Observed Signal · Jul 9, 2026 · Ratings Report · Source: Meedia · Impact: 2/5 · Sentiment: Negative
RTL's 'Die Bachelors' Suffers Disastrous Ratings
MEEDIA's Video Daily reports linear-TV audience figures for Wednesday, 8 July 2026: ZDF's crime magazine 'Aktenzeichen XY… Vermisst' won prime time with 3.65 million viewers (18.9%), while the 20:00 Tagesschau led the day with 5.02 million (27.5%). Among private channels, Sat.1's 'Das große Backen - Die Profis' performed strongly (1.18 million, 6.7%). RTL's reality show 'Die Bachelors' performed poorly, falling well below RTL's 12‑month average: the show attracted about 0.58 million total viewers (3.1% share) and only 0.15 million viewers in the 14–49 demo (5.3% vs. RTL’s 12-month average of 9.3%). Streaming note: 'Glennkill - Ein Schafskrimi' jumped into Prime Video’s top ten at #1. The piece includes detailed market-share and demographic breakdowns relevant for broadcasters and advertisers.
Routine daily TV and streaming audience figures that are useful for broadcasters, media buyers and advertisers for scheduling and planning but do not represent an industry-shifting development.
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Key Takeaways & Evidence Grounding
- ZDF's 'Aktenzeichen XY… Vermisst' drew 3.65 million viewers with an 18.9% market share in prime time.
- The 20:00 'Tagesschau' (Das Erste) was the day's top program with 5.02 million viewers and a 27.5% share.
- Sat.1's 'Das große Backen - Die Profis' reached 1.18 million viewers (6.7% market share) in prime time.
- RTL's 'Die Bachelors' fell below channel norms: ~0.58 million total viewers (3.1% share) and 0.15 million in ages 14–49 (5.3%), well under RTL's 12‑month average of 9.3% for that demo.
- 'Glennkill - Ein Schafskrimi' entered Prime Video's German top ten at #1 (jumped from 0 to 1).
Connected Companies & Entities
14 Entities mapped“3.65 million people chose the ZDF crime magazine 'Aktenzeichen XY… Vermisst', with a market share of 18.9%....”
“The 20:00 'Tagesschau' in Das Erste drew 5.02 million viewers and a 27.5% share....”
“The ARD drama 'Meeresleuchten' reached 2.57 million viewers and a 13.3% share....”
“MEEDIA reports on the media-and-brands intersection and published this 'Video Daily' analysis....”
“ProSieben had 0.58 million viewers for the thriller comedy 'Nur ein kleiner Gefallen' (3.2% share)....”
“Kabel Eins exceeded its normal level with 0.20 million viewers and 6.9% for the film 'Over the Top'....”
“1.00 million viewers (5.2%) watched 'Wilsberg' on ZDFneo....”
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“_ga | Google | 1 Jahr | meedia.de (cookie table entry)...”
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“wordpress_test_cookie | WordPress | Sitzung | meedia.de (cookie table entry)...”
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“RTL Zwei reached 0.53 million viewers and 2.8% for the docu-soap 'Bella Italia - Camping auf Deutsch'....”
“Poor performance at 20:15 for RTL's 'Die Bachelors', which again landed well below the channel's normal level....”
Related Market Signals & Shifts
Recent verified developments and strategic activity across this market segment.
Bachelors Finale Disappoints; Private Competitors Weaker
The season finale of RTL’s Die Bachelors drew weak linear-TV ratings: the episode averaged about 610,000 viewers at 20:15 and posted a 4.6% share in the 14–49 demographic, with the season averaging below 5% market share. Private competitors also posted low shares (Vox 4.4% with Snake Eyes; ProSieben 4.0%; Sat.1 3.8%). By contrast, ZDF performed strongly without World Cup programming: a Traumschiff repeat reached 3.45 million viewers (19.1% market share) and briefly led the evening. Later programming saw falling audiences (Markus Lanz with Joachim Gauck: 840,000 viewers, 8.3% overall; 3.0% in 14–49). Data source: AGF Videoforschung / AGF SCOPE (provisional weighted TV audience data).
RTL special wins; 'Bachelor' hits new low
DWDL reports TV audience data for July 2, 2026: RTL's 'RTL aktuell Spezial' covering the federal reform package reached 1.15 million viewers (460,000 aged 14–49) and a 15.0% share in the classic target, outperforming RTL's entertainment lead-in. By contrast, RTL's dating format 'Die Bachelors' hit a new linear low with just 490,000 viewers and 3.9% share among 14–49-year-olds (3.1% in 14–59). Public broadcasters led: Das Erste's 'Brennpunkt' averaged 3.51 million viewers (19.2% share in 14–49) and ZDF's Maybrit Illner special with Chancellor Friedrich Merz reached 2.03 million viewers. Other private channels posted weak young-target shares during the World Cup coverage.
Weak Start for 'Die Bachelors', Reality-Allstars Finale Fades
DWDL reports that the linear TV premiere of Die Bachelors on RTL performed poorly, continuing last year’s low-linear-viewing trend: the premiere drew 0.69 million viewers with a 3.7% overall market share, 6.8% among 14–49, and 4.7% among 14–59. RTL’s Stern TV hit a new yearly low with 0.54 million viewers. At the same time on RTLzwei, the finale of Kampf der Reality-Allstars recorded weak linear performance (3.6% market share at 20:15 and 3.9% at 21:09) with total reaches around 0.51–0.56 million. DWDL cites AGF SCOPE/AGF Videoforschung data and notes that many RTL reality formats now perform better on the RTL+ streaming service, while their linear reach is declining.
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