Households in Germany have to pay EUR 18.36 per month for the broadcasting fee. Only a few are exempt from funding for ARD, ZDF and Deutschlandradio. If the lawsuits of a social association are successful, their circle could be significantly larger in the future. Almost 350,000 citizens are liberated.

Record inflation and high energy prices are straining citizens’ wallets. Even small sums like the radio license fee can have a big impact at the end of the month. Every household has to pay 18.36 euros per month for ARD, ZDF and Deutschlandradio. There are exceptions for recipients of social benefits. However, not every federal state handles the exemptions in the same way.

VdK sues against broadcasting contribution for Bavarian state care allowance recipients

A special case is Bavaria. In the Free State must Recipients of the state care allowance also pay the broadcasting fee. This affects 350,000 people. The social association VdK Bayern is suing against this (source: Northern Bavaria).

Two The social association has filed model lawsuits. One at the Bavarian Administrative Court, the other at the Federal Constitutional Court. The VdK wants to ensure that state care allowance recipients are exempted from the broadcasting fee. This is already the case in other federal states: “Bavaria is the only federal state that grants state care allowance, but does not exempt a recipient from the broadcasting fee,” explains Daniel Overdiek from the VdK to the Nürnberger Nachrichten.

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ARD boss: It is mathematically impossible to reduce the broadcasting fee

If the VdK is successful with its lawsuits, 350,000 people in Bavaria from the broadcasting fee freed. ARD, ZDF and Deutschlandradio would then have to forego income of over 77 million euros annually. The current ARD boss considers it mathematically impossible to lower the broadcasting fee.