Linda Zervakis
So her life has changed since the “Tagesschau” -aus
Linda Zervakis and Matthias Opdenhövel have with “Zervakis & Opdenhövel. Live.” their own broadcast.
© ProSieben / Michael de Boer
Linda Zervakis reveals why she dares to switch to private television and how her everyday life has changed since she left “Tagesschau”.
Linda Zervakis (46) and Matthias Opdenhövel (51) will present the new journal “Zervakis & Opdenhövel. Live.” (8:15 p.m. on ProSieben). In an interview with the news agency spot on news, Zervakis now talks about the reasons for her departure as news anchor for the “Tagesschau” and also reveals how her everyday life has changed as a result of her new job.
How difficult was it for you to say goodbye to the “Tagesschau” after eight years?
Linda Zervakis: To give up the “Tagesschau” was not an easy decision. I just knew that in addition to the news, I needed another playground that the NDR couldn’t offer me. So I had to carefully consider whether I wanted to continue like this. If I had received an offer like this that ProSieben made me two years later, I would probably not have had the courage to jump again.
What do you miss most about work?
Zervakis: I don’t look back because I’m doing a completely different kind of show compared to the “Tagesschau” – if you compare the length and working hours of the show …
You have a friendship with your former colleague Caren Miosga. What did you say about your new job?
Zervakis: Caren knows and understood why I decided to take this step, but also says that she thinks it is very brave.
What big differences between private and public law have you already noticed in your work?
Zervakis: On the one hand, there is the way to get there. I used to ride my bike to work, now I have to commute from Hamburg to Munich. And secondly, it’s the type of work that is different now. I was the spokesperson for the “Tagesschau”. That means, I only read the reports and did not write them myself. Now I can get involved in the editorial department, conduct interviews and meet a wide variety of people whom I visit and accompany for reports.
What can viewers expect at “Zervakis & Opdenhövel. Live.”?
Zervakis: We broadcast during prime time, every week on Mondays. We tell our topics close to people. Example: We accompany a family who lost everything in the flood disaster on their difficult journey. We explain relationships so that they are easy to understand for all viewers. In addition, we moderate in pairs and we interact live with the viewers via the ProSieben app and take them and their opinions into the show.
What do you appreciate about your colleague Matthias Opdenhövel and how do you complement each other?
Zervakis: He knows football and can give me the insider knowledge I need to shine at the breakfast table at home (laughs).
Did you know each other beforehand and how did you groov yourself in with him, have you been mainly alone in front of the camera so far?
Zervakis: We met years ago at the ARD Star Biathlon, which Matthias moderated at the time. We got along very well. When I found out that Matthias will moderate at my side, I was very happy. We immediately talked to each other for a long time and exchanged ideas about how we would like to see the show together, what is important to us, which topics concern us and quickly realized that we were totally on the same wavelength. I couldn’t have asked for a better moderation partner.
The broadcast will be live. Do you see this as a particular challenge?
Zervakis: Of course, if only because it is no longer 15 minutes as with the Tagesschau, but 120 minutes. And with “live” you never know what will happen. That has a certain charm.
The journal is intended to provide entertainment for viewers. What are the success factors of infotainment for you?
Zervakis: I think it’s the mix that makes the difference. The big challenge will be to have topics that people say I’ll stick with. And with the ProSieben app we have the opportunity to involve the viewers and ask them for their opinion.
How and on which channels do you prefer to get information personally?
Zervakis: I have to admit that I am now almost exclusively digital. This applies to newspapers as well as to TV formats that I look at in the respective media libraries.
In addition to your new job, you’ve also written a podcast and two books. What else can your fans look forward to in the coming period?
Zervakis: First on “#ZOL” and on a third podcast season “Gute Deutsche” on Spotify.