By Marlene Polywka | July 02, 2022 at 7:30 p.m
Anyone who wants to watch Hollywood blockbusters on linear television usually does so on ProSieben. In the future, however, this will only be possible to a much lesser extent. The broadcaster would like to change its primetime design.
Sunday evening is actually the big cinema time at ProSieben. The broadcaster is known for never missing out on major TV premieres of American blockbusters. Whether "Fantastic Animal Beings", "Avengers" or the new Tarantino film – on German linear television, all of these films were first shown on ProSieben at prime time 8:15 p.m. on Sunday evening. But that cinema feeling on the sofa at home should soon be over. Because ProSieben has announced some changes
No more blockbusters at ProSieben?
Sunday is considered one of the most important days in television and primetime is so named because that's exactly what it is – the best time for movies, shows and series. It is not for nothing that the German television institution “Tatort” has been running on this slot for decades in the first. But as ProSieben boss Daniel Rosemann revealed in the DWDL interview, the broadcaster wants to reposition itself during this important period of time.
"We're parting with the blockbuster on Sunday evening on ProSieben," says Rosemann in no uncertain terms. “ProSieben doesn't do without Hollywood. US license will always have an important part in our grids. But on another primetime evening of the week we have to and want to do without feature films.” Hollywood content will not disappear completely from the station, but it will be placed much less well in the future. But why did the broadcaster decide to take this step?
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ProSieben wants a new Sunday evening program
In the future, in-house productions will take the place of the big Hollywood productions. These are probably primarily TV shows.
“We want to extend the weekend feeling in the new programme. It's about formats that like to be a window on the world and serve the desire for adventure and escapism with fun and games. A great experience with traveling celebrities that I can witness from the comfort of my own home.”
Daniel Rosemann, DWDL
A total of 52 Sundays per year are available for this. Fiction, also from Germany, should play a much smaller role in the future, according to Rosemann. “Spreading in a single series or a film from time to time – that's not a strategy. We have to be convinced that we can build a fiction spread in the program with different fabrics. We are a bit away from that at the moment.”
These shows are intended to replace the blockbusters at ProSieben
As part of the “Screenforce Days”, ProSieben has now become more specific. On the one hand, blockbusters on Sunday evenings will primarily be shown on the related station Sat.1. On the other hand, the first four self-produced shows that are to take their place have been determined. Rosemann named autumn as the time window, probably from October.
"Country Duelle" is the provisional name of one of ProSieben's announced projects. Celebrities should solve tasks during a live switch in four different countries. In the end, the audience decides the winner. Rosemann also talked about another project called Mission: Job Unknown. In this format, stars like Sven Hannawald and Mario Basler have to face a wide variety of jobs in distant countries, such as lifeguards.
In "Local Hero", on the other hand, celebrities have to face exciting traditions and strange to bizarre customs. Another show called World Most Dangerous Roads is also in the pipeline. ProSieben thus confirms the already announced and taken course away from blockbusters towards self-produced reality formats.
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In addition to these new broadcaster projects, well-known programs such as "Who is stealing the show?" or "The duel around the world" will be continued. If necessary, ProSieben could also place these shows even more prominently on Sunday evenings during prime time. But why did the broadcaster decide to take this step?
These are the reasons for the change
In general, big titles no longer bring the good numbers they used to. In addition, the corona pandemic has significantly limited supplies from Hollywood. Since most films are shown on television about two years after they have been released in cinemas, this effect has shifted somewhat, but is now having a particularly strong impact. Rosemann says: "In the near future there will be no supply of new blockbusters that will satisfy us."
Incidentally, not only ProSieben is affected by this, the density of US blockbusters at prime time has also decreased significantly on RTL+. It is not yet known when the final switch to this new concept will take place, nor to what extent the change could possibly affect Joyn's own streaming service
