Pro7

Pro7 (as it was when it launched on the Astra satellite in 1988) is one of Germany's longest running commercial broadcasters, and it was the first to obtain a terrestrial broadcasting frequency, in the Munich area in 1989. Its populist programming, including gameshows and dubbed American imports, contrasted markedly with the conservative fare on the state broadcasters, and by 1994 it had captured over 9% of the market. Yet early presentation is still stylistically and linguistically formal.

A few in-vision continuity announcements. In the 1st clip – The end of the not yet sensationalist late news, then Angelika Kallmayer introduces the 1968 German film "Bis zum Happy End". 2nd clip – An end-of-break bumper, and then Angelika Kallmayer reads somewhat woodenly off her notes to wish us "an exciting hour and a half" with the evening's film. 3rd clip – Just a hint of excitement as Bettina Schmitz introduces an imported police series. 4th Clip – Silhouetted bizarrely over the end of the preview of "Weihnachtsmänner haben's schwer" (The Man in the Santa Claus Suit, USA, 1979), and still clutching her notes, Angelika Kallmayer segues neatly into introducing the next programme… (although the clip fades out before she gets to say much!)

1994

The channel rebranded as ProSieben in 1994, with a range of sophisticated stings and idents, before reaching its peak of popularity – 9.9% of the audience share – in 1995. Much of this was due to a high proportion of American imports (the promos below are for "The Naked Gun" and "All Together Now") largely shunned by the state broadcasters, and with its new look, the channel continued to distance itself visually from them too.