Observed Signal · Aug 28, 2026 · Ratings Report · Source: DWDL · Impact: 2/5 · Sentiment: Positive
TV (linear) Market: Chancellor Merz Delivers Strong RTL Ratings
RTL's late-night interview 'Am Tisch mit Friedrich Merz' drew solid audience figures on 27 August 2026, averaging 890,000 viewers overall and 240,000 viewers aged 14–49 (11.0% market share in that demo). In the extended 14–59 group RTL reached 8.5%. ZDF's new political talk 'Sarah Tacke' reached 1.11 million viewers but posted weaker market shares (notably 6.2% in a younger demo and an overall 8.6%), underperforming compared with ZDF's prior 'heute-journal' (16.0%). ZDF's 'Markus Lanz' retained a large late audience (1.10 million; 14.8% market share overall, 10.1% in 14–49). Late-night programs on RTL also achieved double-digit shares in the 14–49 demo, according to AGF SCOPE / AGF Videoforschung preliminary data cited by DWDL.de.
Shows audience shifts on linear TV and late-night political programming—useful for broadcasters, media buyers and advertisers targeting TV demos; data comes from AGF Videoforschung.
Wichtigste Kernpunkte & Evidenz
- RTL's 'Am Tisch mit Friedrich Merz' (75 minutes) averaged 890,000 viewers and 240,000 viewers aged 14–49, with an 11.0% market share in 14–49.
- In the extended 14–59 demographic, RTL's Merz interview delivered an 8.5% market share.
- ZDF's 'Sarah Tacke' attracted 1.11 million viewers but recorded weak shares (6.2% in a younger demo and 8.6% overall), below the preceding 'heute-journal' which had 16.0%.
- ZDF's 'Markus Lanz' kept 1.10 million viewers late, yielding a 14.8% market share overall and 10.1% in 14–49.
- All audience and market-share figures are cited as preliminary AGF SCOPE (AGF Videoforschung) data.
Verknüpfte Unternehmen
5 verknüpfte UnternehmenDas Erste
Germany’s national public-service television channel within ARD.
“Top 5 Marktanteile (alle Zuschauer) 15,2 % Das Erste...”
DWDL.de
Führendes deutsches B2B-Fachmedium und Vermarktungsplattform für die TV-, Streaming- und Medienbranche.
“© DWDL.de GmbH 2001-2026...”
AGF Videoforschung
Deutscher Anbieter von TV- und Video-Reichweitenmessung sowie Mediaplanungsdaten.
“Quelle der Daten für diesen Artikel: AGF Videoforschung...”
RTL Group
Ein führender europäischer Medienkonzern in den Bereichen Broadcaster, Streaming, Werbevermarktung und Content-Produktion.
“RTL hat am Donnerstagabend nicht nur mit dem Finale von "Die Verräter" punkten können, sondern auch mit seiner politischen Berichterstattung...”
ZDF
Deutscher öffentlich-rechtlicher Rundfunksender mit frei empfangbarem Fernsehen, Streaming-Angeboten und Nachrichtenplattformen.
“Immerhin lag "Am Tisch mit Friedrich Merz" damit allerdings vor dem parallel im ZDF gesendeten Polittalk "Sarah Tacke"....”
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