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What does "Rundfunkbeitrag" mean in English?

Last updated on 10 April 2024

The Rundfunkbeitrag, literally translated as “broadcasting contribution,” is a fee that supports public broadcasting in Germany. Every household in Germany is required to pay this fee, which is used to finance public television and radio channels.

What is “Rundfunkbeitrag”?

The Rundfunkbeitrag is a mandatory fee for all households in Germany, regardless of whether they own a television or radio. The fee ensures the funding of public broadcasting services, which include television, radio, and online content. This system is designed to keep public broadcasting independent of commercial interests and political influence[1][12].

More information about “Rundfunkbeitrag”

The fee is collected by the ARD ZDF Deutschlandradio Beitragsservice, formerly known as GEZ (Gebühreneinzugszentrale). As of the information available, the monthly fee per household is 18.36€[1]. There are exemptions and reductions available for students receiving BAföG, people with disabilities, and recipients of certain social benefits[2][5][7][17]. It is important for residents to register for the Rundfunkbeitrag upon moving into a new dwelling, as the residents’ registration office will notify the Beitragsservice of new residents[17].

Here are some additional terms that are related to Rundfunkbeitrag:

  • BAföG: A state-supported financial assistance for students in Germany, which can affect eligibility for Rundfunkbeitrag exemption[2].
  • Beitragsservice: The organization responsible for collecting the Rundfunkbeitrag[12].
  • GEZ: The former name for the Beitragsservice, which collected the broadcasting fee until 2012[18].
  • ARD, ZDF, Deutschlandradio: Public broadcasting entities in Germany that are financed by the Rundfunkbeitrag[11][16].

The Rundfunkbeitrag is a key component of Germany’s public broadcasting funding model, ensuring that quality content is available to all residents without the influence of commercial advertising or political bias.

Sources

[1] https://allaboutberlin.com/glossary/Rundfunkbeitrag [2] https://www.rundfunkbeitrag.de/welcome/englisch/students_and_apprentices/index_ger.html [3] https://www.ash-berlin.eu/fileadmin/Daten/Internationales/Incomings/How_to_register_for_the_Rundfunkbeitrag.pdf [4] https://www.rundfunkbeitrag.de/buergerinnen_und_buerger/formulare/befreiung_oder_ermaessigung_beantragen/index_ger.html [5] https://www.verbraucherzentrale-brandenburg.de/infothek-english/licence-fee-rundfunkbeitrag-exemption-and-reduction-44831 [6] https://www.rundfunkbeitrag.de/welcome/englisch/companies_institutions_and_public_interest_bodies/index_ger.html [7] https://www.rundfunkbeitrag.de/e175/e218/Merkblatt_Befreiung_und_Ermaessigung.pdf [8] https://www.rundfunkbeitrag.de/buergerinnen_und_buerger/formulare/befreiung_nebenwohnung/index_ger.html [9] https://www.rundfunkbeitrag.de/zahlung/index_ger.html [10] https://allaboutberlin.com/guides/gez-rundfunkbeitrag [11] https://www.imprs-trust.mpg.de/de/administratives/rundfunkbeitrag/ [12] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Beitragsservice_von_ARD,_ZDF_und_Deutschlandradio [13] https://www.rundfunkbeitrag.de [14] https://www.expatrio.com/about-germany/radio-tax [15] https://www.verbraucherzentrale-brandenburg.de/infothek-english/do-i-have-to-pay-the-licence-fee-rundfunkbeitrag-44825 [16] https://fintiba.com/moving-to-germany/general/accommodation/rundfunkbeitrag/ [17] https://www.rundfunkbeitrag.de/welcome/englisch/index_ger.html [18] https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/ARD_ZDF_Deutschlandradio_Beitragsservice