Germany’s state governments want the public broadcasting system to reduce the number of radio programs as part of a broader reform aimed at making the system more cost-efficient.
The coordinator of Germany’s state broadcasting commission, Heike Raab, told dpa that there have also been discussions about consolidating dedicated public television channels and limiting the number of smartphone apps operated by the public broadcasters.
In Germany, public broadcasting is funded by a fee charged to households and is covered by a treaty between all sixteen German states.
The Broadcasting Commission, controlled by the states, determines the overall structure of the country’s public broadcasters, although the broadcasters themselves operate journalistically independently and control the content of their programming.
“We will reduce the number of radio programmes,” Raab told dpa, although he did not mention specific reductions.
The committee plans to present recommendations to the sixteen German prime ministers in October.
The regional broadcaster Hessischer Rundfunk recently announced that it would eventually have fewer radio programs than the current six.
The cost cuts come amid controversy over efforts to increase monthly mandatory contributions from households from €18.36 to €18.94 (€19.72 to €20.24), which is opposed by some state leaders.
Raab said the commission plans to redefine mandates for some public broadcasters, eliminate redundant programming and encourage greater collaboration with educational and cultural institutions.
“We are strengthening everything related to collaboration and efficiency,” he said.
