1984

January 1

At 9:58 a.m. on January 1, 1984, German private television is born: PKS (Programmgesellschaft für Kabel- und Satellitenfunk) goes on the air, as part of the pilot project for cable in Ludwigshafen.

1985

January 1

The station is renamed as of the beginning of 1985: Sat.1. The new name emphasizes that this is the first station to be transmitted by satellite. The first Sat.1 logo, a multicolored ball, quickly becomes a recognizable symbol for the station.

1986

January

Eureka Television GmbH is founded. It operates the station Eureka TV, the forerunner of ProSieben.

1987

October 1

Sat.1 launches its breakfast show, “Deutschland heute morgen,” which quickly becomes the most successful morning show on German TV. From 5:30 on, talk and discussion, fun and service make getting up on weekdays a little easier. Public stations follow suit – after a five-year time lag.

1988

August 15

The station sets standards again with the launch of Sat.1-TEXT. The nation’s first private teletext service is more colorful, more entertaining, with more services and information than the existing public services. New topics and departments – such as sports – will be added regularly over the coming years.

October 13

Eureka TV is facing disaster. The station, conceived as a mixture of information and teleshopping, has failed to attract enough of an audience. Gerhard Ackermans looks for new partners: Thomas Kirch acquires 49 percent of Eureka TV. Dr. Georg Kofler becomes managing director.

November 5

"Justitias kleine Fische," shown on Sat.1, becomes the first series produced in-house by a German private TV broadcaster.

November 24

Eureka TV becomes ProSieben.

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