German politicians are increasingly criticizing public broadcasting.Image: trapezoid
The chancellors of Germany's federal states are pushing for a major overhaul of public broadcasting – fewer radio programs and fewer TV channels. The amount of future broadcast fees, currently €18.36, is still pending.
State leaders want to change how donations are determined. They are counting on a meeting in December.
Rhineland-Palatinate state chancellor Alexander Schweitzer (SPD) said there was consensus that “we need an institutional reform of the financing of public broadcasting.” There will be different financing mechanisms through donations. No details are available yet.
As Schweitzer said, the Chancellor's Council has not yet decided on the amount of future broadcast fees. But we are close to a solution. The recommendations of the independent financial commission KEF should continue to be central. Schweitzer's Saxon counterpart Michael Kretschmer (CDU) added that the participation rights of state governments and state parliaments should be protected to the same extent.
Karlsruhe broadcast fee dispute?
However, if ARD, ZDF and Deutschlandradio file a lawsuit, the unresolved issue of future broadcast fees could end up before Germany's Federal Constitutional Court. The new contribution period for household and form contributions will begin on January 1, 2025. By then, broadcasting contributions must increase by 58 cents from €18.36 to €18.94 per month, according to expert recommendations from the Committee for the Determination of Financial Needs of Broadcasters (KEF). There are procedures guaranteed by the Constitution behind this.
National leaders will actually have to pay close attention to this advice. Saxony-Anhalt already lost its last case at the Federal Constitutional Court, as it opposed the proposed increase. The public broadcaster was right and got more money.
The German Journalists Association and Verdi's union criticized the chancellor's decision. In its message, it said broadcasters should once again conduct a constitutional review of money disputes.
This is what the reform package is about
The chancellors want reforms to make German public broadcasting more efficient. Kretschmer said this would “suppress existing cost dynamics”. Brandenburg Chancellor Dietmar Wodke (SPD) said there was an “urgent need” to agree on broadcasting reforms.
Details of the decision have not yet been released. Countries mentioned several points at the press conference. For example: ARD radio programs will be reduced from 70 to 53. Regarding the smaller TV channel, Schweitzer made it clear: “We have not yet decided to merge 3sat and Arte.” Instead, it was suggested that Arte would be created as a European cultural platform and that 3sat content could play a role in the future. KiKA and digital radio products will remain. There should be cooperation between One and ZDFneo. Prime ministers also decided to limit spending on sports rights.
Next step
Bavarian Prime Minister Markus Söder (CSU) said: “First the reforms, then the fees.” For the structural reforms to take effect, all state parliaments must agree. Even if one state assembly rejects the document, changes to state broadcast contracts cannot take effect. According to previous national information, this reform may be implemented from the summer of 2025.
For decades, federal states have defined the mission and structure of public broadcasting in state treaties. It's about how many broadcasters there are and what programs are offered.
Why are states arguing over broadcasting fees?
Opponents of the rate hike argue the House has not done enough to reform itself. Annual broadcasting costs are currently €9 billion. Supporters say the reforms will only lead to savings over time. Therefore, the contribution amount for each housing must be increased – also taking inflation into account.
Positions on broadcasting fees have been deeply divided over the past few months. Countries such as Saxony-Anhalt and Bavaria have repeatedly spoken out against price increases. However, the issue still requires a unanimous vote. Rainer Haseloff, Prime Minister of the state of Saxony-Anhalt, who recently opposed the increase in fees, emphasized after the meeting: “Public broadcasting is indispensable and a valuable asset.” (Sudanese Development Authority/Department of Political Affairs)
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