Overview

• The anticipated increase in the monthly Rundfunkbeitrag from €18.36 to €18.94 has been pushed back, with a Constitutional Court decision not expected before 2026.
• ZDF reported a €65.7 million deficit for 2024, a smaller shortfall than previously feared.
• ARD states that needs-based financing for the 2025–2028 period is at risk without the higher contribution.
• A media column criticizes months of archive-heavy scheduling and a pivot to mediathek-only formats as resources are reallocated.
• The ARD/ZDF Media Study 2025 indicates linear TV usage has edged up to 58.7%, while mediatheks are used by 12.2% of people aged 14 and over.