Bayerischer Rundfunk facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
Bayerischer Rundfunk

Type	Broadcast radio, television and online
Country	Germany
Availability	Regional National International
Licence area	Free State of Bavaria
Headquarters	Munich, Bavaria, Germany
Key people	Katja Wildermuth, Managing Director
Launch date	30 March 1924 (Deutsche Stunde in Bayern) 25 January 1949 (Bayerischer Rundfunk)
Former names	Deutsche Stunde in Bayern (1922–1930) Bayerischer Rundfunk GmbH (1931–1933) Reichssender München (1933–1945) Radio München (1945–1949)
Affiliation	ARD
Webcast	Watch Nord Watch Süd Watch Panorama

Bayerischer Rundfunk, often called BR for short, is a public TV and radio broadcaster. It is based in Munich, the capital city of Bavaria, Germany. BR is a member of the ARD, a group of public broadcasters in Germany.

History of Bayerischer Rundfunk

BR started in Munich in 1922. It was first known as "Deutsche Stunde in Bayern." Its very first program aired on March 30, 1924. Early shows included news, weather, and music.

Over time, more programs were added. These included radio plays, concerts, and language courses. A new studio was built in 1929.

Reichssender München logo (1934-1945)

In 1931, "Deutsche Stunde in Bayern" became "Bayerischer Rundfunk." In 1933, the station came under government control. After World War II, the American military took over the station. It was then called "Radio Munich."

"Radio Munich" broadcast important events. This included live reports from the Nuremberg trials. In 1949, "Radio Munich" became "Bayerischer Rundfunk" again. That same year, it set up Europe's first VHF radio station. TV broadcasts started in 1954.

How BR Works: Legal Rules

BR is a public organization. It follows the Bavarian Broadcasting Law. This law was first made in 1948. It was updated in 1993 to fit new media and political needs.

This law sets the rules for how BR operates. It also explains how the organization is set up inside. BR also works with other German states. They have an agreement called the Broadcast State Contract. This agreement helps manage public and private broadcasting. It also covers how BR gets its money.

How BR Gets Money

BR gets some money from selling ads. But its main income comes from fees paid by viewers and listeners. Almost every household in Germany pays a monthly fee. This fee helps pay for public broadcasting.

In 2012, most of BR's money came from these fees. Some money also came from other sources. About half of the money was used to make programs. The rest covered staff and other costs.

TV Shows Made by BR

BR creates many popular TV shows. Some are well-known across Bavaria. Others are shown in different parts of Germany.

Advertising Rules

BR's main TV channel, Bayerisches Fernsehen, does not show commercials. Other public channels like arte and KiKA also do not have ads. On weekdays, other main public channels can only show 20 minutes of ads. These ads are split between programs. No ads are shown on Sundays or holidays.

BR Studios

BR's main building in Munich

BR has its main broadcasting center in downtown Munich. It also has studios in other parts of Munich. There are also regional TV and radio studios. These are located in Nuremberg, Würzburg, and Regensburg.

BR Programs

BR creates programs for many TV and radio networks. Some are made with other broadcasters. Others are made completely by BR.

Television Channels

• BR Fernsehen – This is the regional TV channel for Bavaria.
• ARD-alpha – This channel focuses on educational programs.

BR also helps create programs for other channels:

• Das Erste – BR adds programs to Germany's main national channel.
• Phoenix – A channel made with ARD and ZDF.
• KiKA – A children's network from ARD and ZDF.
• arte – A cultural network from France and Germany.
• 3sat – A cultural network from Germany, Austria, and Switzerland.

Radio Channels

• Bayern 1 – Plays popular music and offers information. It is for adults over 35.
• Bayern 2 – Features news, documentaries, and radio plays. It also plays alternative music, jazz, and folk.
• Bayern 3 – Plays pop music for a younger audience. It also gives traffic updates.
• BR-Klassik – Plays classical music. It also broadcasts live operas and music documentaries.
• BR24 – Offers rolling news updates throughout the day. On Sundays, it has longer programs about culture, politics, and science.

