On Sunday, May 4, 2025, the latest episode of "Die Welpen kommen - Mit Martin Rütter" aired on RTL at 19:05. This popular dog training show, hosted by Martin Rütter, is back for its sixth season, and fans are eager to catch the first episode. The show, which runs for 70 minutes, is available for streaming on RTL-Mediathek TV Now, providing an opportunity for those who missed the live broadcast to catch up.
Despite the excitement surrounding its return, the episode garnered a modest viewership. Approximately 0.21 million viewers aged 14 to 49 tuned in, resulting in a market share of 5.5 percent. This performance places "Die Welpen kommen" below the station's average ratings, a trend that has raised some concerns among RTL executives.
New episodes of "Martin Rütter - Die Welpen kommen" are scheduled to air weekly until May 25, 2025. Following the premiere, the next episode, titled "Hilde und Abby treffen neue Menschen und Hunde" (Season 5, Episode 9), is set to air on May 11, 2025, at 13:45 for a duration of 120 minutes. This will be followed by another episode, "Frank bekommt Hundeerziehungs-Unterricht von Carola" (Season 5, Episode 10), at 15:45 on the same day.
For those eagerly awaiting more from the sixth season, the second episode will also air on May 11, 2025, at 19:05, maintaining the show's regular time slot. However, fans should note that there will be no linear TV repetition of the first episode in the near future, making the streaming option the best bet for those wanting to see it again.
In contrast, RTL's news program, "RTL Aktuell," performed significantly better, attracting 2.44 million viewers overall, with 0.31 million from the target demographic. This resulted in an impressive market share of 14.1 percent overall, and 9.9 percent among the key demographic of viewers aged 14 to 49.
Looking back at previous broadcasts, the first weekend of May 2024 saw "Die Welpen kommen" struggle to match its past successes. Last year, the show managed to attract up to 0.92 million viewers, achieving a market share of 8.3 percent. This year’s figures highlight a noticeable decline, as the latest episode fell short of those numbers.
Additionally, on May 5, 2024, RTL aired live coverage of the 2. Bundesliga, which had a viewership peak of 0.26 million, equating to an 11.8 percent market share among the targeted audience. The first half of the broadcast saw 0.80 million viewers, while the second half increased to 0.84 million, demonstrating a slight upward trend in engagement during the match.
The overall performance of RTL's programming continues to be a point of focus, especially as the network seeks to enhance its viewer engagement and ratings. The combination of new dog training episodes and competitive sports coverage is part of RTL's strategy to capture a broader audience.
As "Die Welpen kommen" continues its run, it remains to be seen if future episodes can regain lost viewership and market share. Fans of the show are hopeful that the upcoming episodes will bring fresh content and engaging training tips that keep them coming back for more.
