Identify where the item was saved
Start with the broadcaster, app or website in which the programme was originally bookmarked. A shared programme subject, a familiar account email or related public-broadcasting branding does not establish that a list belongs to every connected viewing environment.
Keep account authentication separate from stored viewing tools. A system can provide a convenient sign-in relationship without promising that every service merges its history. Read the provider's current account and streaming guidance before deleting profiles or creating another account.
Use programme identity to find it again
Search for the programme title and relevant episode in the service where it was available. Distinguish a full episode from a clip or another edition. The absence of a bookmark is a different question from the programme no longer being offered.
| Situation | Useful check |
|---|---|
| List is present in ARD but not ZDF | The documented separate storage of viewing tools |
| Programme is found but an episode is absent | That service's current programme availability |
| A sign-in fails | The account's actual authentication route |
| The player fails after opening a listed video | Device or browser playback diagnosis |
Avoid unnecessary account changes
Do not reset every password or remove an otherwise working app solely because a list was saved in another service. Recreate a bookmark deliberately if the programme is available in the intended service and the viewer wants it in that list too.
For assistance, name the original service and the destination service, plus the programme being sought. That describes the actual expectation. A report saying only that the account lost all programmes can obscure whether the issue is list storage, catalogue availability or sign-in.
Questions about this guide
Does a shared email prove that watch lists transfer automatically?
No. ZDF's FAQ explicitly describes separate storage for those viewing tools.