Das Erste

Das Erste

Logo used since 2014
Country	Germany
Headquarters	Munich,Germany
Programming
Language(s)	German
Picture format	1080pHDTV (downscaled to16:9576ifor theSDTVfeed)
Ownership
Owner	ARD
Sister channels	One Tagesschau24 ARD- Alpha
History
Launched	25 December 1952(1952-12-25)
Former names	NWDR-Fernsehen (1952–1954) Deutsches Fernsehen (1954–1984) Erstes Deutsches Fernsehen (1984–1996)
Links
Website	www.daserste.de
Availability
Terrestrial
Digital terrestrial television	Channel slots vary on each city
Streaming media
DasErste.de	Watch live(Germany only)
Ziggo GO(Netherlands)	ZiggoGO.tv(Europe only)
Horizon	Horizon.tv(Switzerland only)
Canaldigitaal Live App	Live

Das Erste(German:[dasˈʔeːɐ̯stə];"The First" ) is the flagship nationaltelevision channelof theARDassociation ofpublic broadcastingcorporations in Germany.Das Ersteis jointly operated by thenine regional public broadcasting corporationsthat are members of the ARD.

The channel was officially launched on Christmas Day, 25 December 1952 asNWDR-Fernsehenand renamed toDeutsches Fernsehenin 1954.Since 1996, the official brand isDas Erste;the full nameErstes Deutsches Fernsehen(First German Television) is still used before every major news edition. In colloquial speech, the station is usually calledErstes Programm( "First Channel" ), or by itsmetonym,ARD.

History

The studio of the news programmeTagesschau

TheMaus,the popular children's series

The channel's first experimental broadcast was on 27 November 1950 as the TV channel of the thenNWDR,which in 1956 split intoNDRandWDR.The regular NWDR television service started on 25 December 1952. Nationwide transmission began on 1 November 1954 within the ARD framework, under the nameDeutsches Fernsehen( "German Television" ). It wasWest Germany's only television channel before the establishment ofZDFin 1963.

The new channel consisted of jointly-produced shows such as the nightly news programmeTagesschau(on the air since 26 December 1952), as well as broadcasts produced individually by ARD member stations. The programs were coordinated by theProgrammdirektionbased in Munich. Besides several entertaining shows, ARD went political in 1957 when it launched its first political TV magazine, Panorama. Germany's first political TV show adopted the slogan "What is being talked about and what should be talked about" and pictured all aspects of postwar West German society—including conflict-laden topics, scandals, and other taboo topics, such as former Nazis who had held important roles.

ARD nevertheless produced a provisional second TV channel (ARD 2) from 1 June 1961 until ZDF started its transmissions on 1 April 1963. Colour television was introduced on 25 August 1967. Since 1 September 1995, Das Erste has broadcast 24 hours a day.

The channel's name was changed toErstes Deutsches Fernsehen( "First German Television" ) on 1 October 1984. At the same time, a new corporate design was introduced, designed byHans Bacher,along with newCGIidentsproduced byCranston/Csuri ProductionsinColumbus,Ohio.The previous logo, with stylized waves, was replaced by a new logo showing a stylized number "1" which is still in use today. It changed its name toDas Ersteon 1 January 1997, but the long nameErstes Deutsches Fernsehenis still used for some purposes (e.g. the introduction to the main editions of theTagesschau). Informally, it is also known under the metonymARDamong viewers.

In addition to itsSDbroadcast, a720p50HDversion of the channel,Das Erste HD,is also broadcast. Broadcast ofDas Erste HDbegan in February 2010 with the coverage of the2010 Winter OlympicsinVancouver, British Columbia,Canada.Das Erste HDis available via satellite (DVB-S2onAstra 19.2°E), cable (all cable providers in Germany and some providers throughout Europe), IPTV (MagentaTV), encoded usingH.264AVC,and ondigital terrestrial televisionin1080p50,encoded usingH.265HEVC.

