Overview
- The show opened with a briefly malfunctioning donation hotline that Johannes B. Kerner acknowledged on air, and calls flowed once the issue was resolved.
- More than 80 figures from entertainment, sports and politics staffed the phones, with performances by Andrea Berg, Roland Kaiser, Sarah Connor, Santiano and pianist Lang Lang.
- Large pledged contributions reported included €4 million from the Dietmar-Hopp-Stiftung and €250,000 from Lieken, while Axel Springer covers administrative costs so donations fund projects directly.
- The ZDF broadcast reached about 2.89 million viewers for a 13.8% market share, in line with last year’s audience levels.
- Logistics were bolstered by over 2,100 Deutsche Telekom volunteers answering calls nationwide and a LEGO partnership preparing roughly 3,000 gift packages for Berlin distribution.