Overview
- The third and final Halle installment aired on February 15, drawing about 7.36 million viewers and winning Sunday primetime over Olympic coverage on ZDF.
- Leads Peter Kurth and Peter Schneider said they were surprised by the shutdown, stating they were not properly informed and did not know the reason.
- MDR spokesman Michael Naumann acknowledged differing expectations in communication and pointed to significant multi‑year savings needs shaping programming choices.
- The broadcaster says the Halle strand was planned from the outset as a three‑film run, with no immediate replacement for the location as other franchise teams continue.
- The Halle films consistently delivered strong ratings, including roughly 7.8 million for the 2021 debut and more than 8 million for a 2025 broadcast, prompting vocal viewer frustration at the decision.