The dispute over the broadcasting fee will continue to occupy the courts. The Federal Administrative Court in Leipzig has decided that the Administrative Court (VGH) in Munich must once again deal with the complaint of a woman from Bavaria who did not want to pay the broadcasting fee. In the end, the obligation to pay the fee could end up before the Federal Constitutional Court again. However, the road there is rocky after the Leipzig ruling.
Plaintiff: Program neither balanced nor diverse
The plaintiff had argued that public broadcasting was failing to fulfil its legal mandate because the program was neither balanced nor diverse. However, the federal judges emphasized that there are high hurdles to prove this - and thus a possible unconstitutionality of the broadcasting fee. (Ref.: BVerwG 6 C 5.24) In the previous instances, the case had been dismissed.
The Federal Constitutional Court had confirmed the broadcasting fee in principle in 2018. According to the court, the individual benefit for users, which justifies the contribution, lies in the possibility of receiving the channels. Whether you actually watch or listen to ARD, ZDF or Deutschlandradio is irrelevant.
