Case Study:
THE FRANKFURTER LATE NIGHT
TV-Talk Show presented by Robin Zabler
The Frankfurter Late Night with Robin Zabler is a late-night talk show produced as part of the print magazine The Frankfurter and broadcast on linear TV by Rhein-Main TV. Since January 2022, the show has been produced and developed by Seehund Media.
The format combines talk, lifestyle, and entertainment elements in a compact 45-minute program, featuring a studio live band and live performances by selected music acts. As the host, Robin Zabler guides the audience through the show with three to four exciting guests, such as model agent Peyman Amin, RTL’s Bachelor Dominik Stuckmann, and other celebrities and experts. Each episode revolves around the theme of the current print issue, covering topics such as courage, body positivity, or love.
Facts & Figures about The Frankfurter Late Night:
including reruns
Stand: 18.07.2022
from July 18, 2022
With RTL’s Bachelor Dominik Stuckmann, Miss Germany 2022 Domitila Barros, psychologist and author Pia Kabitzsch and the Söhne Mannheims.
Relaunch of the Talk Show Production The Frankfurter Late Night
Talk Show Format Broadcast via Rhein-Main TV
Before the Relaunch: The Late-Night-Show "Release & Talk"
Initially, the format was produced by a small team at Rhein-Main TV, while editorial and content responsibilities lay with The Frankfurter magazine’s team. The goal was to give the show a highly professional look and reach a broader audience with compelling content.
Seehund Media’s main challenge on the technical side was to produce a high-quality TV show, resembling a typical US late-night show, while staying within budget. At the same time, Seehund Media was tasked with supporting The Frankfurter's editorial team in selecting prominent guests and structuring the content.
Reimagining the Talk Show
Our solution included a complete overhaul of the technical setup, focusing on lighting, camera, and sound technology, along with a significantly expanded production team. As a result, image and sound quality improved from the very first show in January 2022 and continued to develop in subsequent episodes.
The location was also changed to accommodate the advanced technology and a live audience of approximately 150 guests (from April 2022). After filming at Bentley Bach in Bad Homburg and Club Kulinar in Frankfurt, the well-known club Fortuna Irgendwo has been transformed into a TV studio with a camera crane and live direction for two days since July 2022.
In terms of content, the TV show was expanded in close collaboration with The Frankfurter editorial team and lead host Robin Zabler. A new addition was sidekick DJ Julian Smith and a four-member live band, GLOW (from July 2022). Additionally, a rotating celebrity music act (such as Söhne Mannheims in July 2022) performs live on the show.
"The Frankfurter Late Night"
Das Ergebnis: The Result: The show now reaches over 200,000 viewers per episode, including reruns (as of July 2022, Rhein-Main TV). High-profile guests such as model agent Peyman Amin, TV host Laura Karasek, and RTL’s Bachelor Dominik Stuckmann continue to engage in discussions on topics like body positivity, love, and courage. Starting in 2022, four episodes and a summer special are planned annually.
The show’s visual presentation has evolved significantly, featuring a faster-paced, dynamic style that makes it more engaging. Multiple camera perspectives on different levels (including a camera crane) ensure that the host, guests, band, and live acts are captured in the best possible way. The live audience of over 150 people enhances the authentic atmosphere of the show.
In terms of content, the format has become noticeably more relaxed, with Julian Smith as host Robin Zabler’s sparring partner and the live band GLOW, creating a generally lighter and more engaging tone for the show.
Past Shows of The Frankfurter Late Night:
Q2 Show in April 2022
Main Topic: Courage
Guests: Model agent Peyman Amin,, TV host Laura Karasek,, Psychologist Rolf Schmiel,, Blogger Sandra Wurster, Host Robin Zabler
Additional show acts:
Julian Smith
Live Band GLOW
Q1 Show in January 2022
Main Topic: News
Guests: Stefan Weil (Atelier Markgraph), The Meise Twins, Financial journalist Jessica Schwarze, Host Robin Zabler
Additional show acts:
Julian Smith
Live Band GLOW
Die prominenten Gäste von "The Frankfurter Late Night":
Talk Show Guests in the first 2022 episode
(formerly Release & Talk):
From left to right:
Stefan Weil (Atelier Markgraph),
The Meise Twins,
Financial journalist Jessica Schwarze,
Host Robin Zabler
Additional show acts:
Julian Smith
Live Band GLOW
Talk Show Guests in the second 2022 episode
From left to right:
Model agent Peyman Amin,,
TV host Laura Karasek,,
Psychologist Rolf Schmiel,,
Blogger Sandra Wurster,
Host Robin Zabler
Additional show acts:
Julian Smith
Live Band GLOW
Talk Show Guests in the third 2022 episode
From left to right:
Author Pia Kabitzsch,,
RTL Bachelor Dominik Stuckmann,,
Host Robin Zabler
Miss Germany 2022 Domitila Barros
Additional show acts:
Söhne Mannheims
Julian Smith
Live Band GLOW
What is The Frankfurter Magazine?
The Bilingual Lifestyle Magazine
The Frankfurter is a bilingual (German/English) lifestyle magazine that provides both locals and visitors with lifestyle-focused content about the many facets of Frankfurt and its surroundings.
Covering travel, lifestyle, events, and the renowned late-night talk show, The Frankfurter offers a wide range of informative and entertaining content for people in and beyond Frankfurt am Main. The core of The Frankfurter is its quarterly print magazine, complemented by the Frankfurter Late Night TV show, produced by Seehund Media.
Photo Impressions from The Frankfurter Late Night:
