Bayerischer Rundfunk facts for kids
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| Type | Broadcast radio, television and online |
|---|---|
| Country | Germany |
| Availability | Worldwide |
| 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 |
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| Affiliation | ARD |
| Webcast | Watch Nord Watch Süd Watch Panorama |
Bayerischer Rundfunk (which means "Bavarian Broadcasting"), often called BR, is a public TV and radio company. It is based in Munich, the capital city of Bavaria in Germany. BR is part of the ARD, a group of public broadcasters in Germany.
Contents
A Look at BR's History
Bayerischer Rundfunk started in Munich in 1922. It was first known as "Deutsche Stunde in Bayern." Its very first show aired on March 30, 1924.
Early Days of Broadcasting
The first programs were simple. They included time announcements, news, weather, and stock market updates. Music was also a big part of the early broadcasts.
Over time, more types of shows were added. These included radio plays, concerts, and programs for women. There were also language courses, chess lessons, and religious services. A new studio was built in 1929 by Richard Riemerschmid.
In 1931, "Deutsche Stunde in Bayern" changed its name to Bayerischer Rundfunk. A few years later, in 1933, the station came under the control of the Nazi government.
After World War II
After the Allies won World War II, the American military took over the station. It was called "Radio Munich" then. In June 1945, Radio Munich started broadcasting again. It shared programs with other stations like Radio Stuttgart and Radio Frankfurt.
Radio Munich covered important events like the Nuremberg trials. It also had programs like "War Never Again." Surveys from 1945-1946 showed that people liked Radio Munich's news. However, they preferred German music from other stations over American music.
In 1949, Radio Munich became Bayerischer Rundfunk again. That same year, it set up Europe's first VHF station. A new station was added in Nuremberg in the early 1950s. Television shows began in 1954.
How BR Works
BR is a public company set up by Bavarian law. This law, called the Bavarian Broadcasting Law, was first passed in 1948. It was updated in 1993 to fit new media and political needs. This law explains how BR should operate and how it is organized.
Funding BR's Programs
BR gets some money from selling advertising time. However, most of its money comes from fees paid by TV viewers and radio listeners. Every household in Germany has to pay a "broadcast contribution" each month. This fee helps pay for the public broadcasting system.
In 2012, most of BR's money (85.3%) came from these fees. A smaller part (12.6%) came from other things like selling product licenses. Only 2.1% came from selling advertising time. About half of this money (48.5%) was used to make programs.
TV Shows from BR
BR makes many popular TV shows. Some are well-known in Bavaria, and others are shown across Germany. Here are a few examples:
- BR24 (news program)
- quer
- Münchner Runde (a political talk show)
- alpha-Centauri (a science show)
- Space Night
- Kunst und Krempel (about art and antiques)
- Unter unserem Himmel ("Under our Skies")
- Café Meineid
- Zur Freiheit ("To Freedom")
- Melodien der Berge (music from the mountains)
Advertising Rules
BR's main TV channel, Bayerisches Fernsehen, does not show commercials. This is true for all regional "Third Channel" broadcasters in Germany. Other public channels like arte and 3Sat also do not have commercials.
On weekdays, the main ARD channel and ZDF can show only 20 minutes of ads. These ads are split between programs. No ads are allowed on Sundays, holidays, or after 8:00 PM.
BR's Locations
BR has its main building in downtown Munich. It also has studios in the Freimann area of Munich and in nearby Unterföhring. There are also regional TV and radio studios in Nuremberg, Würzburg, and Regensburg.
What BR Broadcasts
BR creates programs for many TV and radio networks. Some are made with other broadcasters, and some are made completely by BR.
Television Channels
- BR Fernsehen – This is BR's own TV channel for Bavaria.
- ARD-alpha – This channel shows educational programs.
BR also helps create programs for these channels:
- Das Erste – This is Germany's main national TV channel from the ARD group.
- Phoenix – A channel made with ARD and ZDF.
- KiKA – A children's channel from ARD and ZDF.
- arte – A cultural channel from France and Germany.
- 3sat – A cultural channel from Germany, Austria, and Switzerland.
Radio Channels
- Bayern 1 – Plays popular music and gives information for adults over 35.
- Bayern 2 – Focuses on spoken programs like news, documentaries, and radio plays. It also plays some alternative music, jazz, and folk.
- Bayern 3 – Plays pop music and gives traffic updates, aimed at a younger audience.
- BR-Klassik – Plays classical music, live opera, and music documentaries.
- BR24 – Provides rolling news updates every 15 minutes from Monday to Saturday. On Sundays, it has longer programs about culture, politics, science, and sports.
There are also five more radio channels available digitally:
- BR Schlager – Plays oldies and traditional Bavarian folk music.
- Puls – Youth programs with a focus on alternative music.
- BR Verkehr – Gives the latest traffic news using a computer voice.
- BR24live – Mostly a relay of BR24, but it can switch to give longer live event coverage.
- BR Heimat – Plays Bavarian folk music and documentaries about local traditions.
BR's Music Groups
BR manages three musical groups:
- Bavarian Radio Symphony Orchestra: Started in 1949. Famous music directors have led this orchestra.
- Munich Radio Orchestra: Started in the 1920s and reorganized in 1952. They are known for their Sunday concerts and shows for kids.
- Bavarian Radio Choir: Started in 1946. This choir has performed new pieces by famous composers.
Broadcast Towers
BR uses many towers to send out its radio and TV signals. These towers help people across Bavaria receive the broadcasts. Some of the main towers include:
- Ismaning
- Dillberg
- Würzburg
- Olympic Tower – Munich
- Nürnberg
- Wendelstein
- Kreuzberg (Rhön)
- Grünten
- Brotjacklriegel
- Ochsenkopf
- Büttelberg
- Hohenpeißenberg
- Hühnerberg
- Coburg
- Augsburg
- Gelbelsee
Podcasts
BR also makes many podcasts. These are available online from both its TV and radio stations.
Leaders of BR
Here are the Managing Directors of 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 Broadcast Choices
In the 1970s, Bayerischer Rundfunk sometimes chose not to show certain national ARD TV programs. This happened if they thought a program was too controversial or not right for their audience.
For example:
- The German version of Sesame Street (called Sesamstraße) was first thought to be "too fast and too American" in 1973. But this exclusion did not last long.
- A 1970 movie by Rosa von Praunheim, ... and the Society in Which He Lives, was not shown. BR felt the topic was not right for Bavarian viewers.
- Die Konsequenz, a TV movie about a homosexual love story, was boycotted by BR in 1977.
- The last times BR chose not to show programs were in 1982 and 1986. These were political comedy shows called Scheibenwischer. One criticized a canal project, and the other talked about the Chernobyl disaster.
Today, BR no longer opts out of national broadcasts. All these past programs have since been shown on BR's TV channel.
See also
In Spanish: Bayerischer Rundfunk para niños
- BR-Radltour (a cycling tour)
- Television in Germany
