 | |
| Company type | Public broadcasting |
|---|---|
| Industry | Mass media |
| Predecessor |
|
| Founded | 1 January 1957 |
| Headquarters | Saarbrücken(Halberg) , |
Area served | Saarland |
Key people | Martin Grasmück (Director) |
| Products | Broadcasting, radio |
| Services | Television, radio, online. |
| Website | sr |
Saarländischer Rundfunk (pronounced[ˈzaːɐ̯ˌlɛndɪʃɐˈʁʊntfʊŋk]; "Saarland Broadcasting"), shortened toSR (pronounced[ɛsˈʔɛʁ]), is apublic radio and television broadcaster serving the Germanstate ofSaarland. With headquarters in the Halberg Broadcasting House inSaarbrücken, SR is a member of theARD consortium of German public-broadcasting organizations.
The history of Saarland Radio is closely linked to the history ofSaarland, as an independent island between Germany and France.
Broadcasting in the Saarland began in 1929, under theLeague of Nations mandate.[1] In 1935, when the Saar rejoined Germany,Joseph Goebbels'sPropagandaministerium established theReichssender Saarbrücken, under the control of theReichs-Rundfunk GmbH Berlin. The interval signal of Reichssenders Saarbrücken were the first four notes of so called Steigerlied ("Glück auf, Glück auf").[1]
AfterWorld War II, the Saarland was placed under French administration as theSaar Protectorate. The French military government establishedRadio Saarbrücken to serve the area. This becameSaarländischer Rundfunk following the re-establishment of civilian government on 31 December 1947.[1]
In 1952, the Saarland introduced a law reorganizing radio broadcasting, and createdSaarländischer Rundfunk GmbH, a limited company. In 1953, SR expanded into television and started a second radio network, SR2.[1]
The Saarland became part of theFederal Republic of Germany in 1957 and Saarländischer Rundfunk was converted into a public broadcasting corporation, patterned on the system in otherLänder, and renamedSaarländischer Rundfunk.[2] The organization joined the ARD alliance of broadcasting corporations in 1959.[3]
On 5 April 1969, the three broadcasters then covering southwest Germany – Saarländischer Rundfunk,Südwestfunk (SWF; Southwest Broadcasting), andSüddeutscher Rundfunk (SDR, South German Broadcasting) – initiated a joint third television channel, known asSüdwest 3 orS3. The new channel operated on only three days a week at first, then expanded to four days in September 1969, and to the whole week in 1971. On 30 August 1998, S3 becameSR Südwest Fernsehen, planned in co-operation withSüdwestrundfunk, the successor to SWF and SDR. Since 11 September 2006 it has been called simply SR Fernsehen. 70% of its programming is identical to that of the new SWR Fernsehen, but the on-screen logo and other graphic-design features are different. A teletext service, Saartext, has operated since 2 October 1989.[1]
On 1 November 1964, the SR reorganized its radio services, converting SR1 – previously a general network – into the music stationSR1 Europawelle Saar. A new station, SR3, was launched, aimed at immigrant workers in the region. Since 7 January 1980, SR3 has been known asSR3 Saarlandwelle and is the main regional station for the Saar.[1]
SR2 becameSR2 Studiowelle Saar in 1967. From 1972 until 1990, this station was organized in co-operation with SDR and SWF, and from 1990 until 1994 in co-operation withHessischer Rundfunk'shr2 station. From 1 January 1995, the station has been known asSR2 KulturRadio and is now programmed independently.[1]
SR4, the fourth radio service, began on 6 November 1989. The station carried programming for immigrant workers and, from 1 March 1999, coverage of debates in theBundestag andBundesrat (the two houses of the German parliament). When parliament was not sitting, SR4 carried SR2 and SR3 programmes.[1]
On 1 March 1999, the SR began a youth station,UnserDing, produced in co-operation with the SWR's youth serviceDASDING. In January 2004, SR4 was closed and its frequencies were taken over byUnserDing.[1]
In the ongoing discussion about the future of small ARD members likeRadio Bremen and Saarländischer Rundfunk, SR Chairman Martin Grasmück said in 2021, he believes in "linear radio" but also the SR wants online-only content in the future.[4]
Every household in Germany is by law required to pay a monthly 18,36 Euro "Rundfunkbeitrag" (broadcast contribution fee) to finance the public broadcast system.[5] The fee is collected byBeitragsservice von ARD, ZDF und Deutschlandradio.
SR provides programmes to various TV and radio networks, some done in collaboration with other broadcasters, and others completely independently.
Beside FM transmitters SR is using DAB since December 30th, 2000. Since 2012 SR is operating its own DAB Network in Block 9A. In 2016 the network was transferd to the recent standardDAB+.
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49°13′23″N7°01′57″E / 49.22306°N 7.03250°E /49.22306; 7.03250
