Reform proposal of the federal states: ARD & ZDF to be "quantitatively limited"
The minister presidents of the federal states have published their reform proposal for public broadcasting. ARD and ZDF are to shrink.
The Beitragsservice building in Cologne.
(Image: Beitragsservice)
In their joint reform proposal, the minister presidents of the federal states are in favor of streamlining public broadcasting. ARD and ZDF should be "qualitatively strengthened" but "quantitatively limited", according to the proposal.
The reform proposal published by the state government of Rhineland-Palatinate envisages a reduction in the number of radio stations. Special-interest programs of the broadcasters would also have to be reduced in order to bundle existing resources in the remaining programs.
(Image: Landesregierung Rheinland-Pfalz)
Economic efficiency and economy
At the same time, the broadcasters' offerings are to be more closely interlinked. ARD and ZDF have already been working towards a joint media library for years. The reform proposal also speaks of an "obligation to innovate" that public broadcasters should be subject to.
Other measures called for are intended to improve trust in the broadcasters – also through more control. There must be clear responsibilities for joint offerings, the states write. The public broadcasters are also committed to economic efficiency and thriftiness. Costs for sports rights, for example, should not exceed an "appropriate level".
No support for contribution increase
The conference of state premiers is due to discuss the published proposal at the end of October. Only then will the question of how high the broadcasting contribution will be be clarified – The reform proposal of the federal states does not address this issue.
The Commission for Determining the Financial Requirements of Broadcasters (KEF) had already recommended in February that the broadcasting fee be increased from 18.36 euros per month to 18.94 euros. However, several heads of the federal states do not want to support an increase in the broadcasting contribution – also because there is a lack of support among the population. In 2023, a total of 9.02 billion euros was paid in broadcasting contributions. 8.85 billion euros went to ARD, ZDF and Deutschlandradio, while the state media authorities received 170 million euros.
The reform of public broadcasting could come into force from summer 2025.
(dahe)
