Observed Signal · Aug 22, 2026 · Ratings Report · Source: DWDL · Impact: 1/5 · Sentiment: Neutral
TV (linear) Market: Old ARD Crime Drama Beats DFB-Pokal Ratings
Germany's primetime ratings featured two contrasting evenings. On Friday, 21 August 2026, Das Erste's repeat of 'Der Zürich-Krimi' won with 3.96 million viewers and a 20.9% share, beating ZDF's DFB-Pokal broadcast (2.64 million, 14.5%). The Tagesschau was the night's top program at 4.77 million (26.4%), and Das Erste led the daily market share with 12.8%. On a Tuesday, ZDF's 'Friesland' rerun edged out Das Erste's DFB-Pokal match (Osnabrück vs. Bayern) with 4.66 million (22.2%) to 4.40 million (22.0%), but the football dominated 14- to 49-year-olds with a 27.2% share versus 4.3% for 'Friesland'. ARD's 'Die Derbys' drew just 810,000 viewers, and ZDF's 'Die Lebensretter von Murnau' set a series low of 1.52 million. All data from AGF Videoforschung.
Routine linear-TV audience measurement for German channels; limited wider AdTech/MarTech impact.
Wichtigste Kernpunkte & Evidenz
- Das Erste's 'Der Zürich-Krimi' repeat won Friday primetime on 21 August 2026 with 3.96M viewers (20.9%), ahead of ZDF's DFB-Pokal match (2.64M, 14.5%).
- On Tuesday, ZDF's 'Friesland' rerun was the most-watched show with 4.66M viewers (22.2%), narrowly ahead of Das Erste's DFB-Pokal match (Osnabrück vs. Bayern, 4.40M, 22.0%).
- The Tuesday DFB-Pokal game dominated younger viewers with a 27.2% share among 14-49, versus 4.3% for 'Friesland'.
- Friday's Tagesschau led all programs with 4.77M viewers (26.4%) and Das Erste had the highest daily market share (12.8%).
- All audience figures are attributed to AGF Videoforschung (AGF SCOPE 1.15; preliminary weighted data).
Verknüpfte Unternehmen
9 verknüpfte UnternehmenDas Erste
Germany’s national public-service television channel within ARD.
“An older Zürich-Krimi on Das Erste drew 3.96 million viewers and secured the primetime victory on Friday evening....”
DWDL.de
Führendes deutsches B2B-Fachmedium und Vermarktungsplattform für die TV-, Streaming- und Medienbranche.
“The article is published on DWDL.de and the page footer notes '© DWDL.de GmbH 2001-2026'....”
AGF Videoforschung
Deutscher Anbieter von TV- und Video-Reichweitenmessung sowie Mediaplanungsdaten.
“The article cites AGF Videoforschung (AGF SCOPE 1.15) as the source for all audience and market-share data....”
RTL Group
Ein führender europäischer Medienkonzern in den Bereichen Broadcaster, Streaming, Werbevermarktung und Content-Produktion.
“Among younger viewers (14–49) RTL performed best against the football; its rankings show reached 230,000 viewers in the 14–49 group (9.0% ma...”
ARD Mediathek
ARD’s public-service platform for on-demand video and live streaming.
ProSieben
German broadcast channel brand with digital video distribution.
“ProSieben reached 410,000 viewers in primetime with 'Transformers: Rise of the Beasts' and 3.7% in the 14–49 demographic....”
VOX
VOX ist eine reichweitenstarke deutsche TV- und Digitalmedienmarke innerhalb des RTL-Ökosystems, die crossmediale Unterhaltungsinhalte über lineare und digitale Touchpoints hinweg monetarisiert.
“VOX achieved 410,000 viewers with a repeat of 'First Dates Hotel', registering 5.1% among 14–49 viewers....”
SAT.1
German broadcaster behind SAT.1 and its Joyn distribution.
“Sat.1 aired the years-old stage program 'Lassmalache' by Bülent Ceylan and reached 790,000 viewers overall (6.6% among young viewers)....”
ZDF
Deutscher öffentlich-rechtlicher Rundfunksender mit frei empfangbarem Fernsehen, Streaming-Angeboten und Nachrichtenplattformen.
“ZDF broadcast the DFB-Pokal match (Rostock–Stuttgart), reaching 2.64 million viewers and 14.5% market share....”
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