There is currently no majority among the federal states in favor of a possible increase in the broadcasting fee. This was stated on Friday by member of the State Broadcasting Commission, Oliver Schenk (CDU), who is also Saxony's Media Minister, after a committee meeting in Bingen am Rhein.
Overall, further reform efforts are expected to make public broadcasting more digital and efficient. The coordinator of the Broadcasting Commission and State Secretary for Media of Rhineland-Palatinate, Heike Raab (SPD), spoke of a very different situation between the states responsible for media policy.
The current contribution period, with a monthly amount of 18.36 euros paid by households and companies, extends until the end of the year. According to Schenk, on February 23 the independent financial commission KEF, which examines the financial needs of ARD, ZDF and Deutschlandradio, will recommend to the states what the contribution should be from 2025. A preliminary draft mentioned 18.94 euros.
The case could end up before the Federal Constitutional Court
States must closely follow the recommendation, but several prime ministers made clear months ago that they wanted to oppose an increase. The case could end up before the Federal Constitutional Court.
The states now want to commission a report from the KEF to identify possible savings effects through the reforms. Schenk cited as an example the question of how much would be saved if the broadcasters' foreign studios were combined. The real estate portfolio is also a matter of cooperation in the technical field. The federal states want to present a reformist state treaty in the autumn.
The KEF special report could lead to the station's financial statement
It is not clear exactly what the transmission fee payment process will be from January 1, 2025. Schenk responded to the question that the meeting also discussed, among other things, the concept of a moratorium. No further details were given.
Another scenario could be that the KEF special report subsequently triggers a new financial statement by the broadcasters.
The federal states also want to obtain an expert opinion, because days ago an independent council presented proposals for the future of public broadcasting. On behalf of the federal states, the Council of the Future has been developing ideas since March 2023 to save costs, enable more efficient work, create clearer responsibilities and promote acceptance of the houses among the population.
Countries reject a new organization that brings together broadcasters
In their key points, the federated states also took up ideas from the Council of the Future. For example, a joint organizational unit independent of ARD, ZDF and Deutschlandradio should be created for technology and for the development and operation of a common technical platform system. States also want to dismantle multiple structures.
The organization should replace “complex coordination” within the ARD, the key points document continues. At the same time, the federal states do not adopt in the newspaper a new coordinating organization proposed by the Council of the Future as an ARD institution, which brings together the core tasks of the nine broadcasters.