Based in Mainz, ZDF is operating a unique network of bureaus in all of the Länder capitals, and has major editorial and production capacity in Berlin the nation's capital since reunification of East and West Germany.
The core operation of ZDF is its nationwide television channel which went on air in 1963 and today reaches its viewers by cable, satellite or terrestrial antenna, both in analogue and digital format.
Social responsibility
As a public service broadcaster, ZDF has a remit to provide information, education and entertainment in its programming, reaching viewers of all ages and in all parts of Germany. Complementing a focus on news and current affairs, ZDF is also particularly successful with documentaries, fiction and sports programmes, and has proved able to defend a leading position in the highly competitive environment of currently over 40 German public or commercial free-to-air TV channels.
ZDF Director-General Thomas Bellut is the corporation's top executive, leading a team of 3,600 employees plus a similar number of freelancers. He took office in March 2012 after being elected by the 77-member ZDF Television Council, the governing body which represents the interests of the general public and also establishes and monitors programme standards. Responsibility for corporate guidelines and budget control lies with the ZDF Administrative Council.
Worldwide connections
As one of Europe's largest broadcasters, ZDF German Television is a strong player in the international field: Long-established bilateral and multilateral partnerships and exchanges, especially with fellow members of the European Broadcasting Union (EBU), are complemented by numerous individual cooperation agreements with broadcasters around the world. Furthermore, ZDF shows a particular international commitment to news and information by maintaining 19 foreign bureaus and an even higher number of foreign correspondents based wherever news coverage is needed (see animated world map on the left hand side of this page).
Programme sales and acquisitions as well as international coproductions and a growing number of important activities in the field of New Media are managed by the commercial subsidiary ZDF Enterprises GmbH.
