
'Consortium' ("Working group") – of the public-law broadcasting institutions ‡ – of the Federal Republic of Germany'.German: "Arbeitsgemeinschaft – der öffentlich-rechtlichen Rundfunkanstalten – der Bundesrepublik Deutschland".3 Institutions and member organizations.Deutsche Welle, Germany's international broadcaster, is also a member of ARD. ‡public-law broadcasting institutions means broadcasters which are not privately owned (German: Privatradio and Privatfernsehen) and are not governmental radio or TV. ARD is not 'owned by' anybody, particularly not by "Germany" (meaning its government/federal state). ARD-members like BR ( Bayerischer Rundfunk) are not owned by their Land (state and its government, here Bavaria), either. With the Rundfunkfreiheit (freedom of broadcasting), they have an independent position (within a legal framework).

The winning Allies of World War II determined that German radio after World War II would not broadcast the same propaganda as the pre-war Reichs-Rundfunk-Gesellschaft ("Reich Broadcasting Company").
#Ard tagesthemen mediathek tv#
A federal structure, the renunciation of state influence and the avoidance of economic dependence were to be the key of the radio and TV institutions under public law ( öffentlich-rechtliche Rundfunk- und Fernsehanstalten, public radio and television organisations).
