Roman Kilchsperger switches from SRF to Teleclub
Starting in August 2018, Roman Kilchsperger will be appearing on camera for Teleclub. The renowned TV and radio host will serve as the face of the UEFA Champions League and host the studio broadcasts. SRF is discontinuing «Top Secret,» but Kilchsperger will continue to host «Donnschtig Jass.».
As anchorman, the 47-year-old completes the panel of experts around Gilbert Gress, Mladen Petric, Urs Meier, Pascal Zuberbühler, Marcel Reif and Rolf Fringer. The radio and television presenter has been in the media industry for over twenty years and worked for Swiss television SRF from 2003. As of August, he is now a permanent employee of Teleclub.
Kilchsperger is a passionate soccer fan: "I've never canceled an appointment because of a TV show - but countless times because of soccer matches. So it's clear what's particularly important to me." From 1997 to 2003, he hosted the show "live ran" in Sat.1's Swiss window, bringing national soccer into living rooms at home every Sunday. During the 2006 World Cup, he was in front of the camera for the German pay-TV channel Premiere (now Sky) in Berlin. He is convinced that his move to Teleclub is the right step at the ideal time: "I started out in television with soccer presenters. Now I'm back after 15 years, which puts me where I belong."
In 2018, it's all about Europe's top league on Teleclub. From the 2018/2019 season, the Swiss pay-TV channel will show all 137 UEFA Champions League matches live and with commentary in German - 121 of them exclusively.
Claudia Lässer, Head of Teleclub Sport and member of the Management Board, is enthusiastic in a statement: "We are happy to have made a top transfer with Roman Kilchsperger. His many years of experience in the TV business, his sports knowledge and his passion for football will more than enrich our studio broadcasts on the UEFA Champions League."
The final of the UEFA Champions League will be shown in Switzerland for the first time exclusively on private TV, and not only on pay TV: The free TV channel Teleclub Zoom will broadcast the final and other selected matches of the tournament live and free of charge.
"Chest size" question tipped the scales
SRF is said to be hurting Kilchsperger's departure, as Blick.ch writes. After Matthias Hüppi (FC St. Gallen) and Steffi Buchli (UPC), another figurehead is lost. According to an insider, TV director Ruedi Matter even asked Kilchsperger, who is particularly popular with a young audience, not to communicate his change until after the No Billag initiative.
According to an anonymous SRF executive, Kilchsperger no longer saw any major development opportunities at SRF beyond "Donnschtig-Jass. The entertainment sector at Leutschenbach would come under "enormous pressure" in the next few years, new formats were not in sight - and the pressure to save money was also increasing. Many at SRF, according to the source, therefore understand Kilchsperger's departure.
The "tipping point" had been the story surrounding the controversial breast size issue in Kilchsperger's show "Top Secret". With Teleclub's offer already on the table, the presenter felt let down by SRF after the ombudsman demanded that he apologize publicly. After all, the faux pas was the fault of the editorial team, not Kilchsperger.
"Top Secret" will be discontinued following the departure of its host. "Roman Kilchsperger's move was an opportunity for us to rethink the quiz slot on Wednesday evenings," Christoph Gebel, head of the entertainment department, was quoted as saying in a statement on Saturday. Kilchsperger will, however, continue to work for SRF with a small workload. He will continue to tour the various villages in the summer with "Donnschtig-Jass.
The future of the other Kilchsperger shows "Hello Again! Die Pop-Schlager Show" and "Kilchsperger's Jass Show" as well as the detailed design of Wednesday evenings will be announced by SRF at a later date. (hae/pd/SDA)
