TV change in biathlon broadcasting on ARD

ARD is making a change to its biathlon broadcasts this season following the retirement of veteran commentator Wilfried Hark. Since 2007, Hark had alternated commentary duties with Christian Dexne; the off‑duty commentator would then move to the mixed zone for athlete interviews.

For the coming season, Dexne will handle commentary for all races himself, with no direct successor to Hark this year. Dexne confirmed the arrangement on the podcast “Extrarunde,” calling it a likely transition year and noting that ARD aims to return to a two‑commentator setup from the 2026/27 season, although this is not yet final.

Presenter Michael Antwerpes will continue to lead the coverage alongside expert analysts Erik Lesser and Arnd Peiffer. ARD may also have one of the experts step into the mixed zone role at times.

Hark stepped down in the spring after more than 30 years as a biathlon commentator, signing off in Oslo while covering a dramatic finish between Franziska Preuß and Lou Jeanmonnot.