Solar eclipse over Mallorca triggers German TV program changes

A total solar eclipse occurring over Mallorca on August 12, 2026, prompted several major German television networks to adjust their prime-time programming to provide live coverage.

ZDF interrupted its special XXL edition of the antiques show ‘Bares für Rares’ for approximately ten minutes to broadcast live footage from Mallorca. The coverage featured astrophysicist Harald Lesch and Jasmina Neudecker. Other broadcasters, including 3sat, RTL, ntv, and Welt, also provided special programming or live reports to capture the celestial event.

Viewership for the eclipse coverage was significant, with combined audiences across multiple channels reaching approximately 6.5 million people. While parts of Europe, particularly Spain, experienced a total eclipse, viewers in Germany observed a partial eclipse. The event drew high interest, with many people gathering at scenic viewpoints and hotels in Mallorca being fully booked for the occasion.