WDR to End 'Frau tv' After 30 Years, Shifts to Digital Formats

WDR "Frau tv" digital formats low viewership German TV

The Westdeutscher Rundfunk (WDR) announced that its long‑running women’s television magazine "Frau tv" will be discontinued. The final broadcast is scheduled for 19 November 2026 at 22:15, ending a programme that first aired in 1997. The decision follows a steady decline in viewership, with the market share falling to 3.4 % and an average audience of about 131 000 in North Rhine‑Westphalia in 2025.

WDR program director Andrea Schafarczyk said the broadcaster will not abandon content for women but will move it to digital platforms. Planned digital projects include the documentary "Die Wechseljahre: Zu heiß für Deutschland?" airing on 12 October 2026 in the ARD Mediathek and a social‑reality series "Vibes – Find your fire" slated for the autumn on the same platform. The show was most recently presented by Lisa Ortgies and Sabine Heinrich.

Entities

Andrea Schafarczyk · Frau tv · Lisa Ortgies · Sabine Heinrich · Westdeutscher Rundfunk (WDR)

Claims

What the coverage asserts, and how many sources carry each claim.

[● 3 SOURCES] Lisa Ortgies and Sabine Heinrich were the most recent presenters of 'Frau tv'. www.merkur.de · www.t-online.de · www.kreiszeitung.de
[● 3 SOURCES] WDR will discontinue the TV magazine 'Frau tv'. www.merkur.de · www.t-online.de · www.kreiszeitung.de
[● 3 SOURCES] The final episode will air on 19 November 2026 at 22:15. www.merkur.de · www.t-online.de · www.kreiszeitung.de
[● 3 SOURCES] WDR plans to replace the TV format with digital offerings, including a documentary titled 'Die Wechseljahre: Zu heiß für Deutschland?'. www.merkur.de · www.t-online.de · www.kreiszeitung.de
[● 3 SOURCES] A social‑reality series 'Vibes – Find your fire' will launch in autumn on the ARD Mediathek. www.merkur.de · www.t-online.de · www.kreiszeitung.de
[● 3 SOURCES] The programme's market share fell to 3.4 % with about 131 000 viewers in North Rhine‑Westphalia in 2025. www.merkur.de · www.t-online.de · www.kreiszeitung.de
[● 3 SOURCES] 'Frau tv' first aired in 1997. www.merkur.de · www.t-online.de · www.kreiszeitung.de
[● 3 SOURCES] WDR program director Andrea Schafarczyk said the broadcaster is not abandoning women's content, only moving it to digital platforms. www.merkur.de · www.t-online.de · www.kreiszeitung.de