ZDF

The Second German Television (ZDF ) is one of the largest public broadcasters in Europe, based in the Rhineland-Palatinate state capital Mainz. Together with the country together in the ARD broadcasting organizations and the Germany radio is the ZDF public service broadcasting in Germany. The ZDF started with about 2200 permanent employees and today employs approximately 3600 employees.

  • 2.1 Television and Directors 2.1.1 action before the Federal Constitutional Court
  • 3.1 Advertising
  • 3.2 ZDF programs
  • 3.3 Transfer

History and Development

Prehistory

For a second television, the German Federal Post Office began in 1960 with the construction of a second transmitter chain. This sent in the UHF range, which required a second antenna and a TV with extended frequency range. For older recipients of the trade about 80 DM expensive UHF converter held special ready. When the transmitter planning played - just like the first program - optimum reception in as many parts of the GDR an important role. To use the transmitter chain before and animate the audience for UHF reception, they were allowed the ARD ARD 2 program a temporary second program broadcast daily from 20:00 bis 22:00 clock. First broadcast was on May 1, 1961, the transmission range of hr and a month later nationwide.

After the Federal Constitutional Court in the first broadcasting judgment of 28 February 1961 the so-called " Adenauer- TV ", which had Germany - Fernsehen GmbH prohibited, and the full broadcast competence zusprach countries, the countries decided in March 1961, regardless of the previous institutions, to establish a central nonprofit television institution under public law. On June 6, 1961, the Prime Minister signed on the Prime Ministers' Conference in Stuttgart, the state contract for the " establishment of the public institution Second German Television ". After up to December 1, 1961, not all countries have ratified the treaty, the State Treaty entered on this day, although in force, but only in countries that had previously deposited the instruments of ratification (Baden- Württemberg, North Rhine -Westphalia, Rhineland -Palatinate ). The last state of Bavaria deposited on 9 July 1962, the instrument of ratification. In the supervision of the ZDF, the countries switch to two-year periods beginning.

The location for the station, there were differences of opinion between the Prime Minister. Franz Meyers had initially used for food, but after he stood alone with the proposal, but he was together with the other Union Minister for Mainz. The Social Democratic Prime Minister were, Mainz was too provincial and beat Frankfurt am Main. The argument against Frankfurt was that it should not be a city in which already existed a national broadcaster. On the crucial conference Franz Meyers brought surprising Dusseldorf into play. The first straw vote went via Frankfurt and returned 4 votes in favor (Berlin, Bremen, Hamburg, Hesse), 1 abstention (Lower Saxony ) and 6 votes against, all came from the union -run countries. The second sample vote was over Mainz and Dusseldorf. They gave 5 votes for Dusseldorf (Berlin, Bremen, Hamburg, Hesse, North Rhine -Westphalia), 1 abstention ( Lower Saxony) and 5 votes for Mainz. Georg August Zinn argued then that he was but in the case against Mainz, from the personal favor because you Peter Altmeier must thank for his many years of negotiations on a second TV. The study conducted by separate deliberations secret vote was 5 votes for Dusseldorf and 6 votes for Mainz.

When choosing the directors were party-political considerations in the foreground. A majority of the opposition parties allowed the Television to make a proposal from its own ranks for the election but also voices from the ranks of the SPD were required. So made ​​a elfköpfiger Election Committee a balanced proposal for appointment: The Legation Councillor in the Foreign Office Gerhard Brand should be intendant, the SPD should be allowed to determine the program director, who was also deputy director, the CDU and the FDP chief editor of the Executive Director. Brand refused but, whereupon the Committee could not agree on a director, there were only a majority for Bruno Heck, but fell through at the choice of television secret Council on 27 February 1962. A new, now six-member committee then made four proposals: Hans Bausch, Berthold Martin, Karl Holzamer and Wilhelm Vaillant, co-owner of RIVA - TV studios. The SPD members of the Television Council held all four candidates acceptable, the CDU members behagten not Bausch and Vaillant and it was decided by 16 votes to 13 between Holzamer and Martin. Holzamer was elected with 44 of 58 votes from the Television, 9 votes against and 4 abstentions.

