Joining forces against the Corona Blues

Usually, Advent is a time of coming together. This year, however, people are encouraged to isolate themselves and keep their distance. The lockdown is hitting Germany hard. How can we nevertheless help people feel hope, feel less lonely and move closer together, at least a little, from within their own four walls at home? That's what colleagues at BurdaForward asked themselves. Joining forces, the teams went on air on this fourth Sunday of Advent on Focus Online, Bunte.de, Chip, TV Spielfilm, FitForFun and the other portals in a nine-hour livestream.

A new way of thinking goes live

"We came together with colleagues from all brands and thought about what could help our users in this particular situation and do them good," says Christina Häußler, project manager of At Home Sunday. In no time at all, a team came together that generated ideas and made common cause in a new way. And in a completely new constellation: the BurdaForward teams, set up according to the "jobs-to-be-done" theory, came together - with the clear goal of giving their users a sense of participation and hope. Alone, each for himself, but not lonely.

So it was also together at BurdaForward. The programme for the live session was conceived across teams and brands by colleagues from the most diverse areas for all portals - from FOCUS Online, Bunte.de and Chip to Finanzen100, TV Today, TV Spielfilm, Fit for Fun and Netmoms.

This is what was on offer at "At Home Sunday

The programme was as colourful as the team that came together. In the live video stream, the users were taken on a journey that covered all interests - from art and culture to gaming, food, psychology or sport.

Real heroes of the Corona era were given a stage, and a psychotherapist answered the users' questions about loneliness live. Those who wanted to get more active in the kitchen over the Advent days could follow the live sessions on the Christmas menu, baking biscuits or making their own mulled beer. A live talk revealed details of the royals' Christmas plans and festive concerts set the mood for the holidays.

For gamers, there were tips on how to start virtual games together with friends, and for film junkies the best streaming tips for the holidays. A nativity story by the young theatre in Bonn and a Christmas concert for the little ones provided variety in everyday family life at home.

We joined forces with all our brands for the second Home Sunday. Around 50 colleagues from different teams got involved. This concerted action showed in an impressive way the power our newly established organisation can unleash. In the end, we broadcast a nine-hour live programme and a lot of individual content simultaneously on Focus Online, Bunte.de, Chip, TV Spielfilm and our other strong brands. In this way, we reached millions of people with topics that give courage in a phase that is so difficult for everyone.“