Latest Trends on German TV screens

Fall is a special season in terms of fiction with the launch of all the new US series, but not only. In Germany, many local productions were launched lately. They indeed represent a consequent volume of the new titles launched this fall (53% of the new fiction launched in Germany from September to November 2008 according to the NOTA analysis).

The will is to give an advantage to local productions in detriment to imports is obvious on two public channels ZDF and ARD. ARD, along its well-established series such as "Tatort" or "Um Himmels", launched two series this season: "Die Stein" which is about the daily life of a teacher living in the countryside of Berlin and "Die Anwalte" which is about the lives of five attorneys working together. As for ZDF, it launched last September the new police series "Kommissarin Lund", featuring Sarah Lund, an investigator from the Homicide department of the police force who begins her last day at the job before moving to Stockholm. In 2009, ZDF will also air notably three of its trademark historical miniseries: "The Rebel" (a family drama centered on a technologically minded woman fighting the prejudice of the 1950s), "The Wolves" (series about a German youth gang from the 1940s until reunification) and "The Krupps" (a series about the 400-year-old steel production dynasty).

The private channel Sat.1 also bets on German fictions this fall. The big issue for this channel is to maintain its audience performance among its core target: the female audience; and fiction seems to be a good mean. In the past years, such programs such as "Verliebt in Berlin", the German adaptation of "Betty La Fea", contributed to consolidate the female audience. Sat.1 decided then to launch a new telenovela with "Anna und die Liebe". It deals with Anna, a talented but shy girl, who has to bear a number of injustices till she can realize her dream: working in an advertising agency. In the same purpose, Sat.1 launched two other series with "Dr Molly & Karl" and "Pleutzlich Papa". "Dr Molly & Karl" features the unique disparity in between two women working in the same hospital: neurologist and neurosurgeon Dr Molberg and psychologist Dr Carlotta Edelhardt. As for "Pleutzlich Papa", it deals an advocate, Alexander Degen who discovers that he is the father of an eight month old baby.

Anna und die Liebe (SevenOne)

Unlike ARD, ZDF and Sat.1, the channels RTL and Pro7 favour successful foreign series: "The Strip" (Australia) and "Merlin" (UK) on RTL; and the US series "Californication, Samantha Who" and "How I Met your Mother" on Pro7.

In the entertainment field as well, German develops most of its formats: this fall more than 3 out of 4 new entertainments are original concepts according to the analysis made by NOTA. The best launch over the period in the entertainment area is the German variety show "Mensch gegen Tier", in which extreme athletes challenge animals to an athletic duel. And German formats travel well following the example of "Wetten dass…?" ("Wanna Bet") and "Schlag den Raab" ("Beat Your Host"). "Wetten dass…?" is a game show in which contestants have to perform incredible deeds and personalities bet on their possibility of success. It has already been adapted in Italy, Spain and the USA. As for "Schlag den Raab", it has already been developed in France, Sweden and the UK. In this game show, one viewer competes against the host and has the chance to take home the big cash.

However, German programs are also based on international concept. This fall, the Japanese game show "Hole in the Wall" and the Dutch format "The Singing Office" have been adapted on RTL and Pro7 launched the US format the "Singing Bee" last September.