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Media in Germany

TV Programmes
The two main TV broadcasting programmes in Germany are paid by public license fees. The
ARD - also known as the 1st channel - is based in Munich and Hamburg, the ZDF (2nd channel) operates from Mainz in Rhineland-Palatinate. Both channels are highly professional and informative and almost free of commercials. In addition, there are several private channels - RTL, SAT1, PRO7 and others - which all live from private advertising spots. There are also regional channels and special channels for children and for sports. All channels can be received by cable or by satellite which is free of charge in Germany. In South Africa, German TV channels can be received by subscribing to DEUKOM.

Newspapers
Each little town in Germany as well as each region has its own daily newspaper. Bigger cities have several newspapers. There are four major papers which are available nationwide and even overseas:

DIE WELT
Daily paper issued in Berlin. Covers current events in politics, economics, finance; includes opinion pages, analysis, commentary.

FAZ Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung
daily paper issued in Frankfurt. Covers political, economic, cultural, scientific, and social issues.

DIE ZEIT
Weekly paper issued in Hamburg
Reports on political, economic, cultural, scientific, and social themes as well as on

Magazines

DER SPIEGEL
The most important German news magazine was founded in 1947 and is a weekly publication with an excellent reputation and a print run of over a million copies.