Landesanstalt für Kommunikation Baden-Württemberg (LFK)

What Landesanstalt für Kommunikation Baden-Württemberg (LFK) does

LFK (Landesanstalt für Kommunikation Baden-Württemberg) is a public-law regulatory authority headquartered in Stuttgart, established in 1986, that licenses and supervises private broadcasters, digital media services, and audiovisual providers in the German federal state of Baden-Württemberg. As one of 14 state media authorities (Landesmedienanstalten) operating under Germany's federal media regulatory framework, LFK is responsible for enforcing the State Media Act, overseeing compliance with content and youth protection rules, and adjudicating media-related complaints. The authority is led by President Dr. Wolfgang Kreißig and operates with a lean staff of approximately 33 employees.

Beyond its core licensing and supervisory functions, LFK runs an active media literacy agenda aimed at citizens, educators, and youth, and co-commissions the nationally recognised media research studies JIM, KIM, SIM, OAM, and OVM, which document media use patterns across age groups and platforms. The organisation participates in inter-state cooperation with peer authorities such as BLM (Bavaria) and mabb (Berlin-Brandenburg), particularly on cross-border digital regulation, platform accountability, and emerging AI-related oversight. It is funded through a share of the statutory Rundfunkbeitrag, the mandatory broadcasting fee paid by all German households, businesses, and institutions, rather than through direct appropriations from the state of Baden-Württemberg. LFK is preparing its 40th anniversary in 2026, underscoring its institutional continuity within Germany's federal media governance architecture.

Name

Landesanstalt für Kommunikation Baden-Württemberg (LFK)

Legal name

Landesanstalt für Kommunikation Baden-Württemberg (LFK)

Website

https://lfk.de

Company type

Private

Founded year

1986

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

LFK is a German state media authority based in Stuttgart that licenses and supervises private broadcasters, digital media, and audiovisual services in Baden-Württemberg, while promoting media literacy, youth media protection, and co-commissioning academic research.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Media Regulation Services

NAICS

Executive, Legislative, and Other General Government Support (9211), Radio and Television Broadcasting Stations (5161)

SIC

Radio Broadcasting Stations (4832), Television Broadcasting Stations (4833)

akta.pro primary industry

Public Broadcasting Grants & Government Funding Administration (MPABADAM)

akta.pro secondary industries

Educational/Instructional Public Media Services (Schools, Distance Learning) (MPABADAH), Media Freedom, Access to Information & Digital Rights (BPADAGAE)

Keywords

• Media regulation services
• Broadcast licensing
• Media literacy programs
• Youth media protection
• Media usage research

Headquarters

HQ city

Stuttgart

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Others

Revenue model

1. Broadcasting contribution (Rundfunkbeitrag): The LFK's operations are primarily financed through the broadcasting contribution (Rundfunkbeitrag) paid by citizens to support public-law broadcasters such as SWR.

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

LFK is the state media authority (Landesmedienanstalt) for Baden-Württemberg, responsible for licensing and supervising private radio and television broadcasters, regulating advertising and journalistic standards, and promoting media diversity and youth media protection. It co-commissions nationally cited media usage research (JIM, KIM, SIM, Online-Audio-Monitor, Online-Video-Monitor) and operates a broad portfolio of media literacy programs for children, adolescents, and seniors. All outputs are made available free of charge and the body is funded through the German broadcasting contribution (Rundfunkbeitrag).

Product overview

Landesanstalt für Kommunikation Baden-Württemberg (LFK) is the state media authority for Baden-Württemberg, Germany. Rather than offering a unified software product, LFK provides a portfolio of regulatory services, media research studies, media literacy programs, and funding opportunities. The core offerings include: (1) Regulatory services such as broadcast licensing (Zulassung), youth protection (Jugendschutz), and advertising regulation; (2) Research studies including the JIM/KIM/miniKIM/SIM media usage studies, Online-Audio-Monitor, Online-Video-Monitor, and special social media analyses; (3) The LFK-Medienpreis media award competition with multiple categories; (4) Extensive media literacy programs for children, youth, and seniors including THE FEED (serious game), handysektor, Juuuport, Internet-ABC, and computer game schools; (5) Senior-focused digital participation programs like Smart Surfer, Starthilfe app, and Silver Tipps; (6) An online shop distributing free publications and materials; and (7) The joint Medien-Förderung.de platform for media funding information. The organization supports Meinungsfreiheit (freedom of opinion) and Medienvielfalt (media diversity) in broadcasting and digital media.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• JIM-Studie: Annual study on youth media usage (Jugend, Information, Medien) conducted by the Medienpädagogischer Forschungsverbund Südwest (mpfs)
• KIM-Studie
• miniKIM-Studie
• Online-Video-Monitor
• Online-Audio-Monitor
• LFK-Medienpreis
• handysektor
• THE FEED
• Juuuport
• YourStory
• ImPerfect
• Internet-ABC
• Smart Surfer
• Silver Tipps
• gesundaltern@bw
• KommmiT
• Digital dabei
• KI-Fernsprecher
• ComputerSpielSchuleBW

Products and services

• Broadcast Licensing (Zulassung)
• Youth Media Protection (Jugendschutz)
• JIM-Studie (Youth, Information, Media)
• KIM-Studie (Children, Media, Interaction, Communication)
• miniKIM-Studie
• SIM-Studie
• Online-Audio-Monitor (OAM)
• Online-Video-Monitor (OVM)
• Social-Media-Analyse zur Landtagswahl 2026 in Baden-Württemberg
• LFK-Medienpreis
• THE FEED
• Funding Programs (Förderung)
• Medien-Förderung.de
• Media Tasting Innovation Congress
• Smart Surfer

