World Cup opening match: TV ratings plummet in Germany

Submitted by AmIFromA t3_z0v9hc in television

The TV ratings for yesterday's opening match between Qatar and Ecuador are in. The game, which was shown by public broadcaster ZDF, was the third-most watched program on German TV yesterday, with a viewership of 6.21 million (a share of 28.2%), losing to an episode of crime procedural Tatort which had 9.25 million viewers (29.8%). Source.

For context, the game was played by two teams that aren't exactly huge draws, but four years ago, a similar opening match (Russia - Saudi Arabia) drew 10 million viewers (a share of 52%, Source).

Also, the game was shown on a Sunday at a good time (5pm CET), so it wasn't competing directly with Tatort. At the WC in Russia, the average game without German participation had 9.3 million viewers (share of 43%; games in which Germany participates are +80%). 56 games were shown on the main channels in 2018, all of them had a higher share than this year's opening match and only 11 had less viewers (most of them due to being shown on a workday at 2:00pm) Source, p. 481.

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NestroyAM t1_ix7ulry wrote

Let's revisit those German ratings when Germany actually plays.

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AmIFromA OP t1_ix7yusk wrote

Yeah, it will be interesting. Naturally it will be way higher, but seeing that Germany's games had shares of more than 80% at all the previous World Cups, even 60% would be a disaster for the associations as well as the sponsors.

Edit: /u/NestroyAM, numbers are in, the share was 59.7%.

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BelgianBond t1_ix7qe1o wrote

So this Tatort, is it akin to a German Line of Duty? What makes it so popular?

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methosofninive t1_ix7r2z5 wrote

Not at all. The show has been on for 52 years, so imo by now it's mostly nostalgia and tradition. Some people go to church on Sunday mornings, but everyone watches Tatort Sunday night. For me it scratches the same itch as Columbo, if Columbo was a multitude of different detectives in different German speaking regions...

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BlackKnight2000 t1_ixbgpie wrote

So it’s like, German Doctor Who but with detectives?

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methosofninive t1_ixbvisi wrote

That is the most beautiful description I've ever heard! Gonna use that from now on :-)

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BelgianBond t1_ix7tby5 wrote

It sounds like I've arrived at this one too late. I'd be lost if I tried to jump in the middle of a 50-year span.

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methosofninive t1_ix7w5ro wrote

What do you mean? it's just 1217 (+13) 90min episodes, a little binging and you'll be caught up in no time /s
That said all the cases are self-contained and some locations have only a handful of episodes. My gran and her friends in the pensioners' club usually binge a few location specific episodes before they go on a trip to one of the cities.
That also said I promise you won't miss anything if you don't check out Tatort.

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natus92 t1_ix92gkd wrote

Just wanted to add that Tatort is not for old people only, there are a few public viewing events in bars and stuff. I usually also watch the austrian episodes for patriotic reasons. There is a team from Switzerland too.

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methosofninive t1_ix9c9pa wrote

oh I didn't mean to imply that! Sorry, Tatort really is for everyone. My entire family watches it. I just meant that those lucky enough to have the time and resources to make both regular sightseeing trips all around Germany as well as go on binging sprees sometimes combine the two because apart from interesting cases you also get to see nice landmarks of different cities.

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Nacknack26 t1_ixc85v8 wrote

Really? I personally feel like everyone I know my included who is younger watched Tatort with their parents. Its either a family or a boomer thing, but I would never catch a episode alone.

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AmIFromA OP t1_ix7vrt7 wrote

Nah, the episodes are standalone. New teams are also introduced pretty often, and only some of them have something akin to an arch. There are also huge differences between the episodes of each team, with some having more of a comedy approach, some being thrillers and some being action films (like the Till Schweiger ones back in the day), and depending of the popularity of each team / city, the ratings are different (the one in question was from Dresden, which is on the air since 2016 with now 14 episodes).

