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ARD Audiothek to Rebrand as 'ARD Sounds' in March 2026

ARD positions the unified app to improve discovery for younger, mobile-first listeners.

Overview

  • More than 40 regional radio apps will be integrated into the new platform, centralizing live streams and on-demand audio.
  • The transition starts in March 2026 as an update to the current ARD Audiothek app, with phased migrations and guided onboarding for radio-app users.
  • ARD Sounds will add personalized recommendations, an upgraded audio player, and real-time interaction with stations.
  • Selected ZDF podcasts, including "Lanz & Precht," "Aktenzeichen XY... Unvergessene Verbrechen," and "heute journal – der Podcast," are planned to be available at launch.
  • The platform is being built on the ARD-Mediathek technology base to boost content findability and use resources more efficiently.