On the evening of February 1, 2025, fans tuning in to watch the latest episode of RTL's beloved reality show, Ich bin ein Star – Holt mich hier raus! (I'm a Celebrity – Get Me Out of Here!), found themselves met with frustration instead of entertainment. Many eager viewers expected to witness the usual antics, challenges, and drama within the jungle, but instead faced buffering screens and loading errors from the RTL+ streaming service.
RTL had been celebrating high ratings for the Dschungelcamp, with nearly 3.7 million viewers tuning in for the elimination of contestant Jürgen Hingsen. The channel publicly expressed excitement over this figure, noting remarkable market shares of 24.7% among 14 to 59-year-olds and even higher, at 30.7%, among those aged 14 to 49.
But as the clock struck 20:15, the start of the night's episode, many of those with subscriptions to RTL+ fell victim to unexpected technical difficulties. Fans took to social media, particularly on the platform X, to vent their frustrations. One user vented, "Wofür schiebe ich euch eigentlich Geld in den Rachen, RTL? Langsam denke ich, dass nicht Ihr, sondern Ich das Problem bin. Wie kann ich nur so dumm sein und glauben, dass euer Stream auch nur einmal funktioniert?" encapsulating the mood of bitter disappointment among the viewership.
Another frustrated viewer posted, "RTL plus will nicht streamen. Minus 13 Euro und minus 10.000 Aura," expressing disbelief at the malfunction and dissatisfaction with their monthly payments for the service.
At approximately 20:49, fans had been waiting for nearly 30 minutes to access the stream, only to be greeted with error messages stating "Content not available."
Still, the glitches were not limited to this episode. Just days earlier, on January 27, 2025, viewers were left disappointed when the show abruptly ended after only 40 minutes due to NFL coverage, forcing fans to seek alternatives on RTL+, where the stream similarly faltered.
Following the uproar and mounting complaints, RTL issued statements acknowledging the issue. According to the RTL spokesperson, “Sterne sammeln im Dschungel und fliegende Fäuste bei der MMA haben uns scheinbar niedergerungen,” humorously noting the chaos caused by simultaneous broadcasting challenges. They assured viewers they were addressing the concerns and promised updates.
Meanwhile, after approximately 40 minutes of downtime, the Dschungelcamp stream was restored. Moderator Sonja Zietlow welcomed viewers back after the interruption, stating, "Wir begrüßen jetzt ganz offiziell alle RTL+ User," signaling the return to normalcy for those able to log back on.
This incident has sparked wider discussions about the reliability of streaming services, particularly during high-demand viewing times. The intersection of fast-paced entertainment, the reliance on technology, and viewer expectations presents both opportunities and risks for broadcasters like RTL. While fans may still flock to Ich bin ein Star – Holt mich hier raus! for its engaging content, repeated technical glitches could significantly impact subscriber loyalty and willingness to continue shelling out for services like RTL+.
Despite the setbacks, the popularity of the Dschungelcamp remains undeniable, and RTL will need to address these technical hiccups to maintain their audience's trust. Observers will be watching closely to see how RTL responds to this challenge and whether future episodes will air smoothly, keeping the fans entertained without disruption. For now, many viewers will hope for uninterrupted access to the wild adventures and dramatic conflicts of their favorite contestants.