MDR vs SWR

Jana Cebulla to lead RBB Brandenburg offering

Jana Cebulla has been appointed as the head of the RBB's Brandenburg regional offering, a newly created position. The appointment was made by the broadcaster's broadcast council for a five-year term, following a proposal by RBB Director-General Ulrike Demmer. Cebulla, who joined RBB from MDR a few months ago, had been leading the program management department. The creation of this role responds to the perception that Brandenburg is underrepresented in RBB's programming, a matter also addressed by the RBB state treaty negotiated with authorities. The broadcaster's earlier legal challenge against the treaty's provisions was rejected by the constitutional court. In her new role, Cebulla will coordinate and advise across departments to ensure Brandenburg's perspectives are adequately considered in planning and decision-making processes. Notably, a similar leadership position for the Berlin offering will not be filled.

• Jana Cebulla has been appointed head of the RBB Brandenburg regional offering, a newly created role.
• The appointment was made by the RBB broadcast council for a five-year term.
• Cebulla moved from MDR to RBB a few months ago, where she led the program management department.

MDR SACHSEN-Dialogtage 2026: Dein Ort. Deine Themen – MDR SACHSEN mittendrin in Freiberg

Am Samstag, 12.09.2026, ab 18.00 Uhr am Rathaus/Ecke Burgstraße zur „Freiberger Nachtschicht“

Germany's AfD Win Threatens Public Broadcasting, MDR Exit Possible

The far-right AfD party won the Saxony-Anhalt state election with 43.8% of the vote but fell short of a majority, preventing an immediate unilateral exit from the MDR public broadcaster. However, talks with the BSW party could enable a future state withdrawal via changes to broadcasting treaties, potentially starting in 2029. Such a move would devastate regional journalism and public service media in the state. Meanwhile, Google is reportedly in talks with major Hollywood studios to license film archives and characters for AI training, potentially reshaping copyright and media monetization. The ARD media library will premiere new 'Tatort' episodes on Fridays, requiring registration, to convert anonymous reach into registered, returning users. France invests €500 million in audiovisual industry, positioning itself against Big Tech.

• AfD wins Saxony-Anhalt election with 43.8% but lacks majority.
• Google in talks with Disney, Universal, Warner Bros. for AI content licensing.
• ARD Mediathek to offer early 'Tatort' episodes requiring registration.

Bösel to Lead SWR's New 'Knowledge and Dialogue' Department

The Südwestrundfunk (SWR) is restructuring with a reduction from four to three program directorates. A new directorate 'Wissen, Gesellschaft und Rheinland-Pfalz' will be established, under which a new main department 'Wissen und Dialog' will consolidate several previously separate areas, including science and education, media literacy, religion and life, and a new Dialogue Unit. Sebastian Bösel, currently head of Multimedia Current Affairs in Rhineland-Palatinate, will take over leadership of this new main department as of December 1. His previous experience includes roles at SWF3, the ARD political magazine 'Report Mainz', and as head of the staff unit in the Multimedia Editorial Office. Ulla Fiebig, current SWR state studio director for Rhineland-Palatinate, will become the program director of the new directorate.

• SWR is restructuring from four to three program directorates, creating 'Wissen, Gesellschaft und Rheinland-Pfalz'.
• Sebastian Bösel will lead the new 'Wissen und Dialog' main department starting December 1, 2026.
• The new department combines areas: science, education, media literacy, religion, life, and a new Dialogue Unit.

SWR Appoints New Host for 'Doc Fischer'

Südwestrundfunk (SWR) has named Prof. Dr. Derek Zieker-Fischer as the new moderator of its health magazine 'Doc Fischer', starting on 9 September 2026. Zieker-Fischer is a practicing surgeon who previously appeared twice on the show as an expert. The previous presenter, Dr. Julia Fischer, stepped down in July 2026 for personal reasons to focus on other professional projects and her family after becoming a mother for the third time. The appointment was announced in an article on DWDL.de by Alexander Krei on 25 August 2026.

• Südwestrundfunk (SWR) appointed Prof. Dr. Derek Zieker-Fischer as moderator of the health magazine 'Doc Fischer', effective 2026-09-09.
• Derek Zieker-Fischer is a practicing surgeon who had appeared twice on 'Doc Fischer' as an in-studio expert.
• Dr. Julia Fischer left her role as presenter in July 2026 for personal reasons and to focus on other professional projects and family after becoming a mother for the third time.

ProSiebenSat.1 Unit Produces SWR Cooking Series

ProSiebenSat.1 subsidiary Just Friends Productions is producing a new factual-entertainment cooking series for regional broadcaster SWR titled 'Ein Teller Kindheit'. Six episodes are planned in which chef Sören Anders travels through celebrities' home regions in southwest Germany to recreate their childhood favorite dishes in a cook-off against a local chef. Participants in the first season include actress Natalia Wörner and singer Marc Marshall. Sylvia Fahrenkrog-Petersen, Managing Director of Just Friends Productions, is quoted about the regional focus. The producer previously took over production of the pre-evening format 'Mein Lokal, Dein Lokal' for Kabel Eins about two years ago; Fahrenkrog-Petersen had earlier produced that format with her former company Good Times.

• Just Friends Productions (a ProSiebenSat.1 subsidiary) is producing a new factual-entertainment cooking format for SWR titled 'Ein Teller Kindheit'.
• The series is initially planned as six episodes featuring chef Sören Anders traveling through celebrities' home regions in southwest Germany.
• Participants in the first season include actress Natalia Wörner and singer Marc Marshall.