2018
What this means in concrete terms is now clear from three examples: The people format “Leute heute” is being discontinued, as are the crime series “Soko Hamburg” and “Letzte Spur Berlin”. The end of the latter format in particular comes as a complete surprise to many viewers.
“In the course of sustainable program development, ZDF will invest more in offers for younger target groups,” explains program director Nadine Bilke (47). “Unfortunately, this strategic shift also means that we have to part with successful programs that we have come to love.”
After 13 seasons, 2024 will be the end for the “Letzte Spur Berlin” team: Aleksandar Radenkovic (43, from left), Jasmin Tabatabai (55), Hans-Werner Meyer (58), Josephin Busch (36)
The regular audience of ZDF is 65 years old on average – the oldest compared to all major TV stations. But: In 2022, for the eleventh year in a row, ZDF was the most-watched channel in the country.
Nevertheless, other formats are apparently also affected by the program reform. According to BILD am SONNTAG information, the Inga Lindström and Rosamunde Pilcher films are also to be put to the test.
This article comes from BILD am SONNTAG. The ePaper of the entire issue is available here.
