Media report
Stefan Raab is reportedly planning a big ESC comeback
Stefan Raab on the ESC stage 2011 with Lena Meyer-Landrut
© Imago
14 years after Lena’s victory, Stefan Raab is said to have taken aim at the ESC again: He is apparently currently negotiating with several TV channels about a new edition of the German preliminary round.
It’s the question that’s bothering many in the TV industry right now: What does Stefan Raab plan to do next? Since the entertainer surprisingly appeared on Instagram over Easter and announced another boxing match with Regina Halmich, there has been speculation about the background to his comeback. Now he reports Industry service “dwdl.de” says that Raab is planning nothing less than a revolution. Namely around the German preliminary decision for the Eurovision Song Contest.
His idea: The big TV channels ARD. ZDF, RTL and Pro7/Sat.1 should work together for this. More support and identification with the German act – as is the case in Scandinavian countries – are two of the goals of the rescue concept, according to “dwdl.de”. To do this, three channels should broadcast their own show, the winners of which will then move on to the final. This in turn runs on the ARD: So far, everything related to the ESC has taken place there, the NDR is in charge of the production.
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Apparently Raab and his team had already presented the concept to the broadcasters and had received interest – but also concerns. Above all, prices and responsibilities still need to be discussed. Curious: Apparently Raab explicitly demands from RTL that there should be no collaboration with Dieter Bohlen in a cooperation with the ESC.
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The whole thing comes 14 years after the legendary victory of Raab’s protégé Lena Meyer-Landrut at the ESC 2010 in Oslo. Even back then, Raab had taken the German preliminary decision into his own hands, and with success. He himself has also competed at ESC and is considered very connected to the music spectacle. After Germany has repeatedly landed in last place in recent years, a small Raab revolution would actually come at just the right time.
But whether this will happen is still completely uncertain. According to “dwdl.de” these were only initial discussions; Raab and his team were exploring the market.
Transparency note: The star is part of RTL Deutschland.