75 years ARD: Bremen radio history and their influence today

75 years ARD: Bremen radio history and their influence today

The history of the ARD: a milestone for the German radio

On June 9, 2025, the ARD, the working group of public service broadcasters in the Federal Republic of Germany, celebrates its 75th birthday. The founding of the ARD in 1950 was an important step for German radio and still has many faces. Radio Bremen was one of the founding institutions and looks back on an eventful story.

In the start -up phase, which extended from June 9th to August 5, 1950, six broadcasters merged: Northwest German radio (NWDR), the Bavarian Radio (BR), the Hessische Rundfunk (HR), Radio Bremen (RB), Süddeutscher Rundfunk (SDR) and the Südwestfunk (SWF). On July 26, 1950, the founding statute came into force, which laid the foundation stone for a new era of radio in Germany. The first constituent meeting of the articles took place on August 5, 1950 in Munich. As early as January 1952, a joint television program was decided that was launched on December 25, 1952 as "German television".

"Why is the ARD so important?" The public service broadcasting in Germany not only has a long tradition, but also fulfills a significant mission: the formation of opinion and the fulfillment of democratic and cultural needs of the citizens. The concept is a legacy of post -war history when the British introduced an independent radio offer. 75 years later, the ÖRR comprises a total of nine state broadcasters of the ARD, the second German television (ZDF), Deutschlandradio and the German Welle, which are financed by public funds. The organization is borne through the broadcasting contributions, which are currently 18.36 euros per month

look into the future

But public service broadcasting faces challenges. In a rapidly changing media landscape, the ARD is faced with internal scandals and the loss of confidence of the audience. According to a survey, only 53 percent of those surveyed trust the ÖRR, a significant decline in 17 percentage points since 2020. The reforms that are being planned are intended to help the public service broadcasting to become more digital and slimmer and to increase acceptance among citizens. As early as December 1, 2025 However, one remains clear: public service broadcasting is an indispensable part of the democratic landscape in Germany. He was crucial for the development of television in Germany, which began in 1952. The ARD not only sent the first television pictures, but was also able to design the change from black and white on color television. From the introduction of video text in 1980 to the establishment of innovative media libraries and apps such as the ARD Audiothek - the development is continuously progressing.

The ÖRR has created a variety of programs and content that shaped public life in Germany in the past 75 years. In the future, too, it will be important to reach the audience and at the same time make a helpful contribution to opinion formation. Whether on television, radio or digital: the path of the ARD is far from over. Further information on the history and future of the public service broadcast can be found at Buten & Binnen , bpb and Statista .