Overview

• ARD has begun internal test broadcasts of a 30-minute version of its 20:00 Tagesschau on Mondays, doubling the current 15-minute runtime.
• WDR Program Director Jörg Schönenborn confirmed the tests, which aim to include more everyday topics alongside major news events.
• The proposed change could impact primetime schedules across German broadcasters, as the Tagesschau traditionally defines the 20:15 start of evening programming.
• Internal opposition has emerged, with WDR reportedly threatening to drop the feed and some ARD insiders criticizing the plan as a 'short-sighted power move.'
• A final decision on the format extension is expected in the second half of 2025, pending evaluations of the test broadcasts and regulatory coordination with ZDF under the ARD state treaty.