After months of heated debate, the state premiers are about to make a decision on the level of the broadcasting fee. The heads of the federal states are also expected to vote on a major reform of public broadcasting on Friday. The outcome is completely unclear, especially with regard to the broadcasting fee. The positions here are far apart. This was already evident at the beginning of the meeting.
Saxony-Anhalt and Bavaria do not want an increase - they emphasize that reforms must first take effect. Other states are in favor of an increase, also in view of the long-term effects of reforms and inflation. Currently, the monthly broadcasting fee for ARD, ZDF and Deutschlandradio is 18.36 euros.
The new contribution period begins on January 1, 2025, when the broadcasting fee paid by households and companies would have to rise by 58 cents from 18.36 euros per month to 18.94 euros, according to an expert recommendation. This is based on a procedure enshrined in constitutional law. However, an agreement between the federal states on a specific increase at the turn of the year is virtually impossible. If the federal states fail to reach an agreement, the case could end up before the Federal Constitutional Court. This was already the case in 2021.
