SAT.1

The Sat.1 ball, in use since 2016.

Sat.1 (written as **SAT.1**) is a private German free-to-air TV channel owned by ProSiebenSat.1 Media SE.

It is considered the first privately-owned television network in Germany, having been launched in January 1984 as **PKS** (*Programmgesellschaft für Kabel- und Satellitenrundfunk*) as a joint venture between several publishing houses, and later rebranded the following year as Sat.1.

## Channel description

Sat.1 programming consists of entertainment, documentaries, sports, and information shows.

"Intoxicating, optimistic, true to life, reliable and of high quality. Television to feel close to with programs that move the mind and touch the heart.

SAT.1 inspires with programs of social relevance, whether in the middle of life or on the big stage. In this way, SAT.1 offers perspectives through stories with happy endings, which can also be a gateway to new possibilities for life in the here and now with joy for the future. "

## Channel history

#### PKS

Sat.1 first went on air as the PKS (*Programmgesellschaft für Kabel- und Satellitenrundfunk*) on January 1, 1984, from a basement studio in Ludwigshafen. Jürgen Doetz, the then managing director of PKS, together with presenter Irene Joest, welcomed viewers to the "first private broadcaster in Germany" - a claim that was only partially true, as while Sat.1 *was* the first private broadcaster to be founded in Germany, another broadcaster, **Telesaar**, went on-air in 1954 from Saarland, however it was not yet part of the Federal Republic at the time.

Only around an estimated 1,200 households with cable access in Ludwigshafen could view the initial broadcast. The channel was later distributed through European satellite ECS 1 in April, and later on an analogue, terrestrial broadcast was also started.

Initial programming consisted of documentaries, films, and news from the *Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung* (FAZ).

#### Sat.1

In January 1985, PKS was renamed to Sat.1, and since 1989, the channel has been broadcasting from Astra 19.2°E.

Sat.1 became the second broadcaster to have a morning program (*Guten Abend mit Sat.1,* en: Good Morning with Sat.1) after RTL plus. Its programming now consisted of American imports and game shows (most notably the German adaptation of Wheel of Fortune, *Glücksrad*). The broadcaster moved to Mainz in 1990, and remained there until 1999, where the channel moved to Berlin.

By 1988, the channel had become one of the most watched channels in West Germany. The channel started broadcasting teletext at the end of programming in 1991, and from 1993 Sat.1 has since broadcasted 24/7.

A scandal broke out in 1996 when presenter Margarethe Schreinemakers, under fire by critics for tax evasion, wanted to speak out on her program *Schreinemakers Live -* the channel cut off the report before it started, and in its place was a channel statement read by Ulrich Meyer.

On October 2, 2000, the channel merged with ProSieben, forming ProSiebenSat.1 Media AG. On November 10, 2001, the channel achieved one of its highest viewership ratings, with an average of 14.02 million viewers and a 55.1% market share during the qualifier for the 2002 World Cup between Germany and Ukraine.

ProSiebenSat.1 Media AG announced drastic changes to the Sat.1 information sector in July 2007, and just one day after the announcement, Sat.1's information programming started to be shifted, and by August, the nightly news program was discontinued.

Sat.1 broadcasted the 2007 Tour de France amidst boycotts from public broadcasters Das Erste and ZDF - however, these ended up being ratings disasters, and advertising prices had to be cut by 60% in the afternoon.

On November 13, 2008, ProSiebenSat.1 Media AG announced the decision to relocate its headquarters to Unterföhring - this included Sat.1. The company also wanted to achieve more savings by shedding 225 jobs at Sat.1. A change in management was also announced, and the previous Sat.1 boss Matthias Alberti switched to German Free TV Holding on January 1, 2009 alongside Andreas Bartl, being replaced by Guido Bolten, the former managing director of kabel eins, leaving the station the following year. Andreas Bartl, now CEO of ProSiebenSat.1 Media AG, took over management of Sat.1 later on.

On January 20, 2009, workers in the German private television sector went on strike for the first time in Berlin, after failed negotiations between Sat.1 and employee representatives about a social plan. Around 90% of the 600 employees at the Sat.1 Berlin-Mitte location took part in the 36-hour strike, called for by the *Deutsche Journalisten-Verband* (en: German Association of Journalists) and ver.di.

Since January 31, 2010, Sat.1 has been broadcasting in HD through the Astra HD+ platform.

Sat.1 shattered its previous record viewership ratings in May 2012, during which the channel broadcast more than 13 hours of coverage of the UEFA Champions League in Munich. During the final, an average of 16.77 million viewers (55.3% market share) was recorded, and at its peak, 20.38 million viewers were tuned in - a record 70.1% market share.

The UHD feed of the channel was later bundled into ProSiebenSat.1 UHD, a station offered by ProSiebenSat.1 Media SE on Astra HD+.

## Services

#### Reception

Sat.1 is available through terrestrial (DVB-T), cable, satellite, and IPTV. The German program is also broadcast in Austria, Switzerland, and Luxembourg - however, only Austria and Switzerland have dedicated feeds, as is the case for other channels offered by ProSiebenSat.1.

The channel's programming is also available on the media library on its website, with Sat.1's original series being available for free 7 days after the inital broadcast, after which it can be viewed on Joyn, sometimes requiring a fee to watch. The channel also puts some of its own films online, free for 7 days.

#### Teletext

Sat.1 has offered teletext since the 90s, and it continues to be available on page 100, offering news and other information.

## Programs

#### News

Sat.1 broadcasts its news program (Sat.1 Nachrichten) every 7:55PM and also during its morning program. From January 2023, a "Newsflash" has been broadcast on weekdays in the afternoon. The channel formerly had a nightly news program (*die nacht - Sat.1 Nachrichten*), however this was discontinued in 2007.

#### Magazines

* 17:30 Sat.1
	+ 17:30 Sat.1 Live (Rheinland-Palatinate, Hessen)
	+ 17:30 Sat.1 NRW (North-Rhine Westphalia)
	+ 17:30 Sat.1 Regional (Hamburg, Schleswig-Holstein, Lower Saxony, Bremen)
	+ 17:30 Sat.1 Bayern (Bavaria)

* Sat.1 Frühstücksfernsehen (morning program)
* Spiegel TV Reportage
* Volles Haus! Sat.1 Live
* 24 Stunden
* Akte
* Focus TV Reportage
* News & Stories
* Watch Me – Das Kinomagazin
* Total gesund! Mit Britt und Dr. Kurscheid