WDR to cut half of its programme slate by 2030, eliminating 133 jobs
The Westdeutsche Rundfunk announced it will drop 76 programme offerings by the end of 2027 as part of a plan to halve its portfolio by 2030, resulting in 133 staff reductions.
WDR will discontinue 76 of its current programmes by the close of 2027, citing low audience reach and misalignment with strategic priorities. The cuts affect linear radio slots such as "Satire am Sonntag" on WDR4 and "Ex & Pop" on WDR3, as well as TV shows including "Frau TV" and "Menschen hautnah". The broadcaster’s broader goal is to reduce its portfolio from 600 to 300 programmes by 2030 while launching 80 to 100 new digital formats, meaning roughly 400 existing offerings must be removed.
As part of the restructuring, 133 jobs will be cut, with a third of positions left vacant after retirements beginning in 2027, and reductions in freelance fees are also planned. The union ver.di has condemned the reductions, saying they were not transparently discussed in the broadcasting council and will diminish programme variety. New digital initiatives such as "Deutschland, ich küss dein Herz" and the talk show "Draußenpolitik" have already launched, with further measures to be announced in early 2027.
Why it matters
The cuts reshape public broadcasting in Germany, affecting media diversity and thousands of jobs.
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