- ARD withdraws widely-liked rating program from schedule
In a surprising turn of events, ARD has tossed "Who Knows What?" off its lineup for tonight, replacing it with a repeat of "Gefragt - Gejagt." The beloved quiz show, airing at 8:00 PM, has been suddenly absent due to comedian Bernhard Hoecker's election campaigning. At 54, Hoecker, a regular team captain, popped up in a social media promotional ad for a political campaign, prompting ARD to scrap tonight's episode featuring Wolfgang Stumph (79) and his daughter Stephanie (40). Confirming the news, an ARD spokesperson spoke to "dwdl.de."
The German public broadcaster cited their election campaign regulations as the reason behind this decision. According to these regulations, prominent figures entrenched in election campaigns may not appear on the show or utilize screen or microphone time within the last six weeks before an election. Therefore, "Who Knows What?" will return to its usual slot post the federal election on Sunday.
"Gefragt - Gejagt" Steps In
Instead of "Who Knows What?," ARD will broadcast a rerun of the quiz show "Gefragt - Gejagt" at 8:00 PM. Both shows' official Instagram accounts announced the change. As of now, Bernhard Hoecker has stayed silent on the situation.
Hoecker is rumored to have appeared in a social media election advertisement for the Greens. Tracing back to recent events, a similar situation transpired at ZDF. Comedian and "Die Anstalt" host Max Uthoff (57) was unceremoniously left out of the February 11, 2025 episode following his and his wife's support for the Left party. Uthoff will be able to participate in the following scheduled episode on March 11.
Although the specific election campaign regulations that led to ARD's decision are not explicitly mentioned in the provided sources, the broader context of campaign finance transparency and fairness in Germany could be a contributing factor. With concerns about funding and potential foreign influence on the election process, it's possible that ARD sought to maintain a clear separation between political activities and their programming. However, without explicit confirmation from ARD, this remains speculation.
- The unexpected removal of "Who Knows What?" from ARD's schedule on tonight is due to Hoecker's involvement in the elections to the Bundestag, as he is actively campaigning for the Greens.
- In adherence to ARD's election campaign regulations, Hoecker, as a prominent figure entrenched in an election campaign, is not allowed to appear on the show or use screen or microphone time within the last six weeks before the election.
- The upcoming federal election in 2025 has led to several prominent figures being excluded from their usual TV shows, including Hoecker and Max Uthoff, due to their political affiliations and campaign commitments.
