> The ZDF, if memory serves well, is allowed to be more of a government policy outlet than the ARD and the third programms. This was the original intent: Adena

> The ZDF, if memory serves well, is allowed to be more of a government policy outlet than the ARD and the third programms. This was the original intent: Adenauer wanted a federal public broadcaster to compete with ARD which he considered too critical of his government. The constitutional court shut that down as only the states have the right to set up public broadcasters with domestic transmissions (Deutsche Welle is focused externally). Today ZDF and ARD have the same legal framework, they are just organized differently.