"Gottschalk Live" to be discontinued
«Gottschalk Live» is being canceled. The final episode of the ARD early-evening show will air on June 7. The ARD management announced on Wednesday that the reason for the cancellation was low viewer response.
The show hosted by 61-year-old entertainer Thomas Gottschalk started on January 23 and recently had barely more than one million viewers. The show fell well short of its target of double-digit ratings, usually only achieving ratings of around five percent.
"I think it's a shame that 'Gottschalk Live' has not been as popular with the audience as we all wanted it to be," said ARD Chairwoman and WDR Director General Monika Piel on Wednesday: "It was an experiment that Thomas Gottschalk got involved in with his whole personality."
Now, he said, they should "calmly" consider working together in another form. Gottschalk was quoted by the TV station as saying: "I take note of this decision by the directors with regret, but I fully understand it." (SDA/DPA/AFP)
