“ARD and ZDF Submit Financial Plans for New GEZ Fee”

The state broadcasting corporations of the ARD have submitted to the independent commission for determining the financial requirements of the broadcasting corporations (KEF) has now sent its financial planning for the years 2025 to 2028. This financial planning is the starting point for the legally regulated procedure and forms the basis for the 24th KEF report. This then results in the new broadcasting amount, the so-called GEZ fee. ZDF and Deutschlandradio have also announced their financial needs. According to ZDF, the current high inflation rate was not estimated in the registration, but significantly lower values. When forecasting programming expenses, ZDF only assumes inflation of 2.16 percent per year. The registration calculates an annual increase of 2.71 percent in personnel costs. That is well below the current tariff increases in many sectors. ZDF has to compensate for the actual cost development through savings in the coming contribution period.

ARD and ZDF want so much more money

The ARD assumes annual growth rates of between 2.16 and 2.71 percent for programming, personnel and material expenses when registering. The ARD has largely compensated for price increases for years through savings itself, she said. For the period from 2009 to 2022, the income for the ARD increased by an average of just 0.8 percent per year, according to the ARD. Deutschlandradio is assuming an annual growth rate of 2.45 percent for program expenses, and 2.71 percent for personnel costs.

“As part of the legally regulated procedure, we are very moderate in reporting future financing requirements,” says Kai Gniffke, Chairman of ARD. “In a digitized world, we want to be close to the people in the regions and look out on the world together. To do this, we have to invest in excellent journalism and excellent technology.” However, this often does not reach consumers, as the often great rejection of ARD and ZDF by the public shows. Many citizens would like to see broadcasting fees abolished. The Broadcasting Council is also bursting at the seams when it comes to costs.

GEZ: New broadcast contribution should be fixed at the beginning of 2024

Submission of the application is only the first step in the statutory procedure. Conclusions on a contribution adjustment are not yet possible. The KEF will review the financial plans submitted by ARD, ZDF, Deutschlandradio and ARTE. It then determines what it considers to be the appropriate financial requirements for public service broadcasting. This then results in the broadcasting fee – popularly known as the GEZ contribution.

The KEF is expected to present the results and recommendations in early 2024. Then the state parliaments of the 16 federal states will deal with it as the responsible legislator. Some state governments are already making it clear that they do not want to agree to an increase. The broadcasting fee has been EUR 18.36 per month since August 2021. ARD receives EUR 12.78 of this and ZDF EUR 4.69.

In 2001, the license fee was EUR 17.03 per month. In 2009, the license fee was increased to EUR 17.98 per month. As of January 1, 2013, the license fee was reformed and replaced by the license fee. Since then, the designation GEZ has actually been abolished. The fee has been changed to a flat rate per household, regardless of how many radios are in a household. The amount of the contribution was initially EUR 17.98 per month and was later increased to EUR 18.36 per month (2021).