Revamped Formats and Fresh Commentator Partnerships - Revised Format and Fresh Perspectives from New Commentators
RTL Announces New Commentary Team and Studio Setup for NFL Coverage in 2025
RTL has unveiled a fresh commentary team and studio setup for their American Football coverage during the 2025 NFL season. The changes aim to provide a comprehensive and expert-led presentation of the NFL season to German free-to-air TV audiences.
The new setup includes the introduction of a live talk format called “Guten Abend Football,” airing Sundays at 6:15 p.m. CET on Nitro. Hosted by Jan Stecker, the 45-minute talk show will feature NFL experts Patrick Esume and Björn Werner, providing weekly highlights, deep tactical analysis, expert discussions, and all relevant game information.
Following “Guten Abend Football,” live NFL game broadcasts will follow on free-to-air TV and streaming. RTL and Nitro will air two evening games at 7:00 p.m. and 10:00 p.m., while an additional 7:00 p.m. game will be available on RTL+ streaming.
The main presenters for the American Football evenings on RTL will be Jana Wosnitza and Florian Ambrosius. NFL expert and commentator Adrian Franke will be a key part of the RTL+ commentary and analysis team alongside commentators Mika Kaul and Frederick Schulz.
This expanded coverage marks a focus on more community engagement, expert talks, and detailed tactical discussions earlier on NFL game days. The new format reflects RTL’s strategy for an enhanced NFL viewing experience starting with the 2025 season.
In other changes, the preseason for the NFL on RTL will start in August, with three live games on Spartenkanal Nitro on August 16, 22, and 23. The Monday night magazine show "NFL Sideline," which previously aired at 7:45 p.m. on Nitro, will be discontinued due to programming changes.
Florian Schmidt-Sommerfeld has departed from RTL's NFL commentary team, focusing on his work at Sky. RTL has also dropped the community host position for the NFL on RTL. However, former NFL pros Sebastian Vollmer and Markus Kuhn will provide expert analysis from their adopted home in the USA.
The broadcast will begin even earlier in the 2025/26 season on Sundays, with the new talk show "Guten Abend Football" starting at 6:15 p.m. on Nitro. The NFL season on RTL will start on September 5, featuring the Dallas Cowboys versus the reigning champions, the Philadelphia Eagles. The NFL season opener will be broadcast on RTL on September 5.
Jana Wosnitza will now handle the reduced interaction with the fan community herself, allowing for more time to analyze game scenes. RTL has also introduced an outdoor studio in Cologne-Deutz, designed to resemble a football field, where experts can demonstrate plays under near-real conditions.
With these changes, RTL is set to deliver an engaging and informative NFL viewing experience for German audiences in the 2025 season.
| Element | Details | |--------------------------|------------------------------------------------------| | New show | Guten Abend Football, Sundays 6:15 p.m. CET on Nitro | | Show hosts and experts | Jan Stecker, Patrick Esume, Björn Werner | | Main evening presenters | Jana Wosnitza, Florian Ambrosius | | Commentators (RTL+) | Adrian Franke, Mika Kaul, Frederick Schulz | | Live games | 7 p.m. & 10 p.m. on RTL/Nitro; 7 p.m. on RTL+ streaming | | Focus | Earlier start, tactical deep-dives, expert discussion, community engagement |
- Unfortunately, due to these changes, I'm not gonna be able to get to the NFL with RTL's expanded coverage and new talk show, "Guten Abend Football," starting in 2025.
- The new NFL season in 2025 promises to be an exciting one with the inclusion of sports like football, specifically American football, in RTL's comprehensive coverage, featuring a live talk format and expert-led discussions.
