German States Freeze Rundfunkbeitrag at €18.36 for Two Years
Despite calls for an increase, the contribution will remain unchanged while ARD and ZDF challenge the decision in court.
- The Rundfunkbeitrag, which funds Germany's public broadcasters, will stay at €18.36 per month through 2025 and 2026, following a decision by state leaders.
- The Bundesverfassungsgericht will rule on a constitutional complaint filed by ARD and ZDF, who seek an increase to €18.94 as recommended by the KEF commission.
- State leaders agreed to a new model where minor increases under 5% could bypass unanimous parliamentary approval, simplifying future adjustments.
- Bavaria and Saxony-Anhalt conditioned their support on ARD and ZDF withdrawing the court complaint, citing their dissatisfaction with the broadcasters' legal actions.
- Public broadcasters are expected to use existing reserves, estimated at over €1 billion, to manage without an increase during the freeze period.
Junge Freiheit 
Die Rheinpfalz 
Stern 
DER SPIEGEL Die Rheinpfalz 
Augsburger Allgemeine Die Rheinpfalz 
Westdeutsche Allgemeine Zeitung 
Süddeutsche Zeitung 
Der Tagesspiegel Stern 
Die Zeit 
Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung Stern Stern Die Rheinpfalz Der Tagesspiegel Stern 
Sächsische Zeitung Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung 