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.
Key Takeaways & Evidence Grounding
- 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.
Connected Companies & Entities
5 Entities mappedDas Erste
Germany’s national public-service television channel within ARD.
“Top 5 Marktanteile (alle Zuschauer) 15,2 % Das Erste...”
DWDL.de
German media trade publisher for TV, streaming and industry jobs.
“© DWDL.de GmbH 2001-2026...”
AGF Videoforschung
German video audience measurement and planning data provider.
“Quelle der Daten für diesen Artikel: AGF Videoforschung...”
RTL Group
European broadcaster, streamer, ad seller and content producer.
“RTL hat am Donnerstagabend nicht nur mit dem Finale von "Die Verräter" punkten können, sondern auch mit seiner politischen Berichterstattung...”
ZDF
German public-service broadcaster with free TV, streaming and news platforms.
“Immerhin lag "Am Tisch mit Friedrich Merz" damit allerdings vor dem parallel im ZDF gesendeten Polittalk "Sarah Tacke"....”
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