Did Reiner Haseloff oppose? Contract extensions on ZDF: administrative director earns 271,560 euros

Prime Ministers Reiner Haseloff (CDU/Saxony-Anhalt) and Dietmar Woidke (SPD/Brandenburg) are also on the board of directors of Second German Television (ZDF). Both politicians have recently expressed skepticism about the structure and, in particular, the funding of public service broadcasting. They reject an increase in the broadcasting fee for January 2025.

Director’s suggestions

In the ZDF supervisory body, however, they behave in accordance with the system. In the April meeting, the minutes of which can be found on the ZDF homepage, personnel matters of the station were on the agenda. At the suggestion of Artistic Director Norbert Himmler, the contract of Administrative Director Karin Brieden, which also includes deputizing for the Artistic Director, was extended until June 30, 2026. Your annual salary will then be 271,560 euros. The current contract, valid until the end of 2023, provides for an annual salary of 246,000 euros. Karin Brieden can look forward to a significant increase in her salary.

Additional benefits: Expense allowance of 520 euros per month, pension. Aid, family allowance and death benefit according to the provisions applicable to ZDF, travel expenses, daily allowances and overnight allowances, compensation for separation, relocation costs and similar benefits according to the provisions applicable to ZDF, and finally a company car that can also be used for private purposes.

At the same time, Production Director Michael Rombach approved the contract extension until the end of 2028. His annual salary will then be 258,720 euros. Furthermore, additional services adequate to those of Karin Brieden.

Matthias Fornoff will remain head of the main editorial office for politics and current affairs until June 2024. At an annual salary of 187,920 euros. There are also additional benefits as usual – but no company car!

The board of directors approved the extensions of the contracts, Haseloff was present and Woidke absent, as reported in the minutes. What the record is silent about: Has Haseloff protested, rioted, did he have to be overruled? Or does the CDU politician act completely differently on “his” ZDF than he publicly expresses?

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