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AndiamoABerlinoBeppe t1_ix7w8wj wrote

The episodes are usually not connected, though most detectives have an overarching backstory that sometimes is developed in episodes. Even if such development occurs, it takes a back seat to the main whodunit. So no problem to jump in. Different cities have different detectives and styles, though it could and probably should be more varied. Many Tatorts are fun, but formulaic. Notable exception is the Wiesbaden Tatort, which is experimental and really fresh. People dig the humor of the Münster Tatort. I wish I could give you more on the other cities, but I usually only watch the Wiesbaden ones. But so anyway the point is: no worries, jump right in :)

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BelgianBond t1_ix896ua wrote

Okay I've jumped in at episode 750 on Youtube and like the retro title sequence: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ub8JnX0U-cE&t=79s

This cold open is interesting with its time jumps and tonal jumps but what's this... the accents are a bit hard to follow. What vernacular is this? I'm going to have a hard time working out the mystery if I can't make out all the words.

Wait... are these characters speaking German?! I don't speak that!

THANKS A LOT.

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ebrythil t1_ix8rk73 wrote

Who would have thought that a German tv series is in German?

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Cookie06031 t1_ix8r8fs wrote

I only watched one Tatort in my life, which i believe was a Wiesbaden one - "Im Schmerz geboren". That was just as you said - pretty experimental and surprisingly good. Not at all what i expected (even though many people at the time recommended it to me).

That was back in 2014 though and i have yet to see my second Tatort. But still, i remember it fondly.

Edited for clarity

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AndiamoABerlinoBeppe t1_ix9ks4v wrote

That’s indeed a Wiesbaden one, and coincidentally my favourite Tatort also! Close second favorite is „Wer bin ich?“, and „Murot und das Murmeltier“ comes in at third. All of these are Wiesbaden. I will not spoil them for you other than to say they’re very good fun to watch also :)

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redavid t1_ix8a4sl wrote

Germany has, you know, a significant population of Russians, and a similar culture generally, i wouldn't say Russia's opening match last time is that comparable to today's or that this means anything

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AmIFromA OP t1_ix8fxmk wrote

That's true. Still, opening matches are usually a bigger deal, and in 2018, matches like Japan vs Senegal and Nigeria vs Iceland had way more viewers. Also, the game had ~250,000 viewers more than Morocco vs Iran in 2018 (17pm on a Friday), but the latter was also watched by an additional 1.7 million people at public viewing events while there was no public viewing for the Qatar match.

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ozmega t1_ix8wnea wrote

also, OP can go find ratings in south america, lets see if it fits the narrative people are trying to push in this website..

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AmIFromA OP t1_ix8yp2s wrote

I would be happy to see someone give some info on other markets, but I only follow the German one, as that's my home country.

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apple_kicks t1_ix8r69g wrote

Over capitalism of football is been frustrating. tip of an iceberg is Qatar but there’s been brewing stuff for years with corruption and trying to squeeze more profits out of games with moving and increasing fixtures to point where players getting more injured and fans getting ripped off. Not forgetting homophobia and other human rights issues here too that’s been brewing with not just hosting events but power and dodgy sponsors at league level. Qatar has been all these football scandals at the same time and at a peak that’s hard to ignore. All we’re missing is a doping scandal to complete the set

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monchota t1_ix80o7x wrote

I know most the US won't watch it anyway but if you can boycott this shit.

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anasui1 t1_ix8mpsn wrote

maybe four years ago Tatort wasn't on. Also, hot damn, that show still going?

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AmIFromA OP t1_ix8n7rf wrote

Like I said, the two programs weren't competing directly.

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Seeteuf3l t1_ixcbq2x wrote

Probably demographics of the viewership are slightly different.

Finnish numbers seem not to be too different (2018 350k, 2022 415k). Though 2018 stats are for the whole thing including studio and opening show, while '22 is just for the game.

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tinaoe t1_ixuib64 wrote

>Also, hot damn, that show still going?

tatort will never die

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[deleted] t1_ix8mf0x wrote

[deleted]

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vidarc t1_ix8odu7 wrote

Unless you have one of those Nielsen boxes, no one will ever know.

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cashmonee81 t1_ix8ov1u wrote

Sure. Every vote counts. It may not make a huge difference, but if enough tune out, sponsors won’t be so willing to sign up at the same rate next time.

Put it another way. Tuning it will definitely have zero positive effect. Tuning out may.

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