Deutschlandradio



Deutschlandradio (DLR or DRadio) is a national German public radio broadcaster. It operates four national networks:


 * Deutschlandfunk: mainly news and information
 * Deutschlandradio Kultur: culture in a broader sense
 * Deutschlandradio Wissen: aimed at young adults, mainly spoken-word
 * Dokumente und Debatten: opt-out channel, often for special events

Deutschlandfunk was originally a West German news radio targeting listeners within West Germany as well as in neighbouring countries, East Germany and the rest of the communist block, whereas Deutschlandradio Kultur is the result of a merger of West Berlin's RIAS station and East Berlin's DS Kultur after German reunification. Both networks that used to broadcast mainly on the AM bands have since spread throughout Germany, having been allocated many additional FM transmitters.

Dokumente und Debatten is a digital-only opt-out channel. It broadcasts coverage of the federal parliament, sports events, talk shows and shipping forecasts. Many of the talk shows are rebroadcasts of the audio portions of TV shows made by ARD, ZDF or Phoenix. It uses digital frequencies of both Deutschlandfunk and Deutschlandradio Kultur.

DRadio Wissen is a spoken word station, started in 2010, targeting a younger audience, and broadcast only digitally - via satellite, cable, DAB, and online.

Deutschlandradio is based in Cologne, with some departments—including Deutschlandradio Kultur—based in Berlin.

Branding
In 2017, DRadio Wissen will be rebranded Deutschlandfunk Nova, Deutschlandradio Kultur will be rebranded Deutschlandfunk Kultur.

Transmitters
Shortwave: closed on 29 May 2012.

Longwave: closed on 31 December 2014.

Mediumwave: closed on 31 December 2015.

Orchestras and Choirs
Deutschlandradio has a 40% share in Rundfunk Orchester und Chöre GmbH, a non-profit organisation which operates:


 * Berlin Radio Symphony Orchestra (East Berlin)
 * Deutsches Symphonie-Orchester Berlin
 * Berlin Radio Choir
 * RIAS Kammerchor

The other shareholders are the Federal Republic of Germany (35%), the State of Berlin (20%) and RBB (5%)