The Big Flash: 70 Years of Television

Milestone: Foundation of the Working Group of Public Broadcasting Organizations of the Federal Republic of Germany, ARD, in June 1950. Second German televisionZDF, added in 1961; In addition to the third programs for many years alone on a wide television floor. Today, the craze for acronyms is a special speciality: from GNTM – Germany’s next top model – to GZSZ – Gute Zeiten, Bad Zeiten.

B – colored

In August 1967, Federal Chancellor Willy Brandt gave a “starrrt shot to the German farrrrbferrrrnsen” with a rolling “R”. To do this, press the red button. The fact that the color flushed into the image a little earlier was due to technology, which flipped the switch too soon; Bell Brandt was just a puppet. It didn’t matter: at that time, only 6,000 households owned a color television set.

C- comedians

… They were called comedians and, like Ingrid Steiger and Dede Halverorden, happily frown through formats like “Klimbim” or “Nonstop Nonsens”. Today’s comedians often don’t want to be funny, but they are increasingly taking on the role of investigative journalists. Examples: Caroline Kebekus or Jan Böhmermann.

D – DDRtelevision

The East was faster: on December 21, 1952, the German Democratic Republictelevision On the air four days earlier than West. Only a few formats and shapes remained for the fall of 1989; Such as “Polizeiruf 110” (often better than “Tatort”), Carmen Nebel, Sandman and Wolfgang Lippert.

E – artist

It’s not even worth the gender here – because the heyday of the artists were Saturday night shows from the 60’s to the 80’s. There was usually only room for women as assistants, announcers or newscasters. Artists can moderate, sing or dance (Peter Alexander), play sketches (Rudy Carell, Peter Frankenfeld), or tell jokes. Last active actor: Thomas Gottschalk. However, in his appearance “Wetten, dass..?” Michelle Hunziker guides him through the show.

and football

… meanwhile gobbling up indecent amounts of money for broadcast rights.

g – fees

… is funded by public broadcasters. They are now called broadcast contributions because they look nicer. Side thinkers love to chatter about “forced fees”. But wouldn’t it also be nice to have a public broadcaster? It must be funded in some way. The question is why do you use contributions.

H – hit parade

“Music is trump” also applies to television. Legendary Dieter Thomas Heck with the hit show “In Zettek de Eve”. For decades, Karl Moeck has served friends of popular entertainment with his “Musikantenstadl”. Younger children can later switch to VIVA or MTV. Then there’s the European-wide singing competition, the Grand Prix Eurovision de la Chanson. Since no one can pronounce it anymore, it is now called the Eurovision Song Contest, ESC.

I – information

It is noteworthy that the “Tageschau” and “Aktuel Camera” were among the first to be seen by viewers in the West and the East 70 years ago. Daily news remains one of the main offerings for public broadcasters. It is completely incomprehensible that basic information formats such as “Weltspiegel” are unflatteringly converted into less attractive airtime slots.

J – youth

“Hello friends” – this is how Ilja Richter greeted young viewers at the ZDF “Disco” in the 70s. Today, ARD and ZDF sign 14-29-year-olds to the “content network” funk, including TikTok’s focus and podcasting area. For the little ones there is a children’s channel KiKA. All the other guys are touring, if not to the internet, then probably touring more to Joko & Klaas shows on Pro 7 or other special announcers shows.

K – crime

Zurich, Istanbul, New Zealand, Sweden, Lake Constance. In Germany television What things carry is determined. The driving force remains “Tatort” and “Polizeiruf 110”. This is great for ARD’s third shows: They can fill the slots with thrillers that have already aired, which they’ll have to go with more innovative content.

I like

Whether it’s “Bauer sucht Frau” or “Love Island”: so-called flirt and dome shows are shown on many stations. He was still completely harmless with Herzblatt. One of the frontrunners: Kay Pflaum.

