This has probably never happened before: ZDF’s “Aktuelle Sportstudio” dedicates the first 28 minutes of its programme to basketball players. Eight world champion players are on hand in Mainz
The basketball world champions were extensively honoured on ZDF’s “Aktuelle Sportstudio” late on Saturday evening. Led by captain Dennis Schröder, no less than eight professionals as well as national coach Gordon Herbert were guests in the studio in Mainz and spoke about the surprising triumph in Manila.
“These are my boys. We have achieved something historic. I was in Braunschweig for a few days with the family. Of course it’s good to see the team again,” said Schröder, who has been 30 since Friday. The pictures were “one of the best things that happened to me. Still speechless, I haven’t realised it yet,” added the most valuable World Cup player.
Broadcast focuses on basketball instead of football
How special the basketball team’s first World Cup title win is was shown by the programme’s focus on content: ZDF devoted the first 28 minutes of the otherwise extremely football-heavy programme entirely to the basketball players. It was not until 11.58 p.m. that the evening Bundesliga match (Bochum vs. Frankfurt) was shown.
Last Sunday, the public broadcaster had also broadcast the basketball final from Manila against Serbia (83:77) at short notice. Previously, all seven German games, including the memorable 113:111 against Olympic champion USA in the semi-finals, had been shown exclusively on Magenta Sport.
