Aktenzeichen XY … ungelöst

Aktenzeichen XY … ungelöst (German for "File Sign XY … Unsolved") is a German television programme broadcast since October 1967 on ZDF that aims to combat and solve crimes. Until 2003 it was produced in co-operation with the Austrian public service broadcaster ORF and Schweizer Fernsehen, a division of the Swiss public broadcaster SRG SSR idée suisse. It was the basis for the BBC show "Crimewatch" and its US equivalent "America's Most Wanted".

The goal of the programme is to throw light on unsolved offences with the aid of viewers. Each episode contains three to five short films, each lasting about ten minutes, in which a real criminal case is reconstructed. The cases are mostly complex ones in which the criminals and chains of events are still unknown. In addition cases are discussed in the studio in which, for example, the identities of criminals or unknown murder victims are sought with the aid of a photo. Viewers can use the telephone or Internet to give information. According to a study by the programme's editorial department, about forty percent of cases shown on the programme are solved.

History

"Aktenzeichen XY" first went on the air on October 20, 1967. The "inventor" and first presenter was Eduard Zimmermann. After the programme's 300th episode he passed the presentership onto Butz Peters, who fronted the show together with Zimmermann's daughter Sabine. Since January 18, 2002 Aktenzeichen XY has been presented by Rudi Cerne.

With "Aktenzeichen XY" Eduard Zimmermann and ZDF succeeded in starting a TV format that had not existed worldwide until 1967. Although news reports had often shown photofits, an actual independent show of this type was unknown at this time.

The idea came to Zimmermann during his work with the programme "Vorsicht, Falle!" (Eng: "Beware, Trap!") first broadcast in 1963, in which he warned the viewers of "Nepper, Schlepper und Bauernfänger" ("scammers, hustlers, and conmen"). The viewers frequently sent him information regarding descriptions of the fraudsters on the programme. This gave him the idea to use the medium of TV to work with the police on unsolved crimes. In a biographical statement Zimmerman also admitted that his motivation for both programmes was partly a personal one; he himself is a victim of fraud.

"Aktenzeichen XY" was initially produced in the ZDF studios in Wiesbaden, before moving to the FSM studios in Unterföhring from 1969.

On November 8, 2002, the broadcast of the 350th episode was celebrated, after "Aktenzeichen XY" had been on the air for 35 years. Eduard Zimmermann was the guest of Rudi Cerne on his own programme, which concerned a several-decades-old crime that had particularly touched him - the abduction and murder of a young girl named Ursula Hermann. At the time 3,228 cases had been featured on the show, of which 1,182 had been solved. 1,880 people had been sought and 914 of them had been caught. This included 624 murder cases.

Similar formats

In Germany

The private broadcaster Sat.1 and the public broadcaster MDR both produced similar programmes, known as "Fahndungsakte" (Eng: "Manhunt Files") and "Kripo Live" respectively. SAT.1 cancelled "Fahndungsakte" in 2000 after three years' run due to low audience figures. MDR has had more success with "Kripo Live" since 1992.

Internationally

The format has been sold to several countries, including Great Britain, where it has been known as "Crimewatch" since 1984, the Netherlands ("Opsporing verzocht", 1982), Israel ("Crime Investigation", 1986) and Hungary ("Az XY Akta Megoldatlan", 1992).

"Aktenzeichen XY" is the only German television format to have entered the American market, where it is known as "America's Most Wanted" and has been broadcast since 1988.

References

*"This article incorporates text translated from the corresponding German Wikipedia article as of 25th March, 2006, which cites the following reference:"
** Ummenhofer, Stefan and Thaidigsmann, Michael: "Aktenzeichen XY . . . ungelöst – Kriminalität, Kontroverse, Kult" ISBN 3980927814

External links

* [http://aktenzeichenxy.zdf.de/ZDFde/inhalt/13/0,1872,2000781,00.html?dr=1 aktenzeichenxy.zdf.de] ZDF official site (German)
* [http://www.zuschauerreaktionen.de www.zuschauerreaktionen.de] Comprehensive fan site (German)