Caroline Kebekus and her children unexpectedly encounter a police investigation site.
Individuals who tuned in to the "Tatort" reair at 8:15 PM on Sunday night might have been taken aback to discover that the show was interrupted for a special segment focused on children's rights, led by comedian Carolin Kebekus. Without prior warning, she took over the first 15 minutes of the broadcast on the primary channel.
This move is reminiscent of the occasional flexing of airtime privileges by Joko Winterscheidt and Klaas Heufer-Umlauf during "Joko & Klaas against ProSeven," where they utilize the 15-minute slot to tackle current political matters or raise societal concerns.
On this particular Sunday evening, Kebekus seized control of the TV schedule for 15 minutes, pushing back the Münster "Tatort" rerun "A Friend, a Good Friend" and capturing the social media platforms of various ARD formats, such as "Tagesschau" and "Sportschau," in support of the "#KINDERstoeren" initiative. The first channel described this unconventional move as addressing a "critical issue" in a statement issued to explain the event.
Kebekus, who recently became a mother, warned, "As long as children's rights are not properly recognized, our entire system is under threat. Children deserve our special care as they represent our future. We must work to protect them, ensure they feel seen, heard, and loved, and they have every right to make their voices heard, even at 8:15 PM on the primary channel."
The 44-year-old told the German Press Agency that children's rights in Germany are still overlooked, with nearly a quarter of children and young people at risk of poverty or social exclusion. She called for prominent political action to prioritize tackling this social crisis.
ARD program director Christine Strobl noted that more information on the topic could be found in the ARD media library. "Important topics require robust attention, and sometimes, we must take unconventional steps to garner that attention. It's our duty to educate the public about pertinent issues," she stated.
The action involving Carolin Kebekus has garnered widespread praise. The ARD shared it on their Instagram channel, with the caption, "With Carolin Kebekus, children are the stars. Children's issues often fail to secure a platform to raise awareness. That changes now: '#KINDERstoeren' is the ARD program."
Viewers reacted favorably in the comments, with one user writing, "I thought my TV was broken, wanting to watch 'Tatort'... FINALLY, children are given a platform to raise their voices! Keep it up, please!"
The German Children's Aid Organization commented, "Excellent action. Children have rights, and we must stand up for them." UNICEF Germany wrote, "Thank you for this outstanding initiative." Even the popular quiz show "Gefragt - gejagt" chimed in, stating, "We were pleased to participate in this!"
The entertainment provided by the scheduled "Tatort" rerun was temporarily halted to make way for a special segment focusing on children's rights, led by comedian Carolin Kebekus. This unexpected shift in programming was applauded by various organizations and viewers, who praised Kebekus for giving children a platform to raise their voices about their rights.
