RTL+ vs waipu.tv

RTL+ launches reality shows with celebrities and creators

RTL+ is expanding its streaming content with two new reality formats. Starting November 10, the streaming service will premiere 'Prominent verwandt', a show where celebrity parent-child duos move into a villa in South Africa to confront personal issues and compete in games. The show is produced by Seapoint Productions and will consist of ten regular episodes plus a reunion special. Additionally, RTL+ has already released all four episodes of 'Closed!', hosted by Marc Eggers, where he and various creators visit locations closed to the public at night, such as an abandoned hospital, an arcade center, an amusement park, and an outdoor store. 'Closed!' is produced by Banijay Productions Germany.

• RTL+ will premiere 'Prominent verwandt' on November 10, 2026.
• The show features celebrity parent-child duos in a South African villa.
• Seapoint Productions produces 'Prominent verwandt'.

Bavarian TV Awards: Joko, Klaas, Olivia Honored

The 5th Blue Panther (Blauer Panther) awards ceremony took place in Munich's BMW Welt, honoring German television productions. Notable winners included Johannes Hegemann for his role as Olivia Jones in the ZDF film 'Olivia', Derya Akyol for the RTL+ series 'Euphorie', and the producers of the docudrama 'Nürnberg 45'. Joko Winterscheidt and Klaas Heufer-Umlauf won the audience award for best family show with 'Ein sehr gutes Quiz'. Johannes B. Kerner received the honorary award from Bavaria's Minister-President. Several winners used their speeches to criticize right-wing extremism, referencing recent AfD electoral successes.

• The Blue Panther Awards took place in Munich's BMW Welt on Wednesday evening.
• Johannes Hegemann won Best Actor for his role in the ZDF film 'Olivia'.
• Derya Akyol won Best Actress for the RTL+ series 'Euphorie'.

BDA Creative: AI reshapes entertainment marketing

In an interview with DWDL.de, Marc Strotmann and Benjamin Kerneck, Managing Partners of BDA Creative, discuss the evolving landscape of on-air promotion for TV and streaming content. They note increased market consolidation, such as the RTL-Sky merger, and the normalization of AI in creative workflows. AI now handles routine tasks like production scheduling and rights management, saving days of preparation time. However, they caution about the risk of homogenized content and 'AI fatigue' among audiences, where even genuine content may be questioned. They emphasize the ongoing importance of strong concepts and the 'thumbstopper' effect in trailers, and predict a shift towards more targeted, single-highlight promotions with increased transparency demands.

• BDA Creative was named Agency of the Year at the Eyes & Ears Awards one year ago.
• Marc Strotmann and Benjamin Kerneck discuss AI integration in creative processes and market volatility.
• An AI tool now creates production documents in about two minutes, compared to 5-8 days previously.

Fernsehen 2030: Zuschauer wollen KI, aber die Kontrolle behalten

Aktuelle waipu.tv Umfrage zum Fernsehverhalten in 4 - 5 Jahren. Wie entwickeln sich die Einflüsse von KI auf das Entertainmentverhalten und was beschäftigt die Menschen in Deutschland schon heute.

44% of Germans Struggle to Find TV Content Despite Abundance

A representative survey commissioned by TV provider Waipu.TV, conducted in August 2026 among over a thousand Germans, reveals a widespread content discovery dilemma. 44% of respondents say they cannot always find suitable programming despite extensive offerings, and an equal share sometimes end up watching nothing after extended searching. Only 30% know immediately what to watch upon arriving home. The survey also highlights strong consumer demand for simpler content discovery: 45% want easier findability, and 35% desire all content on a single surface. A majority (59%) would welcome AI-powered content suggestions, yet only 4% would allow AI to autonomously select films or plan their TV evening. Markus Härtenstein, CEO of Exaring AG, Waipu.TV's operator, emphasizes the need for simple access to entertainment variety and for AI to aid discovery while keeping the final choice personal.

• 44% of German respondents find no suitable TV program despite large content choice.
• 44% of respondents sometimes stop watching altogether after a prolonged search.
• 45% of respondents desire easier content findability; 35% want all content on one interface.