Beijing (dpa) – ARD and ZDF have significantly reduced their coverage of the Winter Paralympics on traditional television this year compared to 2018. Why it is like that? Answers to these and other questions:
How much do ARD and ZDF broadcast?
The public broadcasters offer extensive coverage of the Winter Paralympics, but show less than half the coverage of 2018 in their main programs. Four years ago from Pyeongchang, it was 65 hours on classic TV. The majority of transmissions this year will instead be on the Internet. “This is a shift, but not a reduction in our offer,” explained ZDF sports director Thomas Fuhrmann.
Why are the broadcasters changing what they offer?
“Unlike four years ago, ARD is focusing on audience-friendly broadcasting times on linear television this time,” said the first on request. The time difference and the changed viewing behavior are therefore arguments for the broadcasters to relocate. The reason is also that fewer Germans are at the start and there is no team sport, according to ZDF.
Who shows what?
On Friday, ZDF will begin broadcasting the opening ceremony at 12:50 p.m. The second then reported four days “mainly in summaries”, as the broadcaster announced. ARD will take over on Wednesday in a week’s time and will remain the Paralympics broadcaster until March 13th. The broadcasts from Beijing are integrated into the extensive winter sports live sections, especially at the weekends.
The public service providers offer a large selection on the Internet at “sportschau.de” and “zdf.de/sport”, usually from 3 a.m. on up to three live streams. The ARD promises “all competitions with German athletes in full”.
What is different due to Corona?
Corona makes reporting from Beijing more difficult than from Pyeongchang. Due to the pandemic, the transmissions from both broadcasters – as was the case last time at the Winter Olympics – are completely controlled from the joint NBC (National Broadcast Center) on Lerchenberg in Mainz. This is where direction, editing, broadcasting, technology and post-production are brought together for ARD and ZDF.
Who are the moderators and experts?
The ARD relies on Stephanie Müller-Spirra as moderator, the expert on the first is Anna Schaffelhuber. Presenter Yorck Polus and expert Matthias Berg are on duty at ZDF.