Media and communication

Germany boasts a free and broadly representative media world. Over the past few years, digitisation has significantly changed the way people utilise the media.

Smartphone user — © Alessandro Biascioli/stock.adobe.com

Insight

Guaranteed freedom of the press

Reporters and journalists — The freedom of the press and freedom of expression are among the most important basic principles in Germany.
© wellphoto - stock.adobe.com

The freedom of the press and freedom of expression are among the nation’s most important basic principles.

Overview

The media sector

The majority of people in Germany are online. Social media and artificial intelligence are playing an increasingly important role.

Television channels on screens — © Getty Images/iStockphoto

How are radio and television organised in Germany?

The media with the greatest reach in Germany are organised according to the dual principle of public-service and private broadcasters.

How is the German newspaper market evolving?

Germany is Europe’s largest newspaper market. Though the circulation of printed newspapers is on the decline, sales of digital newspapers and online services are growing.

How do people in Germany use digital media?

Most people in Germany are online, and use of social media and AI is on the rise.

High levels of media use

Almost everyone uses media every day. Average use is over seven hours a day. (Source: ARD/ZDF mass communication trends 2025)

1945

After the end of Nazi rule, in Germany initially newspapers may only appear under Allied licence. In the US zone of occupation the first licence is awarded on 1 August 1945 to the Frankfurter Rundschau.

1950

The six West German broadcasting houses agree in Bremen to join forces to form the “Arbeitsgemeinschaft der öffentlich-rechtlichen Rundfunkanstalten der Bundesrepublik Deutschland,” or ARD broadcaster.

1984

In Ludwigshafen the Programm-gesellschaft für Kabel- und Satellitenrundfunk, or PKS for short, starts broadcasting. This marks the birth of private TV channels in Germany.

1995

The first German newspaper, namely the leftist/liberal taz, goes online only six years after the foundation of the World Wide Web. After its go-live, the membership of the digitaz community surges.

1997

About 4.1 million German citizens over the age of 14 use the new online access channels at least occasionally. In 2014, the figure rises to around 55.6 million, or 79.1 percent of the over-14s in Germany.

2022

2022

Around 93% of people in Germany (78 million) are online, and 87% use social media (73 million). The average user has five accounts. There are 118 million mobile phones for 83.2 million people.

2025

EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen at the AI Summit in Paris
© dpa

2025

At a summit on European digital sovereignty in Paris in February 2025, politicians and business leaders hold out the prospect of billions in investment in artificial intelligence (AI).