Draft budget offers DW outlook amid geopolitical challenges

DW Director General Peter Limbourg: "The intended structural stabilization for DW in these times of geopolitical challenges is a strong signal for freedom of the press and the right investment for taking action against disinformation and censorship.

With this, the federal government is reacting to the growing demands on and relevance of Germany’s international broadcaster. DW is making an important contribution to these changing times. Its independent coverage and high journalistic quality in 32 languages provide a counterweight to the world’s instrumentalized media, which are used by authoritarian forces for their own purposes.

I would truly like to thank the DW committees for their dedication to gaining the necessary financial support to enable DW to fulfill its mission. I would like to especially thank the Federal Commissioner for Culture and the Media, Claudia Roth and Federal Minister of Finance, Christian Lindner. I would also like to thank the Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development and the Foreign Office."

Relevance and future prospects for DW

The usage figures are proof of the global relevance of DW in times of increasing restrictions on the freedom of the press: In 2023, DW increased its reach to 320 million weekly user contacts.

Due to increasing demands in 2023, DW had to meet cost reduction targets for the 2024 budget that led to the dismissal of 50 employees and to reductions in working hours for approximately 150 employees this year. The intended increase in funding in the government’s draft budget means a structural stabilization for DW in 2025.

Tarif negotiations are currently running with trade union representatives at DW for the roughly 3,800 permanent and freelance employees at DW.

Targeted defamation and disinformation campaigns and censorship in countries ruled by autocrats mean additional funds and resources are required, as do the necessarily increased security measures for the protection of journalists. DW has recently been blocked or censored in several countries due to its independent journalistic work and was declared an extremist organization in Belarus.

Financing DW

DW is a public service media organization and is financed by federal taxes. The Federal Commissioner for Culture and Media (BKM) is responsible for DW. In 2024, DW received approximately 410 million euros in federal funding from the BKM budget. The funding is reserved for the sole purpose of fulfilling the official mission DW has as an international broadcaster. Unlike the regional broadcasters in the ARD, Deutschlandradio and ZDF, which are financed through licensing fees, DW does not receive any of its funding from the licensing fees.

DW publishes its plans and projects in a multi-year Strategic Plan and updates it as needed.