Use the calendar to identify the transmission
Choose the intended date and time in the calendar beside Heute and Jetzt. If you know the broadcaster, open that broadcaster’s Programme view to narrow the list. Record the programme title and transmission date before following a video link.
For example, a film remembered as Wednesday evening may be easier to identify from the schedule than from a partial title. Once identified, keep the film year and episode information where relevant. A recurring programme heading may contain several different broadcasts.
Read the actual video offer
ARD explicitly says not all televised programmes are available in Mediathek. Open the current item rather than treating the calendar listing as a playback entitlement. If a video exists, inspect its own availability information for the viewing date you intend.
A programme outside the seven-day schedule view might still have a valid video found through search or the series page. Conversely, a programme inside the calendar can lack an on-demand copy. These two examples show why the schedule range and the catalogue window must be checked independently.
Ask about the specific programme rather than a missing date
When helping another viewer, share the identified title and actual video page if available, not merely an instruction to open the calendar. That remains useful even after the calendar’s rolling range changes. Keep any expiry information with the recommendation.
If no playable item is offered, contact the responsible broadcaster with the date, channel and title. Describe whether the programme appears in the schedule but has no replay, or whether the schedule itself is difficult to navigate. A precise distinction avoids presenting a calendar search limit as proof that the programme has been deleted forever.
Questions about this guide
Does a seven-day calendar guarantee seven days of replay access?
No. ARD says not every broadcast is available in Mediathek.
Can I look for a programme beyond that calendar range?
Use the title or series search and inspect any current video offer; the calendar range does not establish the video’s lifetime.