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WDR joins ARD's southern broadcast hub while keeping editorial control

A major shake-up in German public broadcasting unfolds. WDR's technical shift to Baden-Baden promises savings—but will its voice stay the same?

, and ASMedia

2026 February 2 . 5:15 PM

1 min read

The image shows a man and woman sitting in chairs talking to each other in front of a television on... — The image shows a man and woman sitting in chairs talking to each other in front of a television on a table. On the left side of the image, there is a person sitting on a chair, and in the background there is an orange wall. The television is likely being used to demonstrate the importance of video conferencing, as the two people in the image are likely discussing the topic.

Million Savings: WDR Lets TV Program Be Broadcast Technically by SWR - WDR joins ARD's southern broadcast hub while keeping editorial control

WDR is set to join the ARD Broadcast Operations South platform alongside other regional broadcasters. The change will see its television output technically managed by SWR in Baden-Baden. Despite this shift, editorial control over WDR's content will stay within the broadcaster itself.

The move forms part of a wider effort to streamline operations across the ARD network. By sharing technical resources with SWR, WDR aims to cut costs by millions of euros each year. The savings will then be redirected toward expanding digital services.

WDR's programming will now be broadcast from SWR's state-of-the-art facility in Baden-Baden. This follows a decision to centralise technical handling under the ARD Broadcast Operations South platform, which already includes SWR, Bavarian Broadcasting, Hessian Broadcasting, and Saarland Broadcasting. The transition does not affect WDR's editorial independence, as its teams will continue to oversee all content decisions.

The restructuring is designed to improve efficiency while maintaining WDR's editorial autonomy. The freed-up funds will support the growth of digital platforms within the broadcaster. The changes take effect as part of ARD's ongoing cost-saving strategy.