On the day Russia annexed four areas in eastern Ukraine, ARD's "Focal Point: War Against Ukraine" lured many people in front of the television. 4.4 million viewers tuned in on Friday at 8:15 p.m. - that corresponds to a market share of 17.6 percent.

Afterwards, 3.49 million (13.7 percent) stayed to see the German TV comedy "Billy Kuckuck: Mutterliebe". "Murder Sisters - Crime is a Family Matter" on ZDF achieved an even better rating: the crime series was watched by 3.95 million people (15.5 percent) shortly before half past eight.

The ratings of private broadcasters

The sports show "Ninja Warrior Germany – Germany's strongest show" on RTL followed at some distance: it brought 1.82 million to the television couch (7.7 percent). "The Voice of Germany" on Sat.1 watched 1.6 million (6.7 percent). The fantasy action film "Doctor Strange" on ProSieben interested 1.2 million people (4.8 percent). 0.94 million viewers (4.8 percent) wanted to see the episodes of the crime series "Navy CIS" on Kabel Eins.

RTLzwei captivated 0.64 million people in front of the television with the action film "Criminal Squad", a rating of 2.6 percent. The docu-soap "The Spanish Village - Big Dreams for Little Money" on Vox watched 0.63 million (2.5 percent) at prime time.