In order to participate in the international program exchange, the ZDF had to be a member of the European Broadcasting Union. The regional broadcasters were initially assumes the ZDF would become a member of the ARD. This is rejected but the ZDF strictly, since they saw its independence at risk, and struck at a first meeting with the ARD on September 12, 1962 in Stuttgart, an umbrella organization before, should be members of the ARD and ZDF. This displeased the ARD representatives but not. Thus, the ZDF Director General requested on May 2, 1962 own membership for ZDF, which had to be rejected, however, since only stations could be included who had already started their broadcasting. Because the positions between ARD and ZDF remained adamant renounced ZDF on an exchange program before the broadcast started and then applied for a new membership. The Board of Directors of the European Broadcasting Union agreed at its meeting on 17 to 20 May 1963 the applicant, whereupon ARD and ZDF equal members were.

Transmitter identification

The Second German Television station names had been added without major discussions in an international treaty. Because some people in the name Second saw something inferior, it came to alternative proposals:

  • New German TV
  • Germany - TV
  • German television Countries
  • German Country TV

A representative survey in the fall of 1962 showed for German Television from the highest agreement, followed by New German television and German countries television. However, the law did not allow new name without changing the treaty, so that you considered the abbreviation ZDF plus one of the proposals. However, the Board considered the approval of the Prime Minister to be necessary, after which the discussion was postponed and eventually set by the manager.

For the ZDF identification has launched a contest among ten recognized graphic designers and decided in January 1963 to the design of Waldemar G. Hörnig. He showed two antenna masts and two stylized eyes, where you liked to talk in the transmitter of mud eyes.

On March 21, 1963 was chosen as an acoustic transmitter identification, the second theme from the first movement of the Violin Concerto of Ludwig van Beethoven.

With the great reform program from October 1973 to introduced the ZDF typeface. To this end, Otl Aicher took the Univers font and changed it slightly. Since were displayed at the former technique, the fonts into the picture, the letters could easily get rounded corners, Aicher dealt with the problem from the outset - strong - rounded letters.

The introduction of the typeface was accompanied by a corporate identity, which also came from Otl Aicher. This included the design of the screen - time clock as well as a unified design studio and OB van with a lot of blue, but not red and black. For political broadcasts you purchased a variable pipe rack system from a Swiss manufacturer, to which one could hang signboards.

Transmission start

As the broadcast started July 1, 1962 was provided, but this was delayed. The first trial shipment beamed ZDF in the night of 19 to 20 March 1963 on the station Feldberg without notice from. To 23.51 clock appeared the inscription Second German Television and 0.10 clock random viewers were asked to send a postcard with the description of the reception quality at the institution. There was a documentary on Hong Kong, where it was a FFG- production, two episodes of the U.S. series three good friends and Austrian production clouds above Kaprun. To 1.28 clock ended the broadcast. The second experiment was run in the night of 26 on March 27 on all channels of the chain. It also showed live images: a newscast with circuits in domestic Studios Hamburg and Munich.

Official start of sending the ZDF was April 1, 1963. At this time could be achieved 61 percent of the viewer, but not all of which had a receiving device for the UHF frequency range. In the ARD was hoped to be able to radiate a third program after the start of the ZDF. This could be realized, however, lack of free frequencies immediately.

The first color try sending the ZDF ran as the ARD on July 3, 1967, regular operation began on 25 August 1967. Meanwhile, the range was increased so that approximately 80 percent of the participants were supplied.

Eschborn and Wiesbaden

The transmissions of the ZDF began in those makeshift studios in Eschborn, which had taken over society by the Free TV. It was a farm and some former labor camp building, like designated as Telesibirsk environment. This two studios were located at 230 and 160 square meters and three cameras, and also a dubbing studio with two additional cameras so that it could also serve for announcements. Also, were available: a magnetic image system, three film scanner for 16 and 35 mm, a 16- mm - recorder and a 16- mm - development.

