Sat.1 is doubling down on its surprising prime-time success with the beloved medical drama Landarztpraxis. After successfully carving out a loyal audience for the series during the early evening slot, the network is now planning to make the Landarztpraxis brand a year-round staple. The secret weapon? Launching a second practice in the neighboring town of Weilhausen, creating a fresh spin-off to complement the original set in Wiesenkirchen am Schliersee.

Although the current ratings—averaging 5.3% market share among viewers aged 14 to 59—might seem modest at first glance, these figures are a significant beacon of hope for Sat.1, which has long struggled with stable early evening programming. Especially strong are the numbers on the streaming platform Joyn, where Landarztpraxis regularly ranks among the top on-demand hits, signaling that the show’s appeal stretches beyond traditional broadcast TV.

One of the main challenges to date has been the limited number of new episodes, covering roughly only half the year. Other attempts to replicate the success with similar series like Spreewaldklinik and Küstenwache faltered or were canceled early. To address this, Sat.1’s leadership has resolved to commit fully to the Landarztpraxis universe by investing in the production of an ambitious 240 new episodes for 2026, ensuring continuous new content for viewers.

This strategic push will unfold in two stages: first, continuing the stories in Wiesenkirchen with fresh faces like Juliane Fisch and Ben Braun, who are poised to shake up the village dynamics; second, the exciting introduction of a second medical practice in Weilhausen. This spin-off is designed to deepen the series’ world and offer more storylines, characters, and drama, keeping audiences engaged day after day.

While the expansion does not signal the end for other series in the early evening, Sat.1 intends to shift alternative dramas to earlier timeslots, possibly at 6 p.m., where recent attempts like Für alle Fälle Familie struggled and were pulled due to low ratings. Nonetheless, the network remains committed to exploring new fictional formats to strengthen its lineup, with projects like Frieda – Mit Feuer und Flamme waiting in the wings for future release.

With this bold move, Sat.1 aims to stabilize its 7 p.m. slot and transform Landarztpraxis from a seasonal success into a cornerstone of its programming strategy — a move that could redefine early evening German television drama and keep viewers hooked well into 2026 and beyond.