3sat

3sat is a German-language public-service television channel operated cooperatively by Germany's ZDF and ARD, Austria's ORF, and Switzerland's SRG SSR. It was created as a cross-border satellite television service intended to connect audiences in the three German-speaking broadcasting markets through shared cultural, informational and educational programming. The channel began broadcasting on 1 December 1984, initially using satellite distribution and presenting a joint schedule assembled by its participating public broadcasters. The channel's name refers to its original three-country structure: Germany, Austria and Switzerland. ZDF serves as the coordinating broadcaster, and 3sat's broadcasting centre, including studios used for in-house production, is located at ZDF's facilities in Mainz. Although ZDF coordinates the operation, the cooperative's principal decisions are made jointly by the participating broadcasters and are based on consensus rather than on the unilateral control of a commercial parent company. 3sat's editorial identity is broader than that of a narrowly defined cultural channel. Its schedule combines cultural reporting, documentaries, science, technology, current affairs, arts coverage, interviews, film, music, theatre and selected entertainment. Programmes such as Kulturzeit and nano have been particularly associated with the channel's cultural and science-oriented profile. The channel has also carried programmes supplied by its partner broadcasters, allowing viewers to encounter German, Austrian and Swiss perspectives within one service. The cooperative structure changed during German reunification and the subsequent reorganization of public broadcasting. In 1990, the television broadcaster of the German Democratic Republic, Deutscher Fernsehfunk, joined the cooperative, prompting consideration of the name 4sat. The original name was retained, however, and the DFF's membership ended on 31 December 1991 when the broadcaster ceased to exist under the German Unification Treaty. On 1 December 1993, ARD became a cooperative member after the closure of its satellite channel Eins Plus. Since then, 3sat has operated as a four-broadcaster partnership. Distribution expanded beyond the original satellite concept. 3sat has been carried on the European Astra satellite system at 19.2 degrees east, through cable networks and, in Germany and Austria, through digital terrestrial television. The channel was reported to reach tens of millions of households in its core German-speaking markets and a substantially larger number across Europe during the 2000s. Its audience share has remained that of a specialist public-service channel rather than a mass-market commercial network; reported 2009 shares were 1.1 percent in Germany, 1.9 percent in Austria and 1.2 percent in Switzerland. The brand has periodically refreshed its visual identity and programme presentation. A redesigned on-air appearance and logo were introduced in 2003, with the distinctive numeral three enclosed by a red rectangle. In 2008, the science programme nano and the cultural magazine Kulturzeit received new presentation systems and studios. The Kulturzeit studio design subsequently received a first prize in the study-design category at the 2008 Eyes & Ears of Europe Awards. 3sat's schedule has also been affected by strategic decisions elsewhere in the public-broadcasting system. In 2011, spending associated with the then-new ZDFkultur channel contributed to the discontinuation of several long-running 3sat programmes, including 3satbörse, Foyer, neues, Arche Noah, Recht brisant and Vivo. In 2017, ZDF dissolved the Directorate for European Satellite Programmes, which had been responsible for 3sat and Arte programming. Joint editorial teams replaced that structure within the wider ZDF channel organization. 3sat nevertheless continues as an active cooperative channel with a distinctive cultural and informational remit.

3sat was established as a cooperative German-language television service by ZDF of Germany, ORF of Austria and SRG SSR of Switzerland. Its creation reflected the shared linguistic and cultural space of the three countries and the public broadcasters' interest in creating a satellite service that could circulate programmes across national borders. The channel began broadcasting on 1 December 1984. Its first programme was simulcast on the participating broadcasters' services, including ZDF, Austria's FS2 and Switzerland's TV DRS. The service was conceived around cultural programming but developed into a generalist public-service channel with a clear cultural and educational emphasis. Its output has included arts and cultural journalism, science, technology, documentaries, current affairs, interviews, music, theatre, film and programmes supplied by its cooperative partners. ZDF became the coordinating broadcaster, with the operational broadcasting centre and studios located at ZDF's Mainz facilities. The partners retain a cooperative governance model in which major decisions are reached through consensus. The membership structure was briefly affected by German reunification. In 1990, Deutscher Fernsehfunk, the television broadcaster of the German Democratic Republic, joined the cooperative. The possibility of renaming the service 4sat was considered, but the original 3sat identity was retained. DFF's membership ended on 31 December 1991, when the broadcaster itself ceased to exist under the German Unification Treaty. ARD joined the cooperative on 1 December 1993 after the closure of its satellite channel Eins Plus. The resulting partnership of ZDF, ARD, ORF and SRG SSR remains the institutional basis of 3sat. Distribution has used satellite, cable and terrestrial infrastructure. The channel has been available through the European Astra satellite position at 19.2 degrees east, through cable television, and through digital terrestrial television in Germany and Austria. During the 2000s, reported reach extended to around 40 million households in Germany, Austria and Switzerland and more than 85 million across Europe. In 2009, reported market shares were 1.1 percent in Germany, 1.9 percent in Austria and 1.2 percent in Switzerland. The channel renewed its on-air identity in 2003. The logo and presentation system centered on a red rectangle surrounding the numeral three, reinforcing the name's association with the original three-country partnership. In 2008, the programmes nano and Kulturzeit received new studios and presentation designs. The Kulturzeit studio design received the top award in its category at the 2008 Eyes & Ears of Europe Awards during Medientage München. 3sat's programme mix has changed as the partner broadcasters have adjusted their channel portfolios. In 2011, expenditure connected with the then-new ZDFkultur service contributed to the cancellation of a number of long-running 3sat programmes, including the business programme 3satbörse, the cultural programme Foyer, the computer and internet magazine neues, the animal programme Arche Noah, the legal magazine Recht brisant and the lifestyle and consumer programme Vivo. These changes reduced parts of the older schedule while leaving the channel's wider cultural and informational role intact. In 2017, ZDF dissolved the Directorate for European Satellite Programmes, the organizational unit that had been responsible for 3sat and Arte programming. Its work was transferred to joint editorial teams working with other ZDF channels. This was an internal organizational change rather than the end of 3sat. The channel remains an active public-service television brand, coordinated by ZDF and jointly supported by the German, Austrian and Swiss broadcasting institutions.

