Rundfunk Berlin-Brandenburg ("Berlin-Brandenburg Broadcasting"), commonly shortened to RBB (stylized as rbb), is an institution under public law (national broadcaster) for the German states of Berlin and Brandenburg, based in Berlin and Potsdam. RBB was established on 1 May 2003 through the merger of Sender Freies Berlin (SFB) and Ostdeutscher Rundfunk Brandenburg (ORB), based in Potsdam, and is a member of the Association of PSBs in the Federal Republic of Germany (ARD). Aside from its two main studios in Berlin and Potsdam, RBB also has regional studios in Cottbus and Frankfurt (Oder), and regional offices in Perleberg and Prenzlau. RBB also operates ARD's studio in Warsaw; the responsibility changes every five years between RBB and WDR (Westdeutscher Rundfunk). RBB also plays out ARD's digital channels from a center in Potsdam. RBB and WDR are jointly responsible for ARD's television studio in Berlin.

History

RBB was founded on 25 June 2002 on the basis of a state treaty between the states of Berlin and Brandenburg. As a result, RBB is required to treat both states equally "with respect to the regional content needs". In 2022 there were complains about nepotism of rbb-director Patricia Schlesinger. The public prosecutor started an investigation and Schlesinger stepped back from the office as ARD-director and rbb-director.

Organization and finances

RBB Directors-general

The first director-general of the RBB was Dagmar Reim, from 1 May 2003 to 30 June 2016, at an annual salary of €220,000. Her successor Patricia Schlesinger has been in office since 1 July 2016 and the annual salary has risen to €257,000.

Finances

Every household in Germany is legally required to pay monthly €18.36 licence fee -the "Rundfunkbeitrag" (broadcast contribution) to finance the public broadcast system. The fee is collected by Beitragsservice von ARD, ZDF und Deutschlandradio. RBB's revenues from the licence fee amounted to

Number of employees

In 2016 RBB had an average number of 1,938 permanent employees.

Channels

Television

Radio

Notable productions

RBB produces episodes of the crime series Tatort and Polizeiruf 110 for ARD. It also produces Kontraste, a political show and the satirical show Nuhr im Ersten (formerly Satiregipfel and Scheibenwischer) for ARD. From 2003 to 2005, RBB broadcast the Kurt Krömer Show, which attracted attention nationwide. RBB has produced the show's successor, Bei Krömers, for ARD since 2005. The regional news show rbb24 Abendschau has a high profile in the capital region. Since 1958, initially with a slot in ARD including nationwide transmission of the Berlin visit of John F. Kennedy, and later distributed under SFB-frequency, Abendschau reports on politics, economy, sports in Berlin and as well as news from the various districts and boroughs of the city. RBB produces Ohrenbär, aimed at an audience of four and eight-year-olds.

Logo history