Quantifiable outcome

• Online-Audio reaches 53 million users in Germany (2025) with 39 million regular webradio listeners tracked through OAM
• +1 more outcomes

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature6 records

Partnerships

Twelve partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Bayerische Landeszentrale für neue Medien (BLM)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 16 April 2025Long-standing cooperation between LFK and BLM on joint research initiatives including the Online-Video-Monitor and Online-Audio-Monitor. Both media authorities co-commission studies conducted by Goldmedia and mindline media, and jointly organize panels at events such as the Lokalmedientage. The partnership represents one of the most significant inter-state media authority collaborations in Germany.
• Medienanstalt Berlin-Brandenburg (mabb)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 16 April 2025Co-commissioner of the Online-Audio-Monitor 2025 study alongside LFK, BLM, and other partners, contributing to the representative survey of German online audio usage.
• Landesanstalt für Medien Nordrhein-WestfalenminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 16 April 2025Co-commissioner of the Online-Audio-Monitor 2025 alongside LFK and BLM.
• Bundesverband Digitale Wirtschaft (BVDW)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 16 April 2025Co-commissioner of the Online-Audio-Monitor 2025, representing the digital economy industry perspective in media usage research.
• VAUNET – Verband Privater MedienminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 16 April 2025Co-commissioner of the Online-Audio-Monitor 2025, representing private media companies' interests in audio research.
• Radio Marketing Service (RMS)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 16 April 2025Co-commissioner of the Online-Audio-Monitor 2025 alongside LFK and BLM.
• GoldmediacoreTechnology or Integration · 16 April 2025Research consultancy commissioned by LFK and BLM to produce the Online-Video-Monitor (annually since 2010) and Social-Media-Analyse zur Landtagswahl 2026. Goldmedia conducts systematic analysis of online video offerings, platform dynamics, and political communication on social media.
• mindline media GmbHcoreTechnology or Integration · 16 April 2025Market research firm commissioned to execute the Online-Audio-Monitor 2025, conducting CATI and CAWI surveys among 5,603 respondents aged 14+ in Germany.
• Media Lab BayernminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 31 January 2024Partner in the four-state coalition (Bayern, NRW, Brandenburg, Baden-Württemberg) that launched Medien-Förderung.de, a digital guide consolidating all German-language funding opportunities for media professionals and innovators.
• Journalismus Lab NRWminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 31 January 2024Partner in the joint platform Medien-Förderung.de launched with LFK, Media Lab Bayern, and Medieninnovationszentrum Babelsberg to provide a comprehensive digital guide to funding opportunities for media professionals.
• Medieninnovationszentrum Babelsberg (MIZ)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 31 January 2024Partner in the joint platform Medien-Förderung.de launched with LFK, Media Lab Bayern, and Journalismus Lab NRW to consolidate funding information for media professionals across Germany.
• Medienpädagogischer Forschungsverbund Südwest (mpfs)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLFK participates in the Southwest Media Education Research Association (mpfs), a research consortium that conducts the JIM, KIM, miniKIM, and SIM studies tracking media usage among youth, children, and seniors in Germany.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• Hessische Landesanstalt für privaten Rundfunk und neue Medien (LPR Hessen): Hesse's state media authority. Direct peer with the same statutory mandate (private broadcasting regulation, media diversity, media literacy) and a fellow member of the 14 Landesmedienanstalten cooperating on joint studies and platform regulation.
• Niedersächsische Landesmedienanstalt (NLM): Lower Saxony's state media authority. Direct peer in the 14 Landesmedienanstalten network, with the same regulatory scope over private broadcasting, youth protection, and media literacy programming.
• Thüringer Landesmedienanstalt (TLM): Thuringia's state media authority. Direct peer performing the same statutory mandate as LFK: licensing private broadcasters, supervising media diversity, youth media protection, and media literacy programming in its federal state.
• Medienanstalt Berlin-Brandenburg (mabb): Berlin-Brandenburg's state media authority. Direct peer with the same Landesmedienanstalt mandate, co-commissioning the Online-Audio-Monitor 2025 with LFK and BLM, plus joint Studien der medienanstalten cooperation.
• Bayerische Landeszentrale für neue Medien (BLM): Bavaria's state media authority. Direct peer: shares regulatory scope (private broadcasting licensing, supervision, media literacy) and is LFK's primary co-commissioner on the Online-Video-Monitor and Online-Audio-Monitor, plus joint Lokalmedientage panels.
• Landesanstalt für Medien Nordrhein-Westfalen (LfM NRW): North Rhine-Westphalia's state media authority and one of Germany's largest Landesmedienanstalten. Direct peer with identical statutory mandate (private broadcast licensing, youth protection, media literacy) and a co-commissioner of the Online-Audio-Monitor 2025 alongside LFK.
• Sächsische Landesanstalt für privaten Rundfunk und neue Medien (SLM): Saxony's state media authority. Direct peer in the Landesmedienanstalten network performing private broadcast licensing, supervision, and media literacy promotion — comparable structure and mandate to LFK.
• Medienanstalt Hamburg / Schleswig-Holstein (MA HSH): Cross-state media authority for Hamburg and Schleswig-Holstein. Direct peer: performs identical licensing, supervision, and media literacy functions for private broadcasters, and participates in joint Studien der medienanstalten publications.
• Medienanstalt Rheinland-Pfalz (LMK): Rhineland-Palatinate's