• 2017

  European satellite-programme directorate dissolved

  [1]3saten.wikipedia.org

  ZDF replaces the Directorate for European Satellite Programmes with joint editorial teams serving multiple channels.

• 2011

  Programme portfolio restructuring

  [1]3saten.wikipedia.org

  Several long-running programmes leave the schedule amid ZDF spending connected with ZDFkultur.

• 2008

  New studios for nano and Kulturzeit

  [1]3saten.wikipedia.org

  The science programme nano and cultural magazine Kulturzeit receive new presentation designs and studios.

• 2003

  On-air identity refresh

  [1]3saten.wikipedia.org

  3sat introduces a new on-air appearance and logo featuring a red rectangle around the numeral three.

• 1993

  ARD becomes a cooperative member

  [1]3saten.wikipedia.org

  ARD joins 3sat following the closure of its satellite channel Eins Plus.

• 1991

  DFF membership ends

  [1]3saten.wikipedia.org

  DFF leaves the cooperative on 31 December as the broadcaster ceases to exist under the German Unification Treaty.

• 1990

  DFF joins the cooperative

  [1]3saten.wikipedia.org

  Deutscher Fernsehfunk becomes a cooperative member during the German reunification period; a proposed 4sat name is not adopted.

• 1984

  3sat launches

  [1]3saten.wikipedia.org

  ZDF, ORF and SRG SSR launch 3sat on 1 December as a cooperative German-language satellite television service.

A cross-border German-language public-service channel positioned around culture, science, education, current affairs and European cooperation rather than mass-market entertainment.

• Cultural news and current affairs

  Kulturzeit

  Kulturzeit is a central cultural-affairs programme associated with 3sat. It covers developments in literature, visual arts, music, theatre, film, media and wider intellectual life, combining reporting, interviews and critical discussion. The programme received a new on-air look and studio in 2008, and the studio design was recognized at the Eyes & Ears of Europe Awards.

• Science and technology television

  nano

  nano is 3sat's science- and technology-oriented television format. It presents accessible reporting on scientific research, technology, medicine, the environment and related social questions. The programme is part of the channel's effort to combine public-service information with a distinctive specialist identity, and it received a refreshed studio and on-air presentation in 2008.

• Television channel · 1984

  3sat channel service

  The 3sat service is a free-to-air German-language channel distributed by satellite, cable and, in Germany and Austria, digital terrestrial television. Its schedule is assembled from original productions and programmes contributed by ZDF, ARD, ORF and SRG SSR, covering culture, science, documentaries, current affairs, film, music, theatre and selected general-interest content.

• 2005

  Criticism over charity-funded programming

  3sat and n-tv were criticized over television programmes funded by relief organizations, including World Vision Deutschland and Christoffel-Blindenmission. The available reference identifies the criticism but does not provide further verified details about sanctions or a formal finding.

  Source

Read more

• 2008nano and Kulturzeit presentation redesign

  Germany · Austria · Switzerland

  3sat updated the presentation systems and studios for nano and Kulturzeit as part of a broader effort to modernize prominent programmes.

  Outcome. Kulturzeit's studio design received first prize in the relevant study-design category at the 2008 Eyes & Ears of Europe Awards.

  Source
• 20033sat on-air identity refresh

  Germany · Austria · Switzerland · Europe

  3sat introduced a revised visual identity and on-air presentation centered on a red rectangle enclosing the numeral three.

  Outcome. The refreshed identity became the channel's principal visual expression and reinforced recognition of the 3sat name.

  Source

• 2017

  Replace the European satellite-programme directorateStrategy

  Background

  ZDF reviewed the organizational structure responsible for 3sat and Arte programming.

  Action taken

  ZDF dissolved the Directorate for European Satellite Programmes and transferred its responsibilities to joint editorial teams working with other ZDF channels.

  Aftermath

  3sat remained operational, but its editorial responsibilities were handled through a revised internal ZDF structure.

  Source

• 2011

  Restructure the programme scheduleStrategy

  Background

  ZDF spending on the then-new ZDFkultur channel affected the allocation of resources across related public-service satellite programming.

  Action taken

  3sat ended a number of long-running programmes, including 3satbörse, Foyer, neues, Arche Noah, Recht brisant and Vivo.

  Aftermath

  The schedule became more concentrated around the channel's continuing cultural, scientific, documentary and informational role.

  Source

• 1993

  Expand the cooperative through ARDStrategy

  Background

  ARD had closed its satellite channel Eins Plus, creating an opportunity to incorporate its public-service contribution into the existing 3sat structure.

  Action taken

  ARD joined 3sat as a cooperative member on 1 December, creating the four-partner structure of ZDF, ARD, ORF and SRG SSR.

  Aftermath

  3sat continued as a joint German, Austrian and Swiss public-service channel rather than adopting a replacement name or a single-broadcaster model.

  Source

1. 13saten.wikipedia.org
2. 2Official 3sat website3sat.de