Member broadcasting organizations

All nine of Germany's regional public-broadcasting organizations contribute to the output of Das Erste and broadcast its programming in a common schedule.

Time assigned

Each regional member of ARD contributes programming to the channel's schedule in proportion to the population of the area it serves. As of 2017,the time allocations as percentage shares of total broadcast hours were:

Broadcasting organisation	% of total
Bayerischer Rundfunk(BR)	16.25
Hessischer Rundfunk(HR)	7.45
Mitteldeutscher Rundfunk(MDR)	10.60
Norddeutscher Rundfunk(NDR)	17.50
Radio Bremen(RB)	0.75
Rundfunk Berlin-Brandenburg(RBB)	7.10
Saarländischer Rundfunk(SR)	1.25
Südwestrundfunk(SWR)	18.10
Westdeutscher Rundfunk(WDR)	21.00

Broadcasting

Before 1990, Das Erste was only distributed inWest Germany,and was almost exclusively broadcast using transmitters owned by theDeutsche Bundespost.However, the transmitters were powerful enough that Das Erstecould easily be seenin nearly all ofEast Germanyas well. Exceptions includedDresden,located in a deep valley in southeastern East Germany, and the area aroundRügen.Indeed, Das Erste's broadcasts, particularly its newscasts, were far more popular in East Germany than those of state broadcasterDeutscher Fernsehfunk.One popular nickname for ARD in East Germany wasAußer Rügen und Dresden(except Rügen and Dresden).

Areas with ARD/Das Erste reception in East Germany in grey withblack areas having no reception(often jokingly referred to asAußer (except)RügenundDresden), and broadcasting transmitters near theinner German border

On 15 December 1990 followingreunification,programming from ARD was distributed byDeutsche Post of the GDRfor the first time. The GDR-transmitters were later taken over by the Bundespost and merged organizationally with the West German transmitters. The transmitters of the Bundespost were transferred toDeutsche Telekomin 1995, and then in turn toT-Systemsin 2000.

Between 2002 and 2008 the transmission facilities in Germany were successively converted from the analogue terrestrialPALstandard to the new digital terrestrialDVB-Ttelevision standard.

Das Erste is available throughout Europe onfree-to-airdigitalsatellite televisionvia Astra, as well as on manycableproviders. Transmission via the Hot Bird satellite was stopped on 1 April 2017.

Logo history

• 
  1970–1984
• 
  1984–1996
• 
  1997–2003
• 
  2003–2015
• 
  2003–2015
• 
  2015–present
• 
  2015–present
• 
  2015–present

Programmes

Children

• Frag doch mal die Maus(WDR), hosted byEckart von Hirschhausen(2006–present)
• Janoschs Traumstunde,children's programme (1986—1998)
• Sesamstraße(NDR), children's programme
• Die Sendung mit der Maus(WDR), children's programme

Entertainment

• Alfons und Gäste(SWR/SR) (2008–present)
• Die große Show der Naturwunder(SWR) (2006–present)
• extra 3(NDR), political satire
• Gefragt - Gejagt,German version ofThe Chase(2015–present)
• Immer wieder Sonntags(SWR) (1995–present)
• Inas Nacht(NDR) (2009–present)
• Musikantenstadl(co-production withORFandSRF) (1983–2015)
• Quizduell(NDR), hosted byJörg Pilawa(2014–present)
• Paarduell(WDR) (2016–present)
• Spiel für dein Land - Das größte Quiz Europas(co-production withORFandSRF), hosted byJörg Pilawa(2015–present)
• Verstehen Sie Spaß?(SDR/SWR), hosted byGuido Cantz(1980–2021)

