The broadcasting fee (Rundfunkbeitrag) does not violate constitutional law with its program offerings, the Administrative Court of Baden-Württemberg ruled on Tuesday in several appeal proceedings. The plaintiffs are therefore still obligated to pay the broadcasting fee.
A total of seven appeal proceedings were decided, in which the previous rulings of administrative courts were confirmed. The plaintiffs challenged their obligation to pay the broadcasting fee. They essentially argued that the broadcasting fee fails to fulfill its public broadcasting mandate. The program offerings violate the principles of balance, diversity, non-discrimination, and also fiscal responsibility, according to their position.
The Administrative Court found no obvious or regular deficiencies in the diversity and balance of the overall programming of public broadcasting. Television, radio, and media libraries cover all areas such as information, culture, and sports in their full breadth.
Even the deficiencies in reporting for political opinion formation criticized by the plaintiffs did not justify a different assessment, the Mannheim-based court ruled. The plaintiffs criticized that public broadcasting favors left-wing parties and "progressive" positions in a one-sided manner.
The plaintiffs' complaint that broadcasting systematically violates the principles of economical and efficient budget management was also unsuccessful. Since the current broadcasting financing is largely based on the consistent case law of the Federal Constitutional Court, this question is beyond the assessment of administrative courts.
The revision to the Federal Administrative Court was not allowed. However, a complaint can be filed with the supreme administrative court against this decision.
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