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Singer Maite Kelly, Thomas Gottschalk and singer Mike Singer before the DSDS semifinals in Cologne
Photo: Stefan Gregorowius / dpa
"Germany is looking for the superstar" apparently works even without its most notorious juror Dieter Bohlen: The semifinals gave RTL broadcaster a decent audience on Saturday evening.
An average of 3.22 million viewers were on the screens, which corresponds to a market share of 11.8 percent with more than three hours of broadcasting time.
Showmaster Thomas Gottschalk took the place of long-time chief juror Bohlen after he had canceled his participation in the "DSDS" semifinals and finals - officially due to illness.
A few weeks ago, RTL announced that Bohlen's time on the successful casting show would end after almost 20 years.
Gottschalk sent wishes for wellbeing on the screen: “Titans can fall too, and that happened to Dieter.
Of course we wish him to get up again quickly.
Get well soon."
The output on Saturday without planks, but with Gottschalk could even improve compared to the previous week: On March 20, 2.98 million people tuned in, the market share was 9.8 percent.
In the semifinals of the previous season 17 last year, it was 3.67 million and 11.2 percent, which is comparable to this year's values.
On Saturday evening, just in time for the semifinals, Bohlen had spoken on Instagram.
In a video, the 67-year-old said that he was "very happy with the situation."
In the past few days he had "received a lot of offers".
He added: "I have big plans, you will hear from me." It was not more specific.
Bohlen could benefit directly from the fact that the ratings on Saturday evening were comparatively good: The "Bild" newspaper reported that his RTL contract would provide a bonus if the rate at his shows rose to more than three million viewers.
The contract should bring him money by 2022.
As RTL had announced, Bohlen will no longer be part of the »Supertalent« in the future.
The background to the separation could be a more serious realignment of the Cologne private broadcaster.
lov / dpa