# RTL programming shift for Gladiators

> Live situation record from CLSTR: https://clstr.news/situations/rtl-programming-shift-for-gladiators
> Updated: 2026-09-10T21:20:00.000Z. Sources: 11. Developments: 2.

The German broadcaster RTL has relocated the program ‘Gladiators – Die Show der Giganten’ from its primetime slot to late-night programming due to declining viewership. 

Initial ratings for the show showed approximately 700,000 viewers with a 9.2 percent market share in the 14-to-49 demographic. However, the second episode experienced a significant drop, attracting only about 500,000 viewers and a 5.2 percent market share in the same target group. 

The remaining three produced episodes are scheduled to air starting October 2, but will be broadcast late at night, specifically around 23:15 or 12:35 AM, following ‘Ninja Warrior Germany’.

## Claims

- Lena Meyer-Landrut appeared in the 2009 episode 'Unter der Maske' playing the character Carola Tietge. (corroborated by 3 sources)
- Lena Meyer-Landrut won the Eurovision Song Contest for Germany in 2010 with the song 'Satellite'. (corroborated by 3 sources)
- Singer Lena Meyer-Landrut, entertainer Jens 'Knossi' Knossalla, and reality star Matthias Mangiapane appeared as lay actors in the Sat. 1 courtroom show 'Richter Alexander Hold' before achieving fame. (corroborated by 2 sources)
- Matthias Mangiapane played the role of fortune teller René Leclerc in the courtroom show. (single source)
- Jens 'Knossi' Knossalla appeared in 'Richterin Barbara Salesch', 'Lenßen & Partner', and 'K11 - Kommissare im Einsatz'. (single source)

## Timeline

### 2026-09-10: German entertainment: Die Flippers autobiography and RTL programming shifts

German entertainment news features Olaf Malolepski’s new autobiography about Die Flippers, RTL moving ‘Gladiators’ to a late-night slot due to low ratings, and the early TV roles of stars like Lena Meyer-Landру

10 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/lena-meyer-landrut-and-other-german-stars-debuted-on-richter-alexander-hold

### 2026-09-10: RTL moves ‘Gladiators’ to late-night programming after low ratings

RTL is moving ‘Gladiators - Die Show der Giganten’ from primetime to a late-night slot after the show experienced a significant drop in viewership following its first two episodes.

2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/rtl-moves-gladiators-to-late-night-programming-after-low-ratings

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Cite as: RTL programming shift for Gladiators. CLSTR, https://clstr.news/situations/rtl-programming-shift-for-gladiators