The ZDF Board was an expansion in Eschborn to be too expensive, prompting a move to the makeshift studio complex TaunusFilm in Wiesbaden, Unter den Eichen was. There they took on April 1, 1964 to send mode. On the grounds of the Taunus- Film GmbH, the transmission line, Current service and technology were housed on a site adjacent to the cutting rooms, lab, photo lab and editorship. In addition, the ZDF had rented up to 30 rooms in the Greater Mainz / Wiesbaden, where, for example, the central archive or synchronization were.

Mainz- Lerchenberg

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The plans envisaged from the outset a central location for all departments before. To this end, bought the ZDF on 25 June 1964, 1.04 million m², located in the district of Mainz Lerchenberg lot. In the first phase, a building could be purchased in early 1967 for the transfer car; the second section, the 14- storey editorial and administrative building in the spring of 1974.

On September 15, 1977, the earthworks for the third phase of the transmission mode, the building began, one designed by the planning group Stieldorf rotunda with the largest diameter of 166 meters. After six years of construction, then finally the new broadcasting center took on 6 December 1984 ( the time the largest in Europe) its operation.

The connectedness of the district is also reflected in the coat of arms.

On 17 July 2009, a new television studio went into operation. It is used for news broadcasts and is currently a non HD-capable, but virtual studio. The transmitter's internal jargon it is called the "Green Hell", because the walls are completely green to there to the backgrounds and 3D graphics, digital project his. Around 30 million euro cost according to media reports the studio.

More Transmission Studios

Today the station has 16 domestic studios, one in each state capital. In Berlin, since February 2000, in addition the main studio in Zollernhof, operated Unter den Linden. For reporting from abroad 18 foreign studios are responsible, including two in the United States (New York and Washington, DC).

ZDF regional studio in Bavaria Unterföhring

ZDF Landesstudio Schleswig-Holstein in Kiel

ZDF - country Studio Hamburg

ZDF Landesstudio Hessen in Wiesbaden

Financial situation

The financing of the ZDF proved very difficult in the early years. Of the 5 DM Radio and television license fees DM 1.35 or 27 % went to the post for the transmitter network or collection charges, the rest were given to 70% of the German and 30% ZDF what 1,095 DM accounted for - only in 1972 was it to an increase in license fees. During the ARD 2- era half of the revenue to the ARD had to be passed, then the Bayerische Rundfunk caused difficulties with his point of view, the State Treaty violated the Basic Law and the Bavarian constitution, after which the payments on September 1, 1963 ended and only after a judgment of the Federal administrative Court on November 5, 1965 flowed again. Advertising revenue remained in the first years behind expectations.

Today, the post service of ARD, ZDF Germany and radio draws (until 2012: GEZ ) 17.98 EUR per month per apartment, one of which reach around 4.37 EUR to ZDF. The budget for 2005 was EUR 1.6 billion ( due to inflation today, about 1.83 billion EUR ). Four years later, the first time exceeds the ZDF with an approach of 2048.6 million euros nearly two- billion mark. In 2012, the ZDF has a turnover of 2.028 billion euros.

Organization

Functions, organization and financing of the ZDF are regulated in ZDF State Treaty. Parties are the 16 German federal states.

Television and Directors

The Television monitors the program, approves the budget adopted by the Board and selects the superintendent, the ZDF represents outward and is responsible for the operations and the programming of the television station.

The Board adopts the budget and supervises activities of the directors especially in budgetary matters. It consists of 14 members, including five representatives of the federal states and a government representative. The other eight members are elected from the Television and any government or legislative body may belong to. President Kurt Beck. Other representatives of the countries are the prime minister Volker Bouffier, Stanislaw Tillich, Matthias Platzeck and Horst Seehofer. Representatives of the League is the State Minister for Culture and Media Bernd Neumann. Due to the " Causa Brender " in 2009, the influence of the parties on the Board is highly controversial.

