The Bayerischer Rundfunk (BR)

Bayerischer Rundfunk (BR) is the regional public broadcaster in Bavaria. It is a founding member of the "Arbeitsgemeinschaft der öffentlich-rechtlichen Rundfunkanstalten der Bundesrepublik Deutschland" (Working Group of Public Broadcasters of the Federal Republic of Germany, ARD). With a total of five analogue radio stations, two television channels, a number of digital radio stations and a wide-ranging web service, BR lives up to its purpose of offering programmes that inform, educate, advise and entertain.

The predecessor of BR, "Deutsche Stunde in Bayern, Gesellschaft für drahtlose Belehrung und Unterhaltung mbH" ("German hour in Bavaria, society for wireless education and entertainment") was founded on 18 September 1922 in Munich by the businessmen Herman Klöpfer (1874-1925), Josef Böhm (1864-1929), Ernst Ludwig Voss (1880-1961) and Robert Riemerschmid (1885-1963). The radio era in Bavaria began with the broadcast of the first radio programme on 30 March 1924 from the ministry of transport in Arnulfstraße to the auditorium of Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München (Ludwig Maximilian University Munich).

Following a resolution of the general meeting, the organisation was renamed "Bayerischer Rundfunk GmbH" in January 1931. The private shareholders sold their shares in the Munich-based broadcaster to the State of Bavaria and the Reichspost (German postal service) in February 1932, following which it underwent progressive state centralisation. Centralisation was reflected both in the structure and in the programming. In 1933, these structures ultimately led to the Nazification of the broadcaster and its development into a National Socialist propaganda tool renamed "Reichssender München" ("Munich imperial broadcaster").

Broadcasts from the studio, which had been destroyed in the Second World War, started again as early as 31 May 1945. The American military government relaunched the broadcaster under the name "Radio München".

On 25 January 1949, the broadcaster was transferred to German management and licensed for the Free State of Bavaria as "Bayerischer Rundfunk eine Anstalt des öffentlichen Rechts" (the "Bavarian Broadcaster, an institution under public law"). The basis for the transfer was the Broadcasting Act (Rundfunkgesetz) that entered into force on 1 October 1948 and established the role of director (Intendant), the supervisory board (Rundfunkrat) and the administrative board (Verwaltungsrat). The Act defines the broadcaster's mission, programming guidelines and internal organisation. It states that BR programmes should reflect the unique character of Bavaria and be rooted in principles of democracy, cultural responsibility, humanity and objectivity.

In 1953, BR launched a television channel on a trial basis, setting up a studio in the Freimann district of Munich. Most of the programmes made there were for the nationwide ARD channel. "Bavarian" television proper was launched on 22 September 1964 with a Bavarian channel 3. This channel was called "Studienprogramm" and primarily broadcast programmes in the Telekolleg education series. Bayerisches Fernsehen (Bavarian television) has operated as a general broadcaster since 1978.

• The objects of the "Bayerischer Rundfunk (BR)" available on bavarikon

Collections of the "Bayerischer Rundfunk (BR)" available on bavarikon

• Franz Zell: Architect and Trendsetter 1866-1961

Exhibitions under the participation of the "Bayerischer Rundfunk (BR)" available on bavarikon

• Franz Zell: Architect and Trendsetter 1866-1961