ZDF Star Parade's Emcee:
Rainer Holbe, a renowned figure in German television, passed away on August 15 at his home in Frankfurt am Main. He was 85. Holbe's daughter confirmed the news to the German Press Agency.
Holbe was a pioneer of German private television, playing a key role in setting up the RTL channel and launching the new breakfast television format in Germany in 1987. His career began in the late 1960s and included work on notable programs such as the ZDF music show "Starparade."
For over a decade, from 1968 to 1980, "Starparade" aired as one of the biggest rating hits of the Second German Television. During its broadcast, Holbe was well-known for hosting the show, which initially aired in black and white. At the time, millions of viewers in Germany and Austria still remember Holbe as the host of "Starparade."
Holbe's fascination for paranormal events was evident in his work, as he sought natural scientific explanations for various phenomena, including Marian apparitions and UFOs. At Sat.1, he presented "Fantastic Phenomena," and at RTL, he hosted the series "Incredible Stories."
In the 1980s, Holbe was one of the founding figures at the TV station RTL (formerly RTLplus). He remained a long-standing figurehead of RTL, and in 1987, RTL, under Holbe's involvement, launched the unfamiliar format of breakfast television.
Holbe was also the first television station to report live from Berlin the morning after the Berlin Wall fell on November 9, 1989. This event marked a significant milestone in his career and in German history.
Rainer Holbe's contributions to German television journalism, broadcasting, and entertainment formats will be greatly missed. His work shaped the landscape of private television in Germany, and his influence will continue to be felt for years to come.
The entertainment format he launched in 1987, titled "breakfast television," became a groundbreaking staple in German television.People still remember Holbe as the host of "Starparade," an entertainment program that aired from 1968 to 1980 and was one of the biggest rating hits of the Second German Television.
