ABSTRACT
The first radio stations in post-war Germany were operated by the military occupation authorities and staffed by Allied personnel. German broadcasters were slowly introduced and finally became the sole members of staff and management. The radio stations’ articles of incorporation created safeguards to freedom of information and opinion through the establishment of supervisory bodies. In 1948, Berliner Rundfunk began broadcasting to West Germany Wir sprechen für Deutschland. The Federal Republic of Germany had nothing with which to counter the East Zone effort. Judicial supervision is exercised by the federal government. According to law, the director general has programme responsibility, which he delegates in practice to senior management staff. The mandate to transmit German language programming includes the legislative order to organise radio broadcasts for all of Germany.
