The service union Verdi has urged the German state premiers to enshrine the 18.64‑euro broadcasting fee, recommended by a commission, in a state treaty starting in 2027. “We must return the broadcasting fee to the rule of law” said Christoph Schmitz‑Dethlefsen, Verdi’s media‑policy member, on Friday. He noted that while the broadcasting houses and the KEF (Kernkraftwerk der öffentlichen Medien) adhered to the fee process, politicians in the media sector now bear the responsibility of safeguarding that process and implementing the Federal Constitutional Court’s directives.
Regarding the revised fee amount, Schmitz‑Dethlefsen emphasized the importance of respecting the independent KEF’s recommendation. The new report highlights that the KEF acknowledges a higher financial need for publicly‑owned broadcasters, a need that must be met. He pointed out that broadcasters, fearing a lack of fee increases in recent years, have cut costs in all areas and postponed essential investments. The KEF regards the savings made in that way as a factor that should reduce the required fee level.
In contrast, the IT‑sector association Bitkom is pushing for a lower fee. Its chief executive Bernhard Rohleder argued that public broadcasting is urgently needed in times of societal division and rising misinformation. However, for the service to reach and influence the population, it must be perceived as a trustworthy, high‑quality medium. “Charging a monthly fee for a service that only a few people use sporadically-and which is far higher than private radio and streaming offerings-is counterproductive” Rohleder said. Even given the strained economic conditions many households face, he called for the fee to refrain from further increases and to trend downward. Lower burdens on payers, he said, would send the right signal.