RTL Group | Cologne, 01/13/2020

RTL Donates €100,000 For Relief Efforts In Australia

RTL began airing the 14th season of “Ich bin ein Star – Holt mich hier raus” (I’m A Celebrity – Get me out of here!) last Friday evening. Presenters Sonja Zietlow and Daniel Hartwich announced an RTL fundraising campaign for Australia right at the beginning. RTL itself is making donating €100,000 to kick off the campaign. At its peak, 7.31 million viewers tuned in to watch the first live show of the season.

The 14th season of RTL’s jungle show “Ich bin ein Star – Holt mich hier raus” (I’m A Celebrity - Get Me Out Of Here) launched last Friday evening not only with excellent audience ratings peaking at 7.31 million viewers, but also with a statement regarding the devastating bush fires that have led to a debate in Germany as to whether the production of the jungle show in the Australian state of New South Wales is even justifiable under these circumstances. In the season opener, presenters Sonja Zietlow and Daniel Hartwich announced an RTL fundraising campaign for the country that has been a popular venue for the production of the jungle show for many years now. RTL itself is donating €100,000 to kick off the fundraising campaign and, according to its own statements, will step up the amount again for the show’s finale. Presenter Daniel Hartwich said in the opening episode: “We want to use our presence to help, too. Not as an excuse, but out of conviction and a deep sense of solidarity with the country and its people.”

On the recommendation of the Australian Embassy in Berlin, RTL is cooperating with the German Red Cross on the fundraising campaign. The German Red Cross will forward the donations to its sister organization, the Australian Red Cross, which provides local support to people affected by the bushfires. The money will go to the emergency relief and reconstruction fund. Specifically, the Australian Red Cross supports people at numerous evacuation and emergency aid centers, provides psychosocial assistance, distributes water, food, and other relief supplies, and provides emergency financial aid for people who have lost their homes to the bushfires.

“Many of the regions devastated by bushfires over recent months rely on visitors to support their local economy and the livelihoods of their community. The Australian Government welcomes tourism and business activity to boost local economies as they recover,” said Australian Ambassador to Germany Lynette Wood in a statement. “For over a decade, the German television show ‘Ich bin ein Star – Holt mich hier raus’ has been filmed in Northern New South Wales. Close personal ties have been established with these local communities and local businesses supported. We are pleased to hear that the production is planned to continue, in close cooperation with local authorities to ensure the safety of the crew, cast and the local community.”

RTL’s ‘Jungle Camp’ launched its 14th season on Friday evening to excellent ratings: A total of 6.01 million viewers aged 3 and older (a 24.3-percent share of the market) tuned in for the opening episode of “Ich bin ein Star – Holt mich hier raus” from 9:15 pm. In the target group of 14- to 59-year-olds, the season opener scored a market share of 33.6 percent (4.41 million viewers). At its peak, the program was watched by 7.31 million viewers. The second day of the jungle camp on Saturday evening garnered an average viewership of 5.34 million (market share: 22.2 percent).

And the third episode of the season was watched by an average 4.54 million viewers (market share: 20.1 percent), peaking at 5.15 million.