Action before the Federal Constitutional Court

Before the First Senate of the Federal Constitutional Court will determine whether the ZDF State Treaty is compatible with the Basic Law. Point of contention is whether the influence of the state of the transmitter restricts the freedom whether " distance from the state " prevails. Der Spiegel describes the concept as follows: " distance from the state of broadcasting means that the circle of power politics border, where the program of ARD and ZDF will begin. "

Plaintiff before the Federal Constitutional Court, the states of Rhineland -Palatinate and Hamburg - led by Kurt Beck. Among the defenders of the State Treaty, the countries of Bavaria, Hesse, Saxony and Saarland.

At the beginning of the negotiation said Ferdinand Kirchhof, Vice President of the Federal Constitutional Court that the public broadcaster should not be passed by the state. Topics of negotiation included the unofficial political " circles of friends ", in which the Fernsehratsitzungen are prepared and their influence is undisputed that members of the committees and R groups. By judgment of the Federal Constitutional Court of March 25, 2014 was given to the plaintiffs. Several provisions of the ZDF State Treaty is incompatible with the Basic Law. The composition of the " Television Council " and the " Board of Directors " in the ZDF is illegal in its current form against the freedom of broadcasting. The proportion of politicians and " government-related persons" must be reduced from the current 40 percent to more than a third. In addition, politicians are likely to " decisive influence " exercise more in the selection of posted from groups members of the Television Council. ZDF "must not be to the state radio ," the court said in its reasoning by Kirchhoff. Social opinions are "multifaceted reflect ( to ) ". Countries have until 30 June 2015, time to catch the ZDF State Treaty re.

Directorship

The director is in the hierarchy of the transmitter at the top, ZDF represents outward and conduct business. He is also responsible for the program and proposes the editor in chief, who is elected by the Board. The director is elected by the Television.

The previous incumbents were:

Directors

The directors are subject to five directors who lead the five directorates of the television station. These are as follows:

  • Editor in Chief: Peter Frey ( since April 2010)
  • Program Director: Norbert Himmler ( since April 2012)
  • Director of European satellite navigation programs: Gottfried Lange stone
  • Administrative Director: Karin Brieden (since January 2014)
  • Production Director: Andreas Bereczky

Audience

Media Control calculated the highest number of audience the last 20 years in Rhineland -Palatinate and Hesse, whereas it would turn out the least in Mecklenburg- Vorpommern. Overall, the ZDF would but in 2013 " in the favor of the audience in front. " Records with more than 20 million viewers were attained, all in the 1980s with shows like The Love Boat and the Black Forest Clinic, 1992 reached a Wetten, dass. ? output 20.47 million viewers. The market share was 65.8 percent, according to media control. Due to the fragmentation of the television market finds such odds only rarely, most recently those ranges were determined only at sporting events like the previous highest range of the ZDF in 2006 World Cup semi-final against Italy Germany with 29.66 million viewers. The average age of the ZDF viewers was the middle of 2012 at the age of 61. By the 2012 Olympics and the European Football Championship in 2012 it dropped to 60 years.

Because the audience of the main program have a rather high average age, the ZDF is also called Kukident transmitter. This designation should go back to the previous RTL CEO Helmut Thoma. ZDF reacted against the in the media " long become commonplace " accusations leveled via the "ZDF with malice as" Kukident - "or" electric blankets transmitter " " to talk about what the older viewers violated, " the right to ask after what is really wrong with that, if a transmitter is attractive to them " ZDF saw such accusations now sovereign -. especially so since the taper of the program was initiated long ago. Thomas Bellut declared when he took office: " [ ... ] The target group of ZDF is the whole society. Therefore, we must increasingly reach younger audiences with our program. The success of digital channels and online content for rich not enough. "However, it would " be no spasmodic attempts rejuvenation, but a consistent modernization that would appeal to all age groups. "

Subsidiaries

  • ZDF Enterprises
  • ZDF television advertising

Program

On April 1, 1963, the transmission operation began with the slogan " On the First Second ", the program primarily from the pre-recorded 90 -minute entertainment show Berlin- melody consisted of music from the old Berlin. In the first year, the programs produced for the FFG still played a significant role, also they tried with sports programs, especially the current gym - very successfully - to shine. With the move to Wiesbaden was the hub, a known eve broadcast that summarized many previous advice programs. Now the transmission time could be extended gradually. Since 1966, the ZDF involved in the common morning program with ARD. The children 's and youth program ZDFtivi is broadcast in the morning on weekends and federal holidays.

