Keep broadcast time and replay publication separate
Record the programme, channel and broadcast date. The end of the scheduled transmission is one time; publication of its replay is another. Searching the title repeatedly cannot establish that the technical preparation has finished or that the programme is licensed for an on-demand copy.
ARD gives the main evening Tagesschau as an example with a processing delay and says larger events can take longer. Treat examples as explanations of the process, rather than a guaranteed service deadline for every programme. A long live event and a short recorded item need not become available together.
Check whether the live timeline still helps
ARD’s live-stream help describes rewinding through the timeline, with programme markers for orientation. The maximum available rewind period can differ by broadcaster. If the desired portion remains on that timeline, it may offer a current route while the separate replay is being prepared.
Confirm the actual programme boundary and starting point before watching. Timeshift is a feature of the live stream, not proof that a permanent replay has been added to the catalogue. Do not promise someone else that the same earlier segment will still be reachable much later.
Escalate the right publication question
After allowing for preparation, check the responsible broadcaster’s current item or programme information. ARD also says not every broadcast can be offered in Mediathek. A missing replay can therefore concern publication or rights, not necessarily a broken personal account.
If asking for help, include the programme title, channel, date, whether it was live and which route you tried. Explain whether the live timeline worked but a separate video was absent. That combination lets the broadcaster answer a precise availability question instead of beginning with an unrelated device reset.
Questions about this guide
Does a live broadcast ending mean its replay is immediately ready?
No. ARD describes technical processing and possible post-production before publication.
Is every channel’s live rewind window identical?
ARD says the maximum period can differ by broadcaster.