Type
Internal restructuring
Country
Germany
Region
Location of affected unit(s)
Sector
Information / Communication
Publishing Of Information; Production And Programming Of Audiovisual
Programming And Broadcasting Activities
60 - Programming and broadcasting activities

255 jobs
Number of planned job losses
Job loss
Announcement Date
21 September 2004
Employment effect (start)
Foreseen end date

Description

Germany's radio and television commission on Monday recommended a TV license fee hike of 86 euro cents, well under the $1.34 monthly increase pubcasters were demanding. The proposal by the six-member government commission -- which the heads of Germany's 16 federal states will vote on next month -- will raise license fees paid by households from $19.80 to about $20.85 a month. The pubcasters, which have long enjoyed strong financial backing, are under political and financial pressure to keep costs down, as the economy continues to sag and unemployment reaches record heights. Nevertheless, ARD topper Jobst Plog called the proposal "extremely problematic." The pubcasters said they would review the recommendations, which include cutting 255 jobs at ARD and 300 at ZDF, limiting online and marketing costs and selling up to $120 million worth of sports rights to commercial rivals.


Sources

  • 21 September 2004: Financial Times Deutschland

Citation

Eurofound (2004), ARD, Internal restructuring in Germany, factsheet number 60602, European Restructuring Monitor. Dublin, https://restructuringeventsprod.azurewebsites.net/restructuring-events/detail/60602.