Enlarge image
Heidi Klum got a good rating, but most viewers preferred to have their TV needs treated by the "mountain doctor".
Photo:
Richard Huebner / ProSieben
Despite direct competition from the RTL jungle camp, Heidi Klum's model casting show »Germany's Next Topmodel« (»GNTM«) achieved the best ratings in 13 years at the start of the season.
In the most important target group of private broadcasters, among 14 to 49 year olds, 20.4 percent tuned in on Thursday evening.
The last time the show achieved such a good value was in 2009. However, if you look at the total audience, slightly fewer people sat in front of the television this time: 2.06 million (7.2 percent) watched the start of the 17th season.
A year ago it was 2.33 million.
"The mountain doctor" at the top
Overall, the program on Thursday evening was well behind the public broadcasters ARD and ZDF: The medical series "Der Bergdoktor" with Hans Sigl, Heiko Ruprecht and Monika Baumgartner gave the second 6.41 million viewers (20.2 percent) and thus the scarce Victory. A hair's breadth behind was the »Croatia crime thriller« in the first. The episode »Before Midnight« with Jasmin Gerat and Lenn Kudrjawizki was watched by 6.38 million (20.1 percent).
Under the motto “Diversity”, this year “GNTM” includes candidates who weigh more than the average model or have scars on their bodies.
Women of advanced age are now also taking part.
For this season, Klum welcomed two gray-haired, 66 and 68-year-old candidates on the red carpet.
Klum offensive: “We are all no longer girls.
Should I just say models?” After just a few minutes, however, she failed to achieve the goal she had set herself: “It's difficult for me,” she stated after she broke her resolution and once again spoke of “girls” and not models.
ime/dpa