German public broadcaster ZDF posts €78 million deficit in 2025

German television public broadcaster ZDF posted a deficit of €78.6 million ($88 million) in 2025, according to results published on Monday.

The figure was €49.3 million higher than the budgeted deficit, with ZDF pointing to a failed increase in the public broadcasting licence fee as a major reason.

ZDF and ARD, Germany's other main public broadcaster, have filed a lawsuit with the constitutional court against the country's 16 states for failing to implement a €0.58 increase from January 2025, as recommended by the broadcasting commission.

In Germany, public broadcasting is a state responsibility. The states argue that the broadcasters' financial needs are covered despite the licence fee remaining unchanged. A ruling is still pending.

Overall, ZDF generated revenue of around €2.63 billion last year, an increase of €91.8 million compared with the previous year. Under German commercial accounting rules, the broadcaster recorded an annual surplus of €46.1 million.

Last year, ZDF spent around €1.38 billion on programming, some €33 million less than in the previous year.

The broadcaster attributes the decline primarily to the fact that fewer major sporting events were broadcast in 2025 than in 2024, when events included the men's UEFA European Football Championship and the Olympic Games.

Staff costs also decreased, mainly due to lower expenditure on pension provisions. However, spending on salaries and social security contributions increased.