According to Queen reporting: Lindner calls for a cap on broadcasting fees

The fact that three German broadcasters, ARD, ZDF and Phoenix, were broadcasting live and in parallel from the Queen’s funeral from London proves very well what “considerable savings potential” there is in public broadcasting, said Lindner.

BFederal Minister of Finance Christian Lindner (FDP) has called for a cap on broadcasting fees. “The fact that ARD, ZDF and Phoenix broadcast live and in parallel from the Queen’s funeral from London and each have their own staff in London clearly shows that there is considerable potential for savings,” Lindner told the “Neue Osnabrücker Zeitung”. A suspension of fee increases would relieve people “at a time of rapidly rising prices”.

At the same time, it would serve as an incentive for public broadcasters to downsize and concentrate on their core mission, added the FDP leader. “I’m sure that large sums of money can be saved through cooperation without this having a negative impact on the program.” Lindner had already called for a salary cap for top staff at public broadcasters at the weekend. “I’m against any envy debate, but no director should earn more than the Chancellor. A self-commitment is necessary here in order to be economical with the fee payers’ money,” said the FDP leader of the “Bild am Sonntag”.

Public broadcasting had come under criticism because of the events at Rundfunk Berlin-Brandenburg. Former director Patricia Schlesinger resigned in August and was dismissed without notice after numerous allegations of nepotism were made against her. Meanwhile, the public prosecutor’s office is also investigating.