Westdeutscher Rundfunk facts for kids
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| Type | Broadcast radio, television and online |
|---|---|
| Country | Germany |
| Founded | 1955 |
| Headquarters | Cologne, North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany |
Westdeutscher Rundfunk Köln, or WDR for short, is a big public broadcasting company in Germany. It is based in Cologne, in the state of North Rhine-Westphalia. WDR is part of a group of German public broadcasters called ARD.
WDR helps create shows for the national TV channel Das Erste. It also has its own regional TV channel called WDR Fernsehen and runs six regional radio stations.
Contents
History
How WDR Started
A company called Westdeutsche Funkstunde AG (WEFAG) was set up on September 15, 1924.
WDR itself was created in 1955. Before that, there was a larger broadcaster called Nordwestdeutscher Rundfunk (NWDR). This company split into two new ones: Norddeutscher Rundfunk (NDR) and Westdeutscher Rundfunk (WDR). NDR covered areas like Lower Saxony and Hamburg. WDR became responsible for broadcasting in North Rhine-Westphalia.
WDR started broadcasting on two radio stations on January 1, 1956. One of these was made together with NDR. WDR is a great example of how regional broadcasting works in Germany.
Leaders of WDR
Here are the people who have led WDR over the years:
- 1926–1933: Ernst Hardt
- 1933–1937: Heinrich Glasmeier
- 1937–1941: Anton Winkelnkemper
- 1942–1945: The station was closed
- 1945–1947: Max Burghardt
- 1947–1961: Hanns Hartmann
- 1961–1976: Klaus von Bismarck
- 1976–1985: Friedrich-Wilhelm von Sell
- 1985–1995: Friedrich Nowottny
- 1995–2007: Fritz Pleitgen
- 2007–2013: Monika Piel
- Since July 1, 2013: Tom Buhrow
Logo History
WDR has changed its logo several times over the years. Here's how they looked:
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WDR's first logo, used from 1956 to 1970.
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WDR's second logo, used from 1970 to 1994.
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WDR's third logo, used from 1994 to 2012.
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WDR's current logo, used since 2012.
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How WDR Gets Money
WDR gets its money in two main ways. First, it sells a small amount of advertising time on its channels. But its main way of getting money is from something called a licence fee.
Every household in Germany pays a monthly fee for radio and television. This fee is collected by a special agency, not directly by WDR. As of 2023, this fee was €18.36 per month. This money helps WDR and other public broadcasters create their programs.
Services
Television Channels
WDR started its regional TV service on December 17, 1965. It was first called Westdeutsches Fernsehen (WDF). In 1967, it began broadcasting in color. The channel was renamed West 3 in 1988. Since 1994, it has been known as WDR Fernsehen.
Most of WDR's TV programs are made in its main office in Cologne. However, WDR also has many smaller studios in different cities. These studios help create a regular show called Lokalzeit. This show has different versions for specific regions, like "aus Aachen" or "aus Bonn."
WDR also produces shows for the national channel Das Erste. One famous show was Verbotene Liebe ('Forbidden Love'). This show helped many young actors become well-known in Germany. WDR also helps with other channels like ARD Digital, 3sat, and arte.
Radio Channels
WDR has several main radio channels. You can listen to them on FM radio, digital radio (DAB+), and through cable or satellite.
- 1LIVE: This is a popular music channel for young people. It plays a lot of current hits. It also has special night-time shows, like Heimatkult for German pop music, and Lauschangriff for audio-books.
- WDR 2: This channel plays popular music for adults. It focuses a lot on news from Germany and the region, current events, and sports.
- WDR 3: This is WDR's cultural channel. It plays mostly classical music, jazz, and world music. It also has radio plays and talks about books and performing arts.
- WDR 4: This channel is for an older audience. Its motto is "Melodies for a good feeling." It plays catchy music, especially oldies and classic hits from the 1960s to the 1980s. It also plays German-language songs.
- WDR 5: This channel focuses on spoken programs about culture and society today. In the mornings, it has a show called Morgenecho with news, interviews, and reports. It also broadcasts news programs like Echo des Tages every evening. WDR 5 also plays children's radio programs from KiRaKa in the evenings and on Sundays.
- COSMO: This channel is made for immigrants and helps promote integration. It plays a wide variety of world music. It is a joint production with other German broadcasters.
Musical Organizations
WDR also has its own musical groups:
- WDR Symphony Orchestra Cologne (WDR Sinfonieorchester Köln)
- WDR Rundfunkorchester Köln
- WDR Big Band
- WDR Rundfunkchor Köln
- Studio for Electronic Music (WDR)
See also
- German television
- Public broadcasting
- Rockpalast
- WDR Computerclub
