# Cancellation of German soap opera ‘Unter uns’

> Live situation record from CLSTR: https://clstr.news/situations/cancellation-of-german-soap-opera-unter-uns
> Updated: 2026-09-09T13:39:50.000Z. Sources: 17. Developments: 3.

RTL has announced the cancellation of its long-running daily soap opera, ‘Unter uns’, which has aired for more than 30 years. The decision has caused significant emotional distress among the cast and fanbase, with actors reporting they were informed of the cancellation only days prior to the announcement.

Actor Miloš Vuković, who has played the character Paco Weigel for nearly 27 years, expressed shock at the news, describing the decision as a ‘clear shock’ while noting that the decline of linear television had been predictable. Production is expected to end at the conclusion of 2026, with the final episode scheduled for March 2027.

The cancellation comes amid broader viewership challenges for RTL and other German private broadcasters. Major networks, including ProSieben and Sat. 1, have reported substantial declines in primetime ratings, particularly within the key 14-49 age demographic. 

Specific programming struggles have been noted, such as RTL’s flagship quiz show, ‘Wer wird Millionär?’, which saw its audience fall from approximately three million viewers to 2.11 million in a single week following a summer break. This decline was attributed to a delayed start time caused by a special news broadcast. Other programs, including ‘Das Sommerhaus der Stars’ and Sat. 1’s ‘Wer ist Deutschlands Superhirn?’, have also reported low market shares, while public broadcaster ARD has continued to see strong performance with crime dramas.

## Timeline

### 2026-09-09: German private TV networks face significant viewership declines

German private broadcasters RTL, ProSieben, and Sat. 1 are seeing major viewership declines, while public broadcaster ARD dominates primetime ratings.

6 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/german-television-updates-rtl-ends-long-running-soap-and-promi-big-brother-faces-rule-changes

### 2026-09-08: German television updates: ZDF crime series and RTL viewership shifts

German media updates include ZDF starting the new crime series ‘Eifeltod’, scheduling shifts for ‘Die Beet-Brüder’, and declining viewership for several RTL reality formats.

11 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/unter-uns-stars-share-personal-anecdotes-about-their-first-kisses

### 2026-09-08: RTL announces cancellation of long-running soap ‘Unter uns’

RTL has announced the cancellation of its long-running daily soap ‘Unter uns’ after 30 years, sparking emotional reactions from cast and fans.

2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/rtl-announces-cancellation-of-long-running-soap-unter-uns

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Cite as: Cancellation of German soap opera ‘Unter uns’. CLSTR, https://clstr.news/situations/cancellation-of-german-soap-opera-unter-uns