heute is a television news program on the German channel ZDF. The main program is broadcast at 19:00, and includes news, with an emphasis on political news from Germany, Europe and the world plus 'mixed' news from cultural life or entertainment, and the sports news with an extra presenter. The weather forecast comes up at 19:22 after a break with commercials. The opening sequence of each broadcast features an analogue clock, a signature element of the program.
The newscast “heute” of ZDF and the 20:00-Tagesschau of ARD/“Das Erste” are the main broadcasts of German public TV starting the evening programme. Advertisement can not be shown in public TV after 8:00 p.m.