arte.tv (ARTE)

BR Program Director Wilhelm Fails to Secure Rundfunkrat Majority

On 2026-07-21 the Bayerischer Rundfunk's (BR) Rundfunkrat did not reach the necessary majority to approve a contract extension for Program Director Björn Wilhelm, after BR-Intendantin Katja Wildermuth had proposed reappointing him for a 2027–2032 term. The vote took place in the non-public section of the council and the reasons for the lack of majority were not disclosed. Wilhelm's current contract runs until next year; BR plans further discussions with the council ahead of the next Rundfunkrat meeting in October. Other personnel proposals from Wildermuth were approved: Kemal Görgülü will move from Arte to become BR's director for production and technology, Albrecht Frenzel remains deputy to the Intendant, and legal director Eva Majuntke was confirmed until 2032. Wilhelm has led digital transformation efforts including integrating the BR mediathek into the ARD-Mediathek.

Bayerischer Rundfunk offsets missing fee hike; €44.4M deficit

Bayerischer Rundfunk (BR) reported total revenues of about €1.294 billion and expenses of €1.283 billion for 2025, resulting in a negative financial result of €44.4 million. The broadcaster says the larger-than-planned deficit was mainly caused by the failure to implement a recommended increase of the public broadcasting fee (Rundfunkbeitrag), which cost BR approximately €32.6 million compared with the annual plan. BR says higher returns on financial assets and prudent budget management largely compensated the shortfall. The BR Broadcasting Council approved the financial statements. In the same meeting, Kemal Görgülü — until now technical director at Arte — was appointed production and technology director and will succeed Birgit Spanner-Ulmer on 1 February 2027. BR Director-General Katja Wildermuth and Council Chair Godehard Ruppert commented on the financial strain and the leadership change.

Kay Siering to Leave Spiegel TV Studios

Kay Siering, a long-time editor, producer and since 2019 a managing director at Spiegel TV Studios, has decided to leave the production company to pursue a new professional challenge. He informed colleagues internally last Friday and will step down from the company's management no later than June 30, 2027. Thomas Hass, chairman of Spiegel Gruppe's management, announced Siering's departure on the group's intranet. Siering led the rebrand and internal restructuring to Spiegel TV Studios launched in September 2025 and will continue to support the company's transformation during the coming months. Medieninsider first reported the news; Spiegel Gruppe said the succession will be arranged in due course.