German Film and Television

Anyone who even has a passing familiarity with cinema is aware that Germany has produced some of the greatest films of all time. From Fritz Lang’s Metropolis to Wim Wenders’ Wings of Desire, the country has a long history of tremendous filmmaking. But what about Germany's television programming? In the past few decades, German television has been rapidly ascending in popularity and reach. This article will delve into the television industry of Germany, uncover its history, and explore its current stature.

A Brief History

German television began its broadcast in 1952, when the nation was dividing into East and West Germany. By 1959, both halves initiated their country’s first mainstream television broadcasting services. It would be a few years before the East German network, Deutscher Fernsehfunk (DFF), would achieve its first major accomplishment in 1961 when they broadcast a live transmission to space.
Karsten Würth @ Unsplash

In the 70s and 80s, the East German broadcast company enjoyed almost unlimited access, providing free coverage to the entire population of East Germany. This was contrasted with West Germany’s, ARD, which required a paid subscription. Along with these, most major German cities had their own television network.

In the 90s, the two companies merged and, in 1997, a brand new privately owned network emerged called Sat 1. From then on, the German TV industry started to develop into three distinct formats: commercial networks, public networks, and completely privately owned networks.

Commercial Networks

Commercial networks are typically supported by advertising and operate with a considerable degree of financial autonomy and self-determination. The most popular television network of this format in Germany is the RTL Group. This includes networks like RTL, Vox, and N-TV. These networks mostly show international and American programs as well as in-house German productions. The ARD network is generally considered to be the highest quality, while RTL is the most watched.

Public Networks

Public networks, such as the ZDF, are typically funded by government dollars. This allows the network to emphasize popular content, air informative news and offer European films and television shows.

Privately Owned Networks

Privately owned networks are funded by several sources, including advertising, sponsorships, and subscriber fees. RTL 2, ProSieben, and Super RTL fall into this category and offer a range of programming that's considered to be quite diverse.
Malte Schmidt @ Unsplash

The German Audience

In recent years, German television viewers have become more open to watching a variety of genres, including comedies and so-called 'light entertainment'. This indicates that German television networks enjoy high ratings from an audience which includes both those watching in their native language and those who do not speak German. Foreign films and television shows have become increasingly popular in Germany, giving the German audience an increased variety of choices.

Conclusion

In conclusion, German television over the years has experienced steady growth, thanks to the efforts of commercial, public and privately owned networks. As the German audience continues to be more accepting of foreign-language films, German television stations are on their way to becoming a major player in the international television market.