The Best TV Shows on ZDF

Every ZDF Show Ranked From Best To Worst

Stay up-to-date with over 20 of ZDF’s elite series, with our list refreshed for June 2025. Highlighting ZDF’s quality programming, Das aktuelle Sportstudio and Die ZDF-Hitparade stand out, premiering in 1963 and 1969. Showcasing over 20 shows from 1963 up until 2013, ZDF stands as a beacon of television excellence.

  • maybrit illner
    maybrit illner (1999)8.0

  • Die Küchenschlacht
    Die Küchenschlacht (2008)8.0

  • Bares für Rares
    Bares für Rares (2013)7.5

    In the show, selected applicants each present a curiosity, rarity or antique they have brought with them. Once they have received their expertise, they will have the opportunity on site to offer their exhibit to a changing five-person podium for sale and, ideally, to sell it to the highest bidder for „Bares“ ("cash").

  • Terra X History
    Terra X History (2000)6.8

  • Cologne P.D.
    Cologne P.D. (2003)6.7

    The SOKO Köln investigates the cathedral city with humor and often with hard work. Their cases take them into a variety of environments, from the Cologne clique to the terraced housing estates on the outskirts of the city.

  • heute-show
    heute-show (2009)6.6

    Oliver Welke and his team report on political topics as well as international news giving them their own satirical, comedic twist.

  • Die Rosenheim-Cops
    Die Rosenheim-Cops (2002)6.5

    A team of inspectors investigates murders in and around the small Upper Bavarian town of Rosenheim, and they still have plenty of time to see idyllic landscapes and luxurious pre-alpine villas and enjoy sumptuous Bavarian fare with beer.

  • SOKO Leipzig
    SOKO Leipzig (2001)6.2

    SOKO Leipzig is a German police procedural television programme, a spin-off of the earlier German police programme SOKO 5113. It was first broadcast on 31 January 2001, on German television channel ZDF. On 12 November 2008, the first part of a two-part crossover between SOKO Leipzig and British police procedural The Bill was aired, with the same version being shown on both ZDF and British television channel ITV1.

  • SOKO Wismar
    SOKO Wismar (2004)6.1

  • Derrick
    Derrick (1974)6.0

    Derrick was a German TV series produced by Telenova Film und Fernsehproduktion in association with ZDF, ORF and SRG between 1974 and 1998 about Detective Chief Inspector Stephan Derrick and his loyal assistant Inspector Harry Klein, who solve murder cases in Munich and surroundings.

  • Der Alte
    Der Alte (1977)6.0

    A police department, lead by an older, experienced detective solve crimes together.

  • Hamburg Dockland
    Hamburg Dockland (2007)6.0

    Shows the interaction between Hamburg police officers and paramedics.

  • SOKO München
    SOKO München (1978)5.5

    SOKO 5113 is a long-running German police procedural television series. It was first aired in 1978 on 2 January. SOKO is an abbreviation of the term "Sonderkommission" in German.

  • A Case For Two
    A Case For Two (1981)5.2

    Ein Fall für zwei is a German television series, which premiered on September 11, 1981 on ZDF. The series, located in Frankfurt am Main, features two main characters who solve crimes: a defense attorney and a private investigator. Josef Matula, a former German police officer, has gone into private business. His method of investigation is very effective and direct, and he sometimes even resorts to dirty tricks. Claus Theo Gärtner has portrayed the role since the start of the series.

  • Inga Lindström
    Inga Lindström (2004)4.8

    Series written by Christiane Sadlo about writer and journalist under the pseudonym "Inga Lindström" and her family. Characterized by impressive landscapes, all of which are shot on location in Sweden. Series has no continuous storyline, and each episode is filled with new characters.

  • Volle Kanne
    Volle Kanne (1999)4.4

  • The Johannes B. Kerner Show
    The Johannes B. Kerner Show (1998)4.0

  • ZDF-Fernsehgarten
    ZDF-Fernsehgarten (1986)1.5

  • Das aktuelle Sportstudio
    Das aktuelle Sportstudio (1963)N/A

    Das aktuelle sportstudio is a German sport magazine on German broadcaster ZDF.

  • Die ZDF-Hitparade
    Die ZDF-Hitparade (1969)N/A

    The ZDF-Hitparade, or Hitparade for short was one of the most popular and most well-known music television series presenting mostly German Schlager.