waipu.tv vs ZDF

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.

Freenet acquires full control of waipu.tv

German mobile carrier Freenet AG is acquiring the remaining 25% stake in Exaring AG, operator of online TV platform waipu.tv, from minority shareholders for an initial €76 million, valuing the company at around €300 million. Additional performance-based earn-out payments of up to €50 million may follow based on future success. The acquisition, fully financed from liquid funds, abandons plans for a waipu.tv IPO. Freenet sees waipu.tv's IPTV offering as a strategic growth driver in the German market, including potential in programmatic advertising, and maintains its dividend outlook. Waipu.tv serves approximately two million customers and holds a 20-25% market share in German IPTV. CEO Robin Harries and CFO Ingo Arnold highlighted the strategic benefits.

• Freenet acquires remaining 25% of Exaring AG, owner of waipu.tv, for initial €76 million.
• Company valuation is about €300 million; earn-out payments up to €50 million are possible.
• Acquisition is fully financed from liquid funds.

BLM President Cautious on Digital Tax for Platforms

Thorsten Schmiege, President of the Bavarian media authority BLM and current Chairman of the DLM, expressed skepticism about the proposed digital tax ('Digitalabgabe') for large platforms like Google and Meta, stating it is 'in a dead end.' In an exclusive interview with MEEDIA, he emphasized that the core issue is the lack of digital sovereignty and unequal liability rules. He calls for a graded liability system and a diversity obligation for platforms, arguing that transparency alone is insufficient. Schmiege also highlighted the risk of smaller publishers being disadvantaged by exclusive deals between platforms and major media houses, and discussed the impact of AI on media regulation, including the BLM's AI competence center and the world's first AI radio approval.

• Thorsten Schmiege, BLM President and DLM Chairman, criticizes the proposed digital tax as 'in a dead end'.
• Schmiege calls for graded liability rules and diversity obligations for platforms to ensure media diversity.
• He warns that exclusive deals between platforms and major media houses could disadvantage smaller providers.

ZDF dominates final weighted TV ratings gains

The ZDF public broadcaster dominated the ranking of TV programs that gained the most audience through final weighted data for the week of October 5-11, 2026. The 'heute-show' gained an additional 1.04 million viewers, reaching 4.42 million total, while the 'ZDF Magazin Royale' added 310,000 viewers. Among private broadcasters, Sat.1's 'Promi Big Brother' notably benefited from the revised figures, with each episode seeing increases between 140,000 and 230,000 viewers. RTL's early evening soaps also showed positive adjustments. The final weighted data, which incorporates time-shifted viewing and broader household samples, is considered the industry standard, though it receives less attention than preliminary figures. DWDL.de analyzed the differences between preliminary and final data.

• ZDF's 'heute-show' gained 1.04 million viewers in final weighted ratings, reaching 4.42 million total viewers.
• The 'ZDF Magazin Royale' added 310,000 viewers through final weighting, boosting its young adult market share by 6.2 percentage points to 24.6%.
• Sat.1's 'Promi Big Brother' episodes each gained between 140,000 and 230,000 viewers after final weighting.

ARD Telenovelas 'Rote Rosen' and 'Sturm der Liebe' Ratings Decline

The German public broadcaster ARD's afternoon telenovelas 'Rote Rosen' and 'Sturm der Liebe' are experiencing declining linear TV ratings. On Friday, October 16, 2026, both shows attracted fewer than 500,000 viewers each, with market shares of 7.5% and 6.8% respectively among total audience. Among the 14-49 age group, market shares were just 1.6% and 0.7%, indicating weak performance with younger viewers. The shows remain successful in the ARD Mediathek, but face increasing competition from ZDF's afternoon programming, which achieved market shares over 20%. The article highlights the shifting viewing habits and the growing challenge for traditional linear TV formats to retain audiences.

• On October 16, 2026, 'Rote Rosen' attracted 470,000 viewers and 'Sturm der Liebe' 480,000.
• Market shares for the telenovelas were 7.5% (Rote Rosen) and 6.8% (Sturm der Liebe) among total audience.
• Among viewers aged 14-49, market shares were 1.6% for 'Rote Rosen' and 0.7% for 'Sturm der Liebe'.