Information

• ARD-Morgenmagazin(WDR) (1992–present)
• ARD-Mittagsmagazin(RBB) (1989–present)
• Berliner Runde(SFB/RBB) (1999–present)
• Bonner Runde(WDR) (1972–1999)
• Brennpunkt(multiple) (1971–present)
• Brisant(MDR) (1994–present)
• Fakt(MDR) (1992–present)
• Kontraste(SFB/RBB) (1968–present)
• Monitor(WDR) (1965–present)
• Nachtmagazin(ARD Aktuell, NDR) (1995–present)
• Panorama(NDR) (1957–present)
• Plusminus(multiple) (1975–present)
• Presseclub(WDR) (1987–present)
• Presseschau(SFB) (1969–2002)
• Report(Report Mainz/Report München)(SWF/SWR/BR) (1960–present)
• Tagesschau(ARD Aktuell, NWDR/NDR) (1952–present)
• Tagesthemen(ARD Aktuell, NDR) (1978–present)
• Umschau(SFB/RBB/MDR) (1969–present)
• Weltspiegel(multiple) (1963–present)

Series

• Babylon Berlin(2018–present)
• Blankenese(1994, 2001–2002, 2005)
• Charité(2017)
• Die Stein(2008, 2011)
• Earth 2(2008)
• Falcon Crest(1983–1991)
• Frau Temme sucht das Glück(2017)
• Großstadtrevier(1986–present)
• Heiter bis tödlich(multiple), light police comedy
• In aller Freundschaft(MDR), weekly soap (1998–present)
• In aller Freundschaft – Die jungen Ärzte(MDR), weekly soap (2015–present)
• Kir Royal(1986–1990)
• Lindenstraße(WDR), weekly soap (1985–2020)
• Magnum, P.I.(Magnum)(1984–1994)
• Miami Vice(1986–1994)
• Mord in bester Gesellschaftcrime series (2007–present)
• Murder, She Wrote(Mord ist ihr Hobby)(1988)
• Polizeiruf 110(multiple), crime drama
• Rentnercops(2015–present)
• Rote Rosen(Degeto Film), daily soap (2006–present)
• Sturm der Liebe(BR), daily soap (2005–present)
• Tatort(all regional stations)
• Türkisch für Anfänger(2006–2009)
• Um Himmels Willen(2002–present)
• Vorstadtweiber(2015–2016)
• Weissensee(2010, 2013, 2015)

Sport

• Sportschau(on Saturdays withBundesliga,WDR) (1961–present)
• Sportschau vor acht(WDR) (2013–present)
• Sportschau-Club(WDR) (2012–present)
• FIFA World Cup(1954-present)
• UEFA European Championship(1960-present)

Talk

• Anne Will(NDR), hosted byAnne Will(2007–present)
• Beckmann(NDR), hosted byReinhold Beckmann(1999–2014)
• Der internationale Frühschoppen(1953–1987)
• Günther Jauch(NDR), hosted byGünther Jauch(2011–2015)
• Hart aber fair(WDR), hosted byFrank Plasberg(2007–present)
• Maischberger(RBB/WDR), hosted bySandra Maischberger(2003–present)
• Sabine Christiansen(NDR), hosted bySabine Christiansen(1998–2007)

Former programmes

• Beat-Club
• Berlin, Berlin(SFB/RBB)
• Echo Music Prize(1998–2000, 2009–2016)
• Ein Herz und eine Seele(NDR)
• Die Kommissarin(1994–2006)
• Graf Yoster(1967–1976)
• Harald Schmidt(WDR)
• Marienhof(WDR), daily soap (1992–2009)
• Musikladen
• Polylux(ORB/RBB) (2000–2008)
• Raumpatrouille
• Verbotene Liebe(WDR), daily soap (1995–2015)
• Wochenspiegel(ARD-aktuell,NWDR/NDR) (1953–2014)
• Ziehung der Lottozahlen(HR), (1965–2013)

