Observed Signal · May 13, 2026 · Ratings Report · Source: DWDL · Impact: 2/5 · Sentiment: Neutral
Wetzel Can't Repeat Salesch's Primetime Success
DWDL reports that RTL's primetime broadcast featuring judge Ulrich Wetzel on 12 May 2026 drew 1.51 million viewers and a 7.2% market share overall, falling well short of Barbara Salesch's primetime performance from the previous year (over two million viewers and >11% market share). In the key 14–49 demographic Wetzel reached 5.0% (6.6% for 14–59). ProSieben saw mixed results: 'TV Total' opened strongly (12.2% among 14–49; 1.04 million viewers), but follow-ups underperformed — 'Experte für alles' had 5.1% (14–49) and the new format 'The Hunt' premiered with 3.8% and then 0.9% (14–49), with reach dropping from ~140,000 to ~40,000. Sat.1’s 'The Hunting Party' averaged ~830,000 viewers with 4.2–4.7% (14–49). Data source: AGF Videoforschung (AGF SCOPE).
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Key Takeaways & Evidence Grounding
- RTL aired 'Ulrich Wetzel - Sein härtester Fall' to 1.51 million viewers on 12 May 2026 (7.2% market share all viewers).
- Ulrich Wetzel achieved 5.0% market share among 14–49 and 6.6% among 14–59, below Barbara Salesch's prior primetime (>2 million viewers; >11% market share).
- ProSieben: 'TV Total' started with 12.2% (14–49) and 1.04 million total viewers; 'Experte für alles' reached 5.1% (14–49).
- 'The Hunt' linear premiere on ProSieben reached 3.8% (14–49) for episode 1 and 0.9% for episode 2; audience fell from ~140,000 to ~40,000.
- Sat.1's 'The Hunting Party' two episodes reached ~830,000 viewers with 4.2% and 4.7% in the 14–49 demo; ARD led total reach with 'Die Notärztin' at 3.17 million (14.7%).
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ProSieben trails Vox and RTLzwei in primetime
DWDL.de reports on German TV audience figures for Monday (TV reach dated 27 April 2026). ProSieben recorded a weak day market share of 6.2%, with its primetime film "Ich - Einfach unverbesserlich 3" drawing 470,000 viewers (6.5% market share) and a later programme "Night Swim" dropping to 3.9%. Vox's "First Dates Hotel" hit a series low in reach (690,000 viewers) but delivered a 7.1% share in the core target. RTLzwei’s "Die Geissens" reached 590,000 viewers and 6.5% in the younger audience — the highest reach and share of the current season. Kabel Eins underperformed with a 2.5% day market share; its film "Criminal Squad" had 580,000 viewers but only 2.6% in the 14–49 demo. Data source: AGF SCOPE / AGF Videoforschung (preliminary weighted data).
RTL's Salesch Prime-Time Ratings Fall Sharply
RTL's second prime-time airing of 'Barbara Salesch - Freier Fall in den Tod' attracted only 1.37 million viewers, a drop of nearly 800,000 from its June 2025 premiere. Market share in the 14-49 demographic fell to 7.1%, and 7.2% among 14-59 year-olds, down from double-digit figures previously. The program lost to competitors, including ZDF's 'Der Quiz-Champion' with 2.53 million viewers and Das Erste's film 'Eine Nacht in Bangkok' with 4.43 million. Ratings data from AGF Videoforschung indicates a significant loss of audience interest for the format.
RTLzwei Starts Weak, Strengthens Through Night
DWDL reports TV audience figures for June 23–24, 2026 showing RTLzwei began primetime weak but grew steadily as the evening progressed. RTLzwei’s initial airing of 'Hartz und herzlich' delivered 2.1% market share (14–49) and ~360,000 viewers; a later repeat rose to 3.7% and ~410,000 viewers, matching the reach of the report 'Deutschlands verlorene Kinder' (5.1% in the classic target group) which climbed to 9.8% after midnight. RTL showed a similar upward trend (an initial 2.1% for an old crime drama, later programming up to 6.5%; the crime drama reached 1.07 million viewers). Sat.1 and VOX achieved moderate reaches with repeats and series, while ProSieben performed poorly (average reach ~230,000, 2.0% among 14–49, day share 3.2%, ranking seventh among the eight major full‑program channels). Data source: AGF SCOPE (AGF Videoforschung).
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