SOKO Leipzig is one of Germany's most popular crime drama series. It was first broadcast on 31 January 2001, on German television channel ZDF and more than 300 episodes have broadcast since. The series averages 5 million viewers per week. On 12 November 2008, the first part of a two-part crossover between SOKO Leipzig and British police procedural The Bill was aired (Proof of Life), with the same version being shown on both ZDF and British television channel ITV1.