ARD and ZDF Sue Over Failure to Raise Broadcasting Fee (faz.net)

• Lawsuit challenges states' failure to increase broadcasting fee from January 2025.
• Federal Constitutional Court to define scope of broadcasting freedom.
• Independent KEF recommendation for increase was ignored by states.

"German public broadcasters ARD and ZDF have filed a lawsuit with the Federal Constitutional Court in Karlsruhe because the federal states did not increase the broadcasting fee as of January 1, 2025. The judges are now deliberating on the interpretation of broadcasting freedom with regard to the broadcasters' funding. The dispute concerns the constitutionally protected independence of public broadcasting and whether states are obligated to implement a recommended increase by the independent commission."