On Sunday evening, March 16, 2025, 8.81 million viewers tuned in to bid farewell to investigator Borowski as he featured in the climax of the legendary German series 'Tatort'. This aired under the episode titled 'Borowski und das Haupt der Medusa', witnessing the show garnering just over 31.4% market share. This remarkable audience turnout marked the highest figures for any Borowski episode since 2003, setting precedents even amid the declining trends of linear television viewing.
While Borowski dominated the screen, he wasn't without competitors. The ZDF series 'Frühling' stood as the main rival, attracting 5.45 million viewers and achieving 19.4% market share during the same broadcast window. This indicates strong engagement among audiences as both networks combined accounted for over 50% of the total TV population between 8:15 PM and 9:45 PM.
Despite the clear success of Borowski, not all ratings were equally impressive. Programs like ProSieben's 'Wer stiehlt mir die Show?' managed to attract 1.45 million viewers for 6.6% market share, whereas RTL's sci-fi film 'The Creator' only managed to captivate 1.26 million viewers, translating to just 5.1%. Other lineups like Vox's 'Grill den Henssler' and Sat.1's 'Stirb langsam 4.0' reached 1.13 million and over 1 million viewers respectively, but weren’t formidable threats to the 'Tatort' phenomenon.
When considering demographics, 'Tatort: Borowski und das Haupt der Medusa' showcased impressive figures among the 14- to 49-year-old age group, with 1.36 million young adults tuning in — representing 22.6% of this key demographic. ProSieben's equivalent show brought 1.01 million young viewers, 21.9%, showing the competitive spirit alive among younger audiences.
Meanwhile, on Saturday, March 15, ZDF's 'Ein starkes Team: Fast perfekte Morde' captured 7.22 million viewers overall, securing 30.0% of available viewers during its run. Following close behind, the second show of 'Die Chefin' boasted 5.06 million viewers resulting in 24.4% market share. Das Erste’s comedy 'Es ist zu deinem Besten' garnered moderate engagement with 12.2% market share from nearly 3 million viewers—a nuanced performance against the fierce lineup.
Yet, on Saturday evening, entertainment veteran Stefan Raab made his much-anticipated return, hosting 'Stefan & Bully gegen irgendson Schnulli' alongside Michael "Bully" Herbig. Up to 2.20 million viewers tuned to their exploits, yielding them victory with 8% market share. Among younger viewers, the show posted solid figures, achieving 13.5% among 14 to 49-year-olds, and 10.9% among 14 to 59-year-olds.
Despite these positive results, Raab's return wasn’t without its challenges, as he faced notable audience declines from its previous December episode’s ratings. This time, the show attracted half a million viewers less than its debut, which had boasted figures around 19%. Still, Raab's enthusiasm remained unabated, triumphing over potentially distressing numbers.
The intense competition revealed tensions on air, particularly between Raab and Herbig during their game segment, 'Malen nach Zahlen'. Amid cheers and laughter, misunderstandings errantly cost them, creating dramatic moments. Following one blunder, Raab exclaimed, "Schildkröte ist eine gute Vermutung, aber es könnte auch ein Chamäleon mit eingerolltem Schwanz sein," prompting laughter from the audience. Yet frustrations simmered as their winning streak began to fade.
Facing accusations of dramatically 'handing out points', Raab vented frustration at his co-host after their show ping-ponged between points lost. "Ich weiß gar nicht, warum du dich freust," Raab countered as the dynamic narrative played out. Eventually, Konstantin, their opposing player, managed to claim the victory alongside the 250,000 Euro prize, cemented through challenges laid out before both contestants.
Overall, this past weekend spotlighted the fervent competition among German television viewership. 'Tatort' successfully captivated long-time viewers and newcomers alike, reinforcing its legacy. Raab's attempt to reclaim television dominance, albeit rocky, situates as part of TV's continuing evolution through the highs and lows of ratings.
