Broadcasting fee to increase to 18.36 euros from August 2021
Germany's Federal Constitutional Court has mandated an increase in the broadcasting fee to 18.36 euros per month. The new fee will be collected starting in August 2021.
ARD ZDF Deutschlandradio Beitragsservice will begin collecting the adjusted public broadcasting fee at the new rate of 18.36 euros per month starting in August 2021.
The Federal Constitutional Court in Karlsruhe ruled on July 20, 2021, that the broadcasting fee should be adjusted to this new amount. The court's decision came into effect immediately, and the collection of the updated fee is scheduled to commence at the end of August.
The adjustment follows a court ruling that found the state of Saxony-Anhalt to have violated broadcasting freedom by blocking a parliamentary vote on a media treaty in December 2020. This treaty was intended to facilitate an adjustment to the fee structure.
The new fee of 18.36 euros per month replaces the previous rate of 17.50 euros. The Beitragsservice has provided answers to frequently asked questions to clarify the mid-year change for contributors.