Observed Signal · Jul 6, 2026 · Ratings Update · Source: Meedia · Impact: 2/5 · Sentiment: Neutral
RTL and ProSieben Win Prime-Time in World Cup Pause
MEEDIA's 'Video Daily' reports German TV ratings and streaming chart movements during a weekend affected by World Cup broadcasts. On Sunday without free-to-air World Cup matches, Das Erste's 'Polizeiruf 110' reached 4.40 million viewers (21.0%) and the 20:00 'Tagesschau' led the day with 5.42 million (26.2%). Public broadcasters ZDF and Das Erste posted strong weekend numbers while private channels RTL and ProSieben competed narrowly in the 14–49 demo (RTL 0.40m vs ProSieben 0.36m). MagentaTV held exclusive World Cup matches but no audience figures were available. Streaming charts shifted: Netflix added 'Fast & Furious 9' and '22 Bahnen' to its German film Top 10; Prime Video premiered 'Project Hail Mary' for Prime customers and hit #1; Disney+ and YouTube also recorded new entries and multi-million-view match highlights respectively.
Provides current audience measurement and streaming chart shifts relevant to media buyers, broadcasters and advertisers for programming and ad‑planning decisions during the World Cup period; not industry‑shifting but useful operational intelligence.
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Key Takeaways & Evidence Grounding
- Das Erste's 'Polizeiruf 110' had 4.40 million viewers on Sunday and a 21.0% market share in the total audience.
- The 20:00 'Tagesschau' on Das Erste topped the day with 5.42 million viewers and a 26.2% share.
- RTL's 'Das Vermächtnis des Geheimen Buches' reached 1.47 million viewers (7.3%); ProSieben's 'The Tomorrow War' had 0.99 million (5.1%).
- MagentaTV carried exclusive World Cup matches (e.g., Brazil vs Norway and Paraguay vs France) but no official viewer numbers were published.
- Streaming charts: Netflix added 'Fast & Furious 9' and '22 Bahnen' to its German film Top 10; Prime Video launched 'Project Hail Mary' for Prime customers and it went to #1 in the platform's German ranking.
Connected Companies & Entities
10 Entities mapped“ProSieben achieved 0.99 million viewers and 5.1% for 'The Tomorrow War' and competed closely with RTL in the 14–49 audience....”
“The analysis is published as 'Video Daily' by MEEDIA and its editor-in-chief compiles YouTube chart data with an agency....”
“ZDF aired 'Inga Lindström: Klang der Sehnsucht' which reached 3.24 million viewers and 15.5% on Sunday; ZDF also showed World Cup matches su...”
“Sat.1's prime-time film 'Wunder' had 0.77 million viewers (3.8%) on Sunday and 0.29 million in the 14–49 demo (8.2%)....”
“Kabel Eins achieved 0.19 million viewers (5.4% in 14–49) with 'Trucker Babes'....”
“Disney+ added two new film entries to its German film ranking: the Simpsons special 'Simpsley' (new at #4) and a preview piece for the 'Vaia...”
“Netflix's German daily film charts added 'Fast & Furious 9' (new at #7) and '22 Bahnen' (new at #9) over the weekend....”
“MEEDIA notes that TV ratings data used in the analysis come from AGF Videoforschung....”
“RTL reached 1.47 million viewers (7.3%) with 'Das Vermächtnis des Geheimen Buches' and won the 14–49 demo against ProSieben (0.40m vs 0.36m)...”
“RTL Zwei reached 0.09 million viewers in the 14–49 demo for 'Which Brings me to you' (2.7%)....”
Related Market Signals & Shifts
Recent verified developments and strategic activity across this market segment.
Repeat 'Tatort' Holds Up Against World Cup
MEEDIA's Video Daily reports German TV ratings and streaming charts for the weekend of 22 June 2026. Linear-TV remained dominated by World Cup matches (e.g., ZDF’s Belgium–Iran at 6.63 million and Germany vs. Ivory Coast at 18.26 million), but a repeat 'Tatort: Blinder Fleck' on Das Erste delivered a strong 4.64 million viewers in prime time. Commercial broadcasters posted weak primetime numbers versus the tournament. Streaming charts in Germany saw Netflix's 'Voicemails for Isabelle' reach number one among films, Netflix's 'Oasis' climb in series rankings, Prime Video reordering its top titles, and Disney+ still led by the film 'Hoppers'. YouTube’s German daily top ten were all ZDF 'sportstudio fußball' highlight clips, several exceeding one million views. AGF Videoforschung is cited as the source for TV audience data.
Private TV Broadcasters Weak During World Cup Repeats
German private broadcasters posted weak linear-TV audience shares on 12 June 2026 as World Cup coverage dominated viewing. RTL remained strong in early evening — its news show "RTL aktuell" reached 22.9% of 14–49 viewers (20.3% of 14–59) and 2.22 million viewers — and daytime formats like "Exclusiv" and "Gute Zeiten, schlechte Zeiten" also performed well. In primetime, however, repeats across private channels delivered low market shares (examples: RTL's repeat of the "Ultimativen Chartshow" 5.4% in 14–49; Sat.1 and ProSieben repeats between ~2.5–4.2%). Public broadcasters and World Cup programming led the day (Das Erste and ZDF top the market-share chart). Source for audience data: AGF Videoforschung / AGF SCOPE.
World Cup Break Boosts German Commercial Broadcasters' Ratings
With no World Cup matches on Free-TV on July 5, 2026 (matches were shown exclusively on MagentaTV), German commercial broadcasters recorded stronger-than-recent audience shares. RTL's primetime film 'Das Vermächtnis des Geheimen Buches' led among 14–49-year-olds with 11.3% (1.47 million viewers, 7.4% overall). ProSieben's 'The Tomorrow War' achieved a 10.2% share in the 14–49 demo and helped ProSieben take a 7.8% day market share (14–49). Sat.1, Kabel Eins, and VOX also posted above‑average results; RTLzwei performed weakly (2.7% among 14–49). Top daily market shares across all viewers were ZDF (13.0%), Das Erste/ARD (12.0%) and RTL (6.7%). Data source: AGF Videoforschung (AGF SCOPE).
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