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462 channels
German television is defined by its dual public-service system, ARD and ZDF, which dominate the news, documentary, and high-production drama slots, while commercial networks like RTL and ProSieben focus on reality formats, US imports, and local soaps. The public broadcasters are funded by a mandatory license fee (Rundfunkbeitrag) and are known for thorough, calm news bulletins (Tagesschau at 20:00 is a national institution). But the real cultural anchor is Tatort, the long-running crime series that airs Sunday nights across regional ARD affiliates, each episode produced by a different regional broadcaster (like WDR, NDR, or BR), giving it a distinct local flavour. It regularly draws 8-10 million viewers, and discussing the next day's plot twist is practically a national pastime. Germany is also one of Europe's heaviest dubbing markets: virtually every foreign film, series, and even many documentaries are dubbed into German with high-quality voice casts. Subtitling is rare, limited to arthouse cinema or streaming niches. Primetime generally starts at 20:15, and the late-night slot has a strong talk-show tradition, led by the satirical heute-show (ZDF) and various political talk rounds. Music channels still exist but have largely ceded ground to streaming; entertainment channels focus on game shows and reality competitions like Germany's Next Topmodel. The regional diversity of ARD's nine member broadcasters ensures that local news and programming remain visible, from Bavarian folk music shows on BR to Hamburg-centric talk on NDR. Overall, German TV offers a blend of sober public-service programming and slick commercial entertainment, all wrapped in flawless German dubbing.