ARD will show new ‘Tatort’ episodes from Friday

From next week, viewers who log in to the ARD Mediathek will be able to watch new episodes of “Tatort” and “Polizeiruf” on Friday, two days before their regular Sunday television broadcast. The change accompanies the end of the longest “Tatort” summer break, with the Furtwängler thriller “Der gelbe König” returning next Sunday.

Access to the early premiere requires a Mediathek account with a name and email address. A single ARD login also provides access to ZDF. The broadcasters say the programs remain fully available without registration, but the new schedule gives viewers another reason to sign up.

ARD programming chief Christine Strobl described the crime series as unusually powerful shared television: “On Monday, so many people talk about the same case.” The Friday release is intended “for everyone who cannot wait until Sunday.”

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On Monday, so many people talk about the same case.

The move also fits the broadcasters’ effort to build shared, personalized recommendation systems for registered users. ARD and ZDF want to reach regional and age-specific audiences more effectively, while stressing that their systems differ from those used by technology companies. Entering a date of birth remains optional, though it can allow viewers to watch age-restricted content earlier in the evening.

The Sunday crime dramas attract an average of nearly 8.3 million television viewers, with peaks of up to 13 million, according to ARD. Mediathek viewing adds about 10 percent reach. The change comes as the series undergoes a generational transition, including the departure of Munich investigators Batic and Leitmayr after 35 years. New teams are set to begin in several locations, while the MDR has announced a three-year break from “Tatort” and “Polizeiruf” for cost reasons. The article questions whether the Friday premieres will ultimately help the Sunday broadcasts.

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for everyone who cannot wait until Sunday