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.
ProSieben is actually known for never missing out on a major TV premiere of a US blockbuster. Whether “Fantastic Animal Beings”, “Avengers” or the new Tarantino film – in German linear television all these films were first seen on ProSieben. Prime time 8:15 p.m. on Sunday evening was often reserved for such blockbuster premieres. However, that is about to change.
No more blockbusters at ProSieben?
Sunday is considered one of the most important days in television and prime time is so named because that is exactly what it is – the best time for films, 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 in 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. In June, ProSieben wants to present new planned formats for the concept. According to Rosemann, fiction shouldn’t play a major role, not even from Germany. “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.”
ProSieben is probably planning to push and place its own formats, such as the show “Who steals the show?” even more prominently, and to supplement them with other, similar concepts. 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 open 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.”
The broadcaster boss also mentions the competition from streaming services such as Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, Disney+ and Co. The big Hollywood productions in particular often appear on streaming platforms before the TV premiere. A large part of the target group does not have to wait for linear television to see these productions. If you stay with the example of “Avengers” from Marvel: The studio now belongs to Disney, so Disney + logically has access to new titles in the series well ahead of everyone else.
Incidentally, it’s not just ProSieben that’s affected, 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