Zweites Deutsches Fernsehen (ZDF)

Zweites Deutsches Fernsehen (Second German Television, ZDF) was established in 1961 through a legal agreement among all the Länder. The headquarters of the corporation are located in Mainz. ZDF closely cooperates with ARD and jointly operates several channels including ARTE (in cooperation with France), 3Sat (in cooperation with Austria and Switzerland), Kika, and Phoenix.

Media assets

Television: ZDF

State Media Matrix Typology

Independent Public (IP)

Ownership and governance

The Television Council is ZDF’s highest governing body. Its members work voluntarily to represent the interests of the general public at the broadcaster. The council also acts as an independent assessment and oversight body. Various social groups appoint members. The council holds its meetings in public, and all discussions are published online.

In addition to its role as a public advocate, the council also approves the budget adopted by the ZDF board of directors and the station’s annual financial statements. The ZDF television council, established in 2016, comprises 60 members appointed under the ZDF State Treaty. This composition aims to ensure diversity and prevent political control. The television council elects the director of ZDF for a five-year term.

A significant change in leadership occurred on March 15, 2022, when Dr. Norbert Himmler was appointed as the new Director-General of ZDF, succeeding Dr. Thomas Bellut. Himmler, who had been ZDF’s Programme Director since 2012, was elected by the Television Council with a clear majority. His appointment was praised for his strategic expertise, particularly concerning the digital development of the broadcaster. He has also taken on an international role, becoming the new Chair of the Global Task Force for Public Media in late 2024.

The board of directors is the subsequent highest authority at ZDF, with 12 members. Its tasks are primarily administrative and related to the station’s day-to-day operations. One of its main responsibilities is monitoring the station’s spending. Eight members of the board of directors are elected by the television council, and four are appointed by the federal states.

Source of funding and budget

ZDF and ARD are both funded primarily through the public license fee, with most of their budget coming from this source. ZDF receives around €5 per month from the total €18.36 paid by each German household to support public media.

In recent years, ZDF’s budget has steadily increased. In 2020, ZDF had a total budget of €2.2bn, according to the company’s data. More than 85% of this budget came from license fees. This figure rose to €2.35bn in 2021, and then to some €2.43bn and €2.5bn in 2022 and 2023, respectively.

Financial changes for the upcoming years present a significant challenge. While the Commission for Reviewing and Determining the Financial Needs of Broadcasters (KEF) had recommended an increase in the monthly fee to €18.94 for the period 2025 to 2028, the German federal states decided to keep the license fee stable for the 2025 and 2026 financial years. This decision has created a funding gap and led to ongoing discussions about how public broadcasters can operate efficiently and fulfill their public mandate with reduced real-term funds.

Editorial independence

Similarly to ARD, the German Länder government or the Federal Government does not impose any rules that would infringe upon ZDF’s editorial independence. ZDF, like ARD, is well-respected as a journalism powerhouse, financially stable, independent, and fully accountable to the public.

Germany’s Basic Law guarantees the freedom of the press; however, no domestic statute specifically guarantees ZDF’s editorial independence. Maintaining editorial independence is crucial for the station. Germans believe that the most effective way to ensure editorial freedom is through a funding and governance model. This model is based on public fees and a diverse governing body to prevent government interference.

The Television Council, which also holds decision-making authority in strategic and management appointments, serves as an advocate for viewers. Viewers can directly contact the council with complaints about programs. This structure guarantees that viewers are represented at the highest level at ZDF.

In a key strategic move focused on adapting to the changing media landscape, ZDF has been revamping its editorial approach by placing a greater emphasis on its online and streaming offerings. The ZDF Mediathek, the broadcaster’s streaming platform, was relaunched in 2025 with a focus on becoming a “streaming-first” service, shifting away from a model that primarily served as a catch-up service for linear television. This change is aimed at attracting a younger audience that is more accustomed to platforms like Netflix or Amazon.

In a new development, ZDF Studios has also entered into a multi-year licensing deal with Disney+, which will see a curated collection of ZDF’s films and series, including popular shows like The Old Fox, become available on the Disney+ platform in German-speaking markets.

August 2025