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The Best TV Shows on ZDF

Every ZDF Show Ranked From Best To Worst

ZDF has over 20 shows broadcast from as early as 1964 and as recent as 2013. Icons of ZDF, Die Drehscheibe and Der Alte made their debut in 1964 and 1977, setting industry standards. Our curated list, current as of March 2025, showcases over 20 of ZDF’s highest-rated series.

  • maybrit illner
    maybrit illner (1999)8.0

  • Bares für Rares
    Bares für Rares (2013)7.3

    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

  • Nachtschicht
    Nachtschicht (2003)6.6

  • 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)6.4

  • SOKO Stuttgart
    SOKO Stuttgart (2009)6.1

    The SOKO Stuttgart team investigates analytically and with sensitivity in the likeable state capital. The exciting cases of the series lead them to bizarre crime scenes and to different milieus.

  • Die Drehscheibe
    Die Drehscheibe (1964)6.0

  • 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.

  • Der letzte Zeuge
    Der letzte Zeuge (1998)5.2

  • Markus Lanz
    Markus Lanz (2008)5.0

    TV presenter Markus Lanz invites prominent guests and experts from all areas of public life to his colourful talk show. As a rule, there are four guests, introduced individually to contribute their personal experiences to the topics.

  • Volle Kanne
    Volle Kanne (1999)4.4

  • Das Traumschiff
    Das Traumschiff (1981)4.3

    The series is about a cruise ship that travels to places around the world.

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

  • Lafer! Lichter! Lecker!
    Lafer! Lichter! Lecker! (2006)2.0

  • ZDF-Fernsehgarten
    ZDF-Fernsehgarten (1986)1.5

  • Schlosshotel Orth
    Schlosshotel Orth (1996)1.0

    Schlosshotel Orth is an Austrian television series.

  • Herzflimmern – Die Klinik am See
    Herzflimmern – Die Klinik am See (2011)N/A

    Herzflimmern – Die Klinik am See is a German television series.