BR also has five more channels. You can listen to them through digital radio, satellite, cable, and online:

• BR Schlager – Plays oldies and folk music. It also has information for older listeners.
• Puls – This channel is for young people. It focuses on alternative music.
• BR Verkehr – Gives the latest traffic news. A computer voice reads the updates.
• BR24live – This is mostly a relay of BR24. But it breaks away to give longer coverage of live events.
• BR Heimat – Plays Bavarian folk music. It also has documentaries about Bavarian traditions and culture.

BR's Musical Groups

BR manages three musical organizations. These groups are very important for music in Bavaria.

• Symphonieorchester des Bayerischen Rundfunks (Bavarian Radio Symphony Orchestra): This orchestra started in 1949. Famous conductors have led this group.
• Münchner Rundfunkorchester (Munich Radio Orchestra): This orchestra began in the 1920s. It is known for its Sunday concerts. It also performs concerts for young people and children.
• Chor des Bayerischen Rundfunks (Bavarian Radio Choir): This choir started in 1946. It has performed new musical works by famous composers.

Managing Directors of BR

Here are the people who have led BR since 1945:

• Field Horine – 1945–1947
• Edmund Schechter – 1947
• Rudolf von Scholtz – 1947–1956
• Franz Stadelmayer – 1956–1960
• Christian Wallenreiter – 1960–1972
• Reinhold Vöth – 1972–1990
• Albert Scharf – 1990–2002
• Thomas Gruber – 2002–2011
• Ulrich Wilhelm – 2011–2021
• Katja Wildermuth – since 2021

Past Program Choices

In the 1970s, BR sometimes chose not to show certain national TV programs. This happened if the programs were thought to be too controversial or not suitable for their audience.

Some well-known examples include:

• Sesamstraße (the German version of Sesame Street) was at first thought to be "too fast and too American." But this exclusion did not last long.
• A movie called Nicht der Homosexuelle ist pervers, sondern die Situation in der er lebt was not shown by BR. The topic was considered inappropriate for Bavarian viewers.
• Die Konsequenz was a TV movie about a relationship. BR did not show it when it first aired in 1977.
• The last times BR chose not to show programs were in 1982 and 1986. These were political comedy shows that discussed topics like a canal construction and the Chernobyl disaster.

Today, BR no longer chooses not to show national broadcasts. Many of the programs that were once not shown are now available to watch on BR's TV channel or online.

See also

• Bit, byte, gebissen (radio program)
• BR-Radltour
• Thomas Gaitanides
• Rainer Maria Schießler, talk show Pfarrer Schießler
• Television in Germany
• Do Not Track, a 2015 BR co-produced web documentary

Images for kids

• Transmitter Ismaning.jpg

  The Ismaning transmitter

• Dillberg transmitter.jpg

  The Dillberg transmitter

• Würzburg.jpg

  The city of Würzburg

• Olympiaturm.jpg

  The Olympic Tower in Munich

• Fernmeldeturm Nürnberg.jpg

  The Nürnberg telecommunications tower

• Hof, Bavaria.jpg

  The city of Hof

• Transmission Tower Wendelstein.jpg

  The Wendelstein transmission tower

• Kreuzberg (Rhön).jpg

  Kreuzberg in Rhön

• Grünten Transmission Tower.jpg

  The Grünten Transmission Tower

• TV Tower Brotjacklriegel.jpg

  The Brotjacklriegel TV Tower

• Hohen Bogen.jpg

  Hohen Bogen

• Hohe Linie.jpg

  Hohe Linie

• TV Tower Ochsenkopf.jpg

  The Ochsenkopf TV Tower

• Büttelberg.jpg

  Büttelberg

• Pfaffenberg.jpg

  Pfaffenberg

• Hohenpeißenberg.jpg

  Hohenpeißenberg

• Hühnerberg (Swabia).jpg

  Hühnerberg in Swabia

• Coburg.jpg

  The city of Coburg

• Augsburg.jpg

  The city of Augsburg

• Hochberg.jpg

  Hochberg

• Gelbelsee.jpg

  Gelbelsee