Reports indicate a potential reduction in the frequency of Jan Böhmermann’s satirical program, “ZDF Magazin Royale” on German public broadcaster ZDF. According to a report by “Der Stern” magazine, the number of episodes planned for the coming year may be significantly cut, from the current 33 to approximately 20.
While ZDF did not explicitly deny the reported change when questioned by “Der Stern”, the broadcaster confirmed ongoing discussions with Böhmermann and the production company responsible for the show. No further details regarding these conversations have been released. A ZDF spokesperson stated that the channel intends to continue its collaboration with Böhmermann and Unterhaltungsfernsehen Ehrenfeld UE GmbH in 2026, including the “ZDF Magazin Royale” and “Lass dich überwachen” programs. The scope of this collaboration remains unspecified. The production company itself declined to comment on the matter.
The potential reduction in episodes comes as late-night programming experiences scrutiny, particularly in the United States. A recent and widely publicized example involves Jimmy Kimmel’s talk show, which was temporarily cancelled and subsequently reinstated following significant public response.
“ZDF Magazin Royale” has been a regular feature on ZDF, airing on Friday evenings since November 2020, with episodes becoming available on the ZDF media library prior to broadcast.