Audience share

Germany

	January	February	March	April	May	June	July	August	September	October	November	December	Annual average
1990	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	30.8%
1991	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	24.5%
1992	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	22.0%
1993	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	17.0%
1994	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	16.3%
1995	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	14.6%
1996	14.8%	15.2%	14.4%	14.1%	13.6%	18.2%	15.8%	14.5%	14.5%	14.3%	13.9%	14.2%	14.8%
1997	14.3%	15.2%	13.3%	15.0%	13.7%	14.9%	15.0%	16.0%	15.6%	14.3%	14.6%	14.6%	14.7%
1998	14.8%	15.8%	14.8%	14.2%	15.1%	19.9%	18.1%	15.2%	14.8%	14.3%	14.1%	14.0%	15.4%
1999	14.8%	15.3%	14.8%	14.1%	13.7%	14.8%	14.5%	13.9%	13.7%	13.1%	13.4%	14.3%	14.2%
2000	14.4%	14.4%	14.1%	13.5%	14.3%	15.7%	15.1%	14.1%	15.9%	13.3%	13.7%	13.5%	14.3%
2001	12.9%	14.3%	13.3%	12.7%	13.2%	14.1%	14.7%	13.8%	14.8%	13.4%	13.7%	14.2%	13.7%
2002	13.6%	15.9%	13.7%	13.8%	13.6%	17.1%	13.9%	14.9%	13.8%	13.4%	13.5%	13.5%	14.2%
2003	14.0%	14.9%	14.2%	13.6%	13.2%	14.0%	14.8%	14.1%	14.6%	13.3%	13.7%	13.6%	14.0%
2004	13.1%	13.8%	13.7%	13.7%	13.8%	17.4%	13.3%	16.0%	12.6%	13.1%	13.8%	13.4%	13.9%
2005	13.2%	14.3%	13.4%	13.8%	12.3%	13.8%	13.5%	13.8%	13.3%	12.9%	13.2%	14.0%	13.5%
2006	13.9%	15.4%	13.7%	13.3%	13.6%	18.4%	14.2%	14.1%	13.7%	13.5%	13.5%	13.7%	14.2%
2007	13.8%	14.3%	13.9%	13.1%	13.0%	12.9%	12.2%	13.9%	13.4%	13.3%	13.4%	13.1%	13.4%
2008	13.6%	13.8%	12.5%	12.5%	12.9%	18.0%	12.6%	15.1%	12.7%	12.4%	12.6%	12.7%	13.4%
2009	12.5%	13.3%	13.1%	12.7%	12.5%	12.5%	12.0%	13.1%	12.6%	12.7%	12.8%	12.5%	12.7%
2010	13.4%	14.0%	12.8%	12.8%	12.9%	17.1%	14.0%	12.2%	12.5%	11.9%	12.2%	12.7%	13.2%
2011	12.5%	12.9%	13.2%	12.6%	12.8%	13.1%	12.1%	12.3%	11.8%	11.8%	11.6%	11.9%	12.4%
2012	12.9%	11.8%	12.2%	11.2%	11.2%	15.9%	11.4%	13.5%	11.5%	11.7%	11.7%	12.2%	12.3%
2013	12.2%	12.4%	12.5%	12.1%	11.7%	12.3%	11.7%	12.0%	12.0%	11.7%	11.7%	12.3%	12.1%
2014	11.7%	13.4%	12.3%	11.4%	12.0%	17.4%	15.0%	11.3%	11.3%	11.1%	11.8%	11.5%	12.5%
2015	11.3%	11.8%	11.6%	12.2%	11.8%	12.1%	10.9%	11.2%	10.9%	11.2%	11.9%	11.9%	11.6%
2016	12.2%	11.6%	11.3%	11.5%	12.1%	16.0%	13.1%	14.0%	11.0%	10.7%	11.2%	11.2%	12.1%
2017	10.6%	11.8%	12.0%	11.8%	11.4%	10.7%	10.7%	11.0%	11.2%	10.9%	11.3%	11.8%	11.3%
2018

The average age of the viewers is 61 years (as of 2016).

External links

• Official website(in German)
• DasErste Mediathek (VoD Portal)(in German)