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Definition of ARD Radio

"What Is ARD?"

ARD ("Arbeitsgemeinschaft der oeffentlich-rechtlichen Rundfunkanstalten Deutschlands") is a collaboration of ten independent public broadcasting corporations established by states or groups of states, in addition to the federal broadcasting corporation Deutsche Welle. ARD was founded in 1950, and as a whole, it provides all parts of the Federal Republic of Germany with television and radio programs. ARD consists of the following member stations.
Bayerischer Rundfunk (BR)headquartered in Munich
Hessischer Rundfunk (HR)headquarteted in Frankfurt
Mitteldeutscher Rundfunk (MDR)headquartered in Leipzig
Norddeutscher Rundfunk (NDR)headquartered in Hamburg
Ostdeutscher Rundfunk Brandenburg (ORB)headquartered in Potsdam
Radio Bremen (RB)headquartered in Bremen
Saarlaendischer Rundfunk (SR)hearquartered in Saarbruecken
Sender Freies Berlin (SFB)headquartered in Berlin
Suedwestrundfunk (SWR)headquartered in Stuttgart
Westdeutscher Rundfunk (WDR)headquartered in Cologne
Deutsche Welle (DW)headquartered in Cologne

As Germany's external broadcaster, Deutsche Welle produces programs for all five continents. DW-radio broadcasts via short wave in 35 languages. It also airs a TV program via satellite that can be viewed in all parts of the world (DW-tv).

An additional public radio station called DeutschlandRadio airs two radio programs nationally:

"Deutschlandfunk" (DLF), based in Cologne, and
"DeutschlandRadio Berlin" (DLR)*, based in Berlin.

* Strictly speaking, DLR is the abbreviation for DeutschlandRadio, but for practical reasons, I use this abbreviation only for DeutschlandRadio Berlin, so it is distinguishable from Deutschlandfunk (DLF).

ARD and a natonwide, public TV corporation called ZDF jointly finance and administrate DeutschlandRadio.

Since they are under public control, the regional broadcasting corporations are independent from state control. Serving the general public is their only obligation. Germany has a dual system, in which public and private commercial broadcasting coexist. Within this system, ARD defines its main goal as providing the German population with information, education, and entertainment.

Public broadcasting corporations' adherence to the public programming mandate is monitored by broadcasting councils. They consist of elected representatives of the major organized groups in society (e.g. labor, industrial management, churches).

For information, 70 percent of the German citizens turn to public TV, compared to 30 percent who utilize commercial TV stations. (Source: Media Perspektiven 4/98)

The regional public braodcast corporations jointly contribute to ARD's "First German Television" and several "Third Progams." In addition, ARD or individual ARD member stations join forces with non-member stations to provide further TV programming that can be received either terrestrically, via cable, or via satellite.

Each state-based member corporation offers at least four radio programs that differ in format and target gruop. These programs can be received in the state where an individual station is based, as well as in neighboring states. Some radio programs are split up in regions. The audiences of individual ARD member stations overlap. Therefore the whole Federal Republic of Germany is provided with a wide choice of comprehensive, versatile public radio programs.

ARD member corporations also host a large number of cultural events, either alone or in collaboration with other organizations. These events range from art exhibitions to pop concerts. Music events have a particular high priority. Togehter, the ten regional public broadcasting corporations maintain 22 different music ensembles, from big bands to symphony orchestras. They are led by world-famous conductors.

The public broadcasting corporations receive most of their funding from their listeners and viewers who have to pay a monthly fee if they own a radio or a television set. However, almost eight percent of the listeners and viewers are exempted for reasons of financial hardship.

The monthly fee is currently 28.25 Deutschmark per month (basic fee/radio DM 9.45; television DM 18.80). ARD member stations receive less than three quarters of the fees because other programs that are partially supported by ARD also benefit from the revenue.

In 1997, the regional public broadcasting corporations derived about 3.2 % of their revenues from commercials. Fees amounted to 83 % of the income, while 13.8 % came from coproductions, cosponsoring, and other sources. The purpose of commercial revenue is to keep the fees at a level that is tolerable for German radio and TV users. The revenue from fees, on the other hand, secures the public stations independence from government and a large amount of freedom in programming, as mandated by the German Supreme Court.

Deutsche Welle is not financed by fees, but it receives subsidies from the federal government.

(Sources: "Die ARD im Ueberblick" -- ARD Pressestelle, Intendanz, Jan Büttner "ARD Radio & TV" -- press offices of the ARD member broadcasting corporations)

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