M – Mainzilmill

“Gud’n Aaamd” – this is how Mainzelmännchen greets ZDF viewers. Welcome to the world of broadcaster mascots! For some time Ute, Schnute and Kasimir were very popular in the WDR. KiKA is based on Bernd, Bread and, in the early 1980s, ARD’s children’s show “Montagsglück” Zini Show, a computer-animated “Wuslon of the Elektroid Family”. RTL has brought the flesh-colored Karlchen doll to the screen. And a real walrus has appeared on the NDR for many years: Antje.

N — Netflix

Streaming services are perhaps the toughest competition for established TV broadcasters. linear televisionIe watching TV as per the program maker’s specifications outside. Viewers today want to decide for themselves what to watch and when. Netflix and Co make it possible. Classic TV’s answer to this is the “media library”. Officials remain powerless against the money Sky, Amazon Prime and others pour into producing high-quality series and documentaries. When in doubt, we cooperate – as with “Babylon Berlin”.

Oh topless

In 1990, RTL brought Germany’s first exciting game show with “Tutti Frutti”. television. Since then some dams have broken.

P – various programs

Whether it’s Catholic K-TV, home shopping channels or specials for travel enthusiasts and astrology professionals: a remote control is no longer enough to explore all there is to see on TV.

Q – Quiz

“Danger!” whispered Wim Thulkey. in the Grand Prize. “What am I?” asked Robert Lembeck while advising him cheerfully. , “Click” in “Dali Dali” by Hans Rosenthal. Nowadays, quiz shows are a rewarding task for all-round stewards like Jörg Pilawa.

r – correspondent

… bringing live events closer to the audience. Marcel Reeve and Gunther Josh were not forgotten in 1998, when a goal fell delayed the soccer match between Real Madrid and Borussia Dortmund for what seemed like an eternity. O-Ton Reif: “Never has a goal made a game so good.”

S – Deadline

…go to an unknown destination. Today, almost everyone broadcasts everything around the clock without mercy. It is hard to believe that 70 years ago, on the first day of broadcasting on West German television, the program ended after two hours.

T – talk shows

Algae plague from TV. Available in various guises, from the riotous (“Arabella” on Pro 7, but also, long ago, the “Das Literary Quartet” with the feisty Marcel Reich-Ranicki) to the political (“Sabine Christiansen”, “Anne Will” etc. p.) . Knowledge acquisition is usually just as manageable as production effort – which in turn explains the popularity of talk shows among show makers.

u – entertainment

A broad genre that includes TV series such as “Lindenstraße” as well as notable series such as those by Helmut Dietl (“Keer Royal”). The subgenres of docu-soap, reality TV, and celebrity confessions can also be found here. The mother of celebrity fights is Frauke Ludowig, who hosts the stellar magazine “Exclusiv” on RTL.

Fifth – consumer

It is regarded with particular devotion by public broadcasters. In the meantime, tertiary programs should have covered all frozen pizza, bubble machines, and mattress protectors in this republic.

W – Word for Sunday

After “Tagesschau” it is the second oldest form in German television. ARD broadcast the first program on May 8, 1954. The most prominent speakers on the program, which was organized by the two main churches, were Pope John Paul II in April 1987 and Pope Benedict XVI. in September 2011.

X-XY

Another perennial favorite from the common law world: “Aktenzeichen XY… Unsolved”. In October 1967, Edward Zimmerman first ordered Criminal Chase on screen. Zimmermann’s colleagues from Switzerland and Austria, Konrad Twins, who looks a bit like a turtle, and Peter Nieditzky, who sometimes looks lazy, have also attained cult status.

Y—Yogeshwar

It is said that Ranga Yogeshwar, who always looks enthusiastic, represents science presentations. The pioneers were Bernhard Grzymek’s “A Place for Animals” (the best posters for seeing imitations of Loriot including the stone louse) and Heinz Sellmann’s “Expeditions in Thirich”. Of note from the Middle Ages: “Knoff-hoff-Show” with Joachim Bublath and Ramona Leiß. Because knowledge makes ah!

Z-spectators

… share guarantee. The show’s creators, who dance around the stake as the Israelis once did around the golden calf, worry about falling ratings.

By Joachim Heinz (KNA)