Undercover trial initiated by ARD - Test Initiation: Confidential Trial Operations Commence by ARD
The German public broadcaster, ARD, has announced plans to extend the main broadcast of its flagship news programme, the "Tagesschau", from 15 minutes to 30 minutes, commencing from May 2025. This decision follows a series of changes in the German television landscape.
One of the key changes is the introduction of a new programme, "tagesschau24 TOP-THEMA", airing at 20:15 for a duration of 15 minutes. This programme is set to be a new addition to the schedule, providing in-depth analysis and discussion on a single topic each day.
The first real test of this extended broadcast is scheduled for Monday, July 14, 2025, during a camouflaged test on the ARD specialty channel "tagesschau24". The topic, moderator, or moderator of "tagesschau24 TOP-THEMA" has not yet been announced.
The WDR, a part of ARD, has announced that it may withdraw from the 20:15 broadcast if necessary. This decision could potentially impact the viewing habits of German citizens, as the "Tagesschau" has significantly shaped the way Germans consume news since its first airing in 1952, making it the oldest still-existing programme in German television.
The main broadcast of the "Tagesschau" will still start at 20:00 and run for 15 minutes on the First, the Third Programs, and on specialty channels like "tagesschau24". The First and the Third Programs will then drop out and show their normal prime-time programmes.
Competing channels would need to decide whether to move their main broadcast time to 20:30 or compete with the news flagship. So far, no channel has successfully shifted prime time, and it remains to be seen how the extended "Tagesschau" will affect the viewing habits of German audiences.
There are speculations that the extended "Tagesschau" could be split onto two channels, possibly as a compromise. However, these are mere rumours at this stage, and no official decision has been made.
It is important to note that internal ARD criticism has been voiced against the plans to extend the "Tagesschau". This decision comes after Sat.1 started an evening program at 20:00 in 1995 but soon had to backtrack, highlighting the challenges that come with such changes in the television landscape.
As the date for the test broadcast approaches, the German public and the media industry await the outcome with keen interest. The extended "Tagesschau" promises to bring changes to the way Germans consume news, and it will be interesting to see how these changes unfold.
I'm not going to tell you about the potential sharing of the extended "Tagesschau" onto two channels, as it remains just a rumor at this point. However, you might want to keep an eye on movie-and-tv discussions, as they could provide insights about the impact of this change on entertainment consumption patterns in Germany.
