The Local Germany

'Top Gear' reportedly cruising to German TV

Wed, 11 Feb 2015 13:01:00 +0100

British motoring TV show Top Gear has become a worldwide phenomenon with it unique blend of cars, humour and antics. Now there are reports that a German broadcaster will try to ape its success.

Phone a friend – how about Merkel?

Tue, 03 Jun 2014 18:00:00 +0200

Faced with an obscure question about East German washing machines on Monday night, a politician on “Who Wants to Be a Millionaire?” thought he knew who had the answer – he phoned Chancellor Angela Merkel.

Zalando hits back after undercover report

Thu, 17 Apr 2014 10:00:00 +0200

Online fashion retailer Zalando has prompted an investigation by state prosecutors in Erfurt against an undercover journalist who revealed alleged "trade secrets" in a TV report on Monday night.

Bertelsmann to cut stake in broadcaster RTL

Thu, 04 Apr 2013 11:58:00 +0200

German media giant Bertelsmann said Thursday it will cut its stake in Luxembourg-based television and broadcasting giant RTL by selling shares on the stock exchange.

Health minister criticises alcoholism TV show

Sun, 10 Mar 2013 12:22:00 +0100

German Health Minister Daniel Bahr has sharply criticised the first episode of a new RTL programme “The Jenke Experiment” in which the show’s host gets drunk on a daily basis to see how excessive alcoholism affects his life.

RTL cancels sex segment over incest

Sat, 09 Mar 2013 11:53:00 +0100

German broadcaster RTL abruptly removed programme “7 Days of Sex” (7 Tage Sex) from its regularly scheduled time slot last Wednesday after it was revealed that the featured couple had the same father.

Berlin politicians stop birth reality TV show

Wed, 27 Feb 2013 11:31:00 +0100

Politicians have stopped a German copy of a British reality television show following women giving birth, telling hospital staff to throw the camera teams out.

Germany's new singing 'superstar' is Swiss

Sun, 29 Apr 2012 13:04:00 +0200

Germany’s new superstar is 17-year-old Swiss singer Luca Hänni, who beat out the competition Saturday evening in the popular Deutschland Sucht den Superstar ("Germany Seeks a Superstar") television show.

Teen girl discovers 'swinging' parents online

Thu, 16 Feb 2012 13:02:00 +0100

A German judge has dismissed a lawsuit by a couple of swingers after their 15-year-old daughter discovered a video of them in a sex club with their faces undisguised on the website of TV channel RTL.

RTL reviewing security after Kurds storm studio

Thu, 29 Sep 2011 18:25:00 +0200

German television network RTL is reviewing its security arrangements after a group of Kurdish sympathizers stormed one of their Cologne studios and staged a sit-in protest.

RTL eyes Poland's TVN

Thu, 25 Aug 2011 16:36:00 +0200

Leading European television group, RTL, a unit of Germany's Bertelsmann, is ready to spend more than €1 billion ($1.44 billion) for control of the Polish company TVN, press reports said Thursday.

Bertelsmann mogul Mohn dies at 88

Sun, 04 Oct 2009 15:37:00 +0200

Reinhard Mohn, who built Germany's Bertelsmann from a family printing and publishing business into one of the world's largest media companies, has died at the age of 88, the firm said on Sunday.

Reality TV show with borrowed babies causes outcry

Thu, 14 May 2009 18:25:00 +0200

A new reality television show due to be launched in June, in which teenagers will be filmed looking after babies "donated" for the programme, sparked outrage in Germany on Thursday.

Nazi scandal on reality TV show

Wed, 23 Jan 2008 14:44:00 +0100

A participant has been expelled from a popular German reality television show after he performed a Nazi salute.