Advertising

As the first may ZDF on working days according to the State Broadcasting Treaty only until 20:00 clock show advertising, namely a maximum of 20 minutes a day and only in the main program. On Sundays and federal holidays and the three niche digital channels of the ZDF No advertising may be sent. Since the beginning of advertising in the ZDF, the individual commercials are interrupted by the Mainzelmännchen. With the amendment of the Broadcasting Treaty with the distinction between advertising and sponsorship was largely abolished, so it is 20 clock and national holidays also are no longer sponsoring since January 2013 in public television.

ZDF programs

Transmission

In the first decades of its existence the ZDF program be beamed exclusively on the second terrestrial broadcasting network in the Federal Republic of Germany. This is different from the sender of the first television program ARD from Media Broadcast, formerly operated by the German Federal Post Office. As with many stations ARD 've been here before 1990, placed so that they were now broadcast in large areas of the GDR, where the ZDF had many spectators. Since December 1990, the program is also radiated through various channels in the new federal states. Be used in this case frequencies that were once provided for a possible third TV program of the GDR.

Since the first cable pilot projects, the ZDF has also been represented in the cable television. The Europe-wide satellite broadcast via Astra 1C began on 27 August 1993 IFA in Berlin. In the same decade, the broadcasting of digital video broadcasting signals via cable and satellite began.

Since 2002, the ZDF be received via DVB- T as a digital television system in the developed regions. In the early days the sound in Dolby Digital and broadcast via DVB -T. For capacity reasons, this service has been set in the meantime.

The Internet is offered a choice of programs on the existing since 2001 ZDFmediathek via live stream or video -on-demand. In addition to the regular version there is a special edition of the library for mobile devices since mid-2011 is also an app for various operating systems available. A live stream of the complete program is offered through the software Zattoo since April 2008. From 12 February 2013, the ZDF where possible - its channels sends licensing law as final round the clock internet live stream.

As the first station in Germany ZDF began to send his magazine and news broadcasts exclusively in 16:9 format. In 2006 the ZDF had sent the football World Cup in 16:9 and changed during the year to train train magazine shows how Frontal21 or the morning show on widescreen. The last transition from the previous TV format 4:3 to 16:9 was done on 25 June 2007 with the daily news.

On 12 February 2010, the HD offshoot ZDF HD went into regular operation.

Since November 15, 2012, the program is also nationally (since June 2013, in Trentino ) used in South Tyrol.

Program and family holdings

ZDF bears, together with the ARD and all 16 German states, the public corporation Germany Radio ( DLR) with the three national radio programs Germany Kultur, Germany radio and DRadio knowledge.

The ZDF is involved also in cooperation with other radio and television stations, the following television programs:

  • 3sat ( participation: 32.5 percent)
  • Phoenix ( participation: 50 percent)
  • ARTE ( participation: 50 percent of arte Germany, 25 percent in arte EEIG )
  • KiKA ( participation: 50 percent)

In his digital package (DVB) ZDFvision are also free to receive:

Former programs of ZDFvision:

  • ZDFdokukanal (2000-2009), now ZDFneo
  • ZDFtheaterkanal (1999-2011), now ZDFkultur
  • ZDFinfokanal (1997-2011), now ZDFinfo

Former programs of the ZDF:

  • ZDF music channel, as a standalone program on air from 1 January 1984 to 31 December 1988. Finally, the station in January 1989, preceded by the end of November 1993 as a program window with the same name the 3sat and went in December 1993 in this complete.
  • ZDF 2, on air from 1 January 1984 to 30 November 1984. The transmitter was replaced on 01 December 1984 by 3sat.

Awards

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