Saxony votes for dramatic reform state treaty on radio!

Saxony votes for dramatic reform state treaty on radio!

Something is happening in the media landscape in Saxony: The state parliament has approved the reform state treaty on public broadcasting with a narrow majority. This decision was officially announced today, October 29, 2025. While approval was a close call in Saxony, in other federal states it is often treated as a formality. The new regulation will bring about significant changes in broadcasting.

The reform state treaty, which was originally approved by the state prime ministers in October 2024, relies on a fundamental reform to make ARD, ZDF and Deutschlandradio more digital, leaner and modern. The central points include a reduction in the number of TV special interest channels and ARD radio stations. These measures are part of a comprehensive plan to reposition public broadcasting and meet the demands of modern media usage.

A look at the implementation

One of the most exciting questions is how quickly this reform process will progress. The parliamentary ratification process must be completed by all 16 state parliaments by the end of November. To ensure that the new regulations can be implemented in a timely manner, the Reform State Treaty is expected to come into force at the beginning of December 2025. With the approval from Saxony, 13 federal states have now given their yes.

Interestingly, the Reform State Treaty is also accompanied by changes to the financing model. The state broadcasting commission will examine legal questions and options and make appropriate proposals until the conference in December. This system change could have a lasting impact on the financial foundations of public broadcasting, which is of particular interest to many users.

Background and relevance

The Reform State Treaty is the result of lengthy negotiations and discussions among the federal states. On October 25, 2024, the heads of government approved the draft, which also includes new regulations on the number of special interest programs and radio channels. The challenge lies not only in the implementation, but also in ensuring that the public broadcasters achieve a modern and contemporary orientation that meets the needs of the audience.

Especially in the digital age, in which media usage is changing rapidly, it is essential to reform public broadcasters accordingly. The public hearing on the draft state treaty, which took place until October 11, 2024, made clear the population's great interest in these developments.

Observers are curious to see how this process will develop in the coming months. The pressure is growing on broadcasters to reposition themselves and maintain their place in the media landscape. It remains to be seen whether the new measures will have the desired success.

For viewers and listeners in Saxony and beyond, an exciting chapter awaits, peppered with many changes and challenges. Stay tuned, because there is certainly a lot more to report here!

For detailed information on the implementation of the Reform State Treaty and further developments, visit the reports from Deutschlandfunk and Rhineland-Palatinate Broadcasting Commission.