At the same time on Wednesday, the latest episode of ‘Die Toten von Salzburg’ was a ratings success on ORF and ZDF. Mord in bester Lage’ reached 6.25 million crime thriller fans (market share of 25 per cent) in ZDF’s main evening programme and thus also won the day on German television. An average of 870,000 viewers (32 per cent market share) watched the hit series shot by Vienna’s Satel Film and starring Michael Fitz, Fanny Krausz and Erwin Steinhauer on ORF2. The series was directed by Erhard Riedlsperger, produced by Heinrich Ambrosch (Satel Film) and scripted by Maria Hinterkoerner.
Winner of the day! 6.25 million viewers (market share: 25 per cent) on ZDF and up to 879,000 on ORF 2 (average 870,000, market share: 32 per cent) watched star investigators Fanny Krausz, Michael Fitz and Erwin Steinhauer solve the 11th episode of the popular series ‘Die Toten von Salzburg’ on Wednesday evening. This meant that ‘Mord in bester Lage’ was once again the day’s winner on German television. The episode focuses on the hotly contested Salzburg housing market, in which a young estate agent falls victim. In addition to the three ‘chief investigators’, Nikolaus Barton, Helmut Bohatsch, Paula Siebert, Sebastian Edtbauer, Michael Schönborn, Judith Altenberger, Christopher Schärf, Martina Spitzer, Michael A. Grimm, Laura Euler-Rolle, Sonja Romei, Cosima Lehninger, Erol Nowak, Simon Dietersdorfer, Gerhard Greiner and Jasmin Weissmann were in front of the camera. The episode was produced by Heinrich Ambrosch (Satel Film), with Erhard Riedlsperger in the director’s chair. Kai Longolius was responsible for the spectacular images of the Franciscan church, the Café Bazar, St Peter’s cemetery in Salzburg and other locations, while the gripping plot was written by screenwriter Maria Hinterkörner.
Top ratings in series
A look at the ratings of past broadcasts proves just how exceptional the production is. The last episode, ‘Sweet Poison’, achieved a market share of 27 per cent when it was broadcast on ORF2 with up to 770,000 viewers and even won the day in Germany with 6.587 million viewers on ZDF and an overall market share of 25.7 per cent. The 9th episode of ‘Schattenspiel’ achieved a market share of 28 per cent (791,000 viewers) in Austria and an impressive 24 per cent (5,091 viewers) in Germany. ‘In the fast-moving television business, regularly achieving top ratings is not a matter of course. A great ensemble, an exciting crime thriller that is always told with a pinch of humour and the picturesque backdrop of the city of Salzburg are what make this series so successful,’ says Heinrich Ambrosch, producer and managing director of SATEL Film.
Environmentally friendly production
The series is produced in accordance with strict ecological standards that comply with the Austrian Ecolabel for ‘Green Producing (UZ 76)’. The Satel Film production team attaches great importance to involving everyone involved – from colleagues and actors to agencies and partners – in the endeavours to achieve an environmentally friendly production. Attention is paid to sustainability in all areas of production: Materials for buildings and set design, props, costumes and make-up, technical equipment, catering and accommodation. Each of these aspects is subjected to a thorough assessment of its environmental impact. Through this holistic approach, the team strives to minimise the environmental footprint of series production while being a role model for sustainable practices in the industry.
Sabine Weber (ORF) and Daniel Blum (ZDF) were responsible for the programme, with Astrid Hauss (Satel Film) as producer and green producer.
‘Die Toten von Salzburg’ is a production of Satel Film in co-production with ORF and ZDF, funded by FISAplus, Fernsehfonds Austria, the Province of Salzburg and the City of Salzburg.
Synopsis “Mord in bester Lage”
Real estate agent Noelle Imlauer (Laura Euler-Rolle) is found dead. She worked for the Salzburg property tycoon Francis Zeferer (Christopher Schärf). The previous evening, the two had met at the Immo regulars’ table in Café Bazar. This also led to a surprising encounter with their former best school friend Vanessa Pöttler (Judith Altenberger). The two hadn’t seen each other since their A-levels five years ago. Their graduation party was overshadowed by the tragic death of Vanessa’s father, which she had to witness. The site manager was killed on one of Zeferer’s construction sites. Vanessa never got over it because she doesn’t believe it was an accident. Especially because she thinks she saw someone else on the scaffolding who pushed her father down. Vanessa then vowed to take revenge. The investigators delve deep into the Salzburg property industry. The former president of the provincial parliament (Susanne Czepl-Zrost), who is now in prison, gives Salzburg CID investigator Irene Russmeyer (Fanny Krausz) and Court Councillor Alfons Seywald (Erwin Steinhauer) as well as Chief Inspector Hubert Mur (Michael Fitz) a crucial clue. They come across a web of corruption.
Bildcredit: Satel Film/Lisa Kutzelnig
