ProSieben’s The Masked Singer Reboot Draws Backlash Over Faster, Pre‑Recorded Format
The broadcaster says taped midweek shows with 16 contestants and in-studio voting raise suspense and ease celebrity bookings.
Overview
- ProSieben changed the show's structure for 2026 so each episode moves faster, fields a record 16 masked celebrities and sends pairs of contestants home in early rounds.
- The production moved from live Saturday broadcasts to pre-recorded Wednesday primetime shows and sold paid tickets for multiple studio tapings held in late August and early September.
- Voting now gives decision power to the studio crew and the live audience, removing at-home viewers from direct influence over who is unmasked.
- In the opening episode two well-known contestants were unmasked within roughly 75 minutes, a pace that prompted visible criticism from a guest juror and many viewers over lost interaction, limited character development and heavy advertising breaks.
- ProSieben and producers argue the format eases booking for busy celebrities and increases surprise frequency, a change that could reshape how fans follow the show and how networks schedule large-format entertainment.