The “Sportschau” has never been so feminine.

When the first highlights of the new season in the Bundesliga can be seen on the ARD TV classic on Saturday, a new era will begin with the presenter Esther Sedlaczek.

"I think that's cool," said her new colleague Jessy Wellmer of the German Press Agency.

"I think it's great that Esther is now playing in our" Sportschau "team."

Alexander Bommes is now the only man in the minority in the moderation trio for the "Sportschau" on Saturday.

The ARD is thus reinforcing the trend demanded and promoted by the company's committees.

“The decision really surprised me in a positive way,” said Wellmer.

"This is a decision of the sports bosses," said ARD sports coordinator Axel Balkausky about the commitment of Sedlaczek, who switched to the public broadcaster after more than ten years with the pay-TV provider Sky.

“We try to depict society,” explained Balkausky.

“But first of all it's about quality.

Otherwise we wouldn't use anyone, regardless of whether they are male or female. "

"I'm very proud"

The position became vacant through the departure of Matthias Opdenhövel, who has ended his engagement with ARD.

The Sedlaczek predecessor thus also represents a trend: Opdenhövel left the public service institution and is now working for private broadcasters, including Sat.1 for Bundesliga broadcasts.

Sedlaczek can do that.

"I am very proud to take over from many great presenters from the sports show," said the journalist, who has already seen the first shows without the first division.

The line of ancestors goes back to Ernst Huberty and features Anne Will as the first woman to host the "Sportschau" in 1999.

Because the Bundesliga rights were missing at Will's time, Monica Lierhaus is considered to be the first soccer presenter of the “Sportschau”.

There are now many women in the more than 60-year-old classic TV.

On Sundays, for example, Julia Scharf is on duty, and Lea Wagner is part of the team for the new Friday edition of the “Sportschau” with summaries of the second division on the specialty broadcaster One.

In one area of ​​TV sports journalism, however, women are still in the minority at ARD - and that's why the station is looking for female commentators.

"We are still trying to get reporters," said ARD sports coordinator Balkausky.

“But there aren't that many who apply.

There is still little interest. ”The only woman on the job at the moment is Stephanie Baczyk.

Two years ago Baczyk made her first division debut in the "Sportschau". Like Wellmer, she comes from Rundfunk Berlin-Brandenburg - which doesn't seem to be a coincidence. "The RBB has been run by women for almost two decades - first by Dagmar Reim, who has already given me a lot of support, and for five years by Patricia Schlesinger," said Wellmer about the advancement of women in Berlin and Brandenburg: "And then of course there is Kati Günther, the long-time RBB sports director - basically I don't know anything else. "