ARD

ARD mourns Regina Ziegler, founder of Ziegler Film in 1973

Munich – November 01, 2026 -- German public broadcaster ARD and its film arm ARD Degeto have announced the death of producer Regina Ziegler, who founded her own production company in 1973 and built it into one of Germany's most significant independent producers over more than five decades.

Ziegler launched her company in 1973 in a male-dominated industry

When Ziegler founded her company, the film industry was far more male-dominated than it is today, according to ARD. The broadcaster credits her with building the business through persistence and an instinct for material and talent.

ARD Funds Moorhuhn Documentary With Up to €300,000 After TopDocs Win

Leipzig – October 29, 2026 -- Six ARD broadcasters will cover gross production costs of up to €300,000 for "Die unglaubliche Geschichte des Moorhuhns" (The Incredible Story of the Moorhuhn), the winner of the 15th ARD TopDocs Competition. Leipzig-based Hoferichter & Jacobs GmbH, represented by Ariane Riecker and Olaf Jacobs, won the pitch for the 90-minute documentary.

Jury picked the winner from 52 submissions and three finalists

A jury of programme editors from the participating ARD media houses and the ARD Mediathek, chaired by ARD Editor-in-Chief Oliver Köhr, shortlisted three projects out of 52 entries. The finalists presented their concepts at a pitch in Leipzig on October 28, 2026. The call sought stories of people who risked everything for big goals, for release on Das Erste or in the ARD Mediathek.

NDR Wins Four Deutsche Fernsehpreis 2026 Awards

Hamburg – September 16, 2026 -- NDR secured four Deutsche Fernsehpreis 2026 awards across satire, documentary and fiction categories, the German public broadcaster confirmed.

Satire team wins Best Entertainment Script for October 2025 extra 3 episode

Dietmar Jacobs and Christian Ehring received the Best Entertainment Script award for the September 16, 2026 extra 3 episode titled "Streit ums Stadtbild – Merz poltert." Extra 3, hosted by Ehring, marks its 50th anniversary in 2026 with a lineup expansion that adds comedian Michael Mittermeier, entertainer Riccardo Simonetti and actress Collien Fernandes alongside existing cast members Oliver Kalkofe, Maxi Schafroth and Sarah Bosetti.

ARD Wins Record 9 Awards, 32 Nominations at Deutscher Fernsehpreis 2026

Munich – – September 16, 2026 -- German public broadcaster ARD secured 9 awards at the Deutscher Fernsehpreis 2026, the highest tally of any network, alongside 32 nominations that outpaced all competitors by a wide margin.

ARD claims top honors across reality, drama and documentary categories

The reality format "Werwölfe - Das Spiel von List und Täuschung" won Best Reality Entertainment, marking ARD's first major recognition in the reality genre. The drama series "Hundertdreizehn" took Best Drama Series, while "Die Nichte des Polizisten" earned two awards: Best Fiction Screenplay for writers Rolf Basedow, Nicole Armbruster and Gabriela Sperl, and Best Fiction Editing for Anna Nekarda.

BR Doku-Serie 'Rise & Fall 1860 München' Wins German TV Award

Munich – September 13, 2026 -- Bayerischer Rundfunk's documentary series "Rise & Fall 1860 München" has won the German Television Award for Best Editing in the Information category, capping a launch run that generated 3.4 million views on the ARD Mediathek streaming platform.

Editor Xenja Kupin receives top honor at Cologne ceremony

The award was presented on September 8 during the "Night of the Creatives" gala in Cologne to editor Xenja Kupin, whose cutting style defined the series' visual signature. The series drew 1.6 million views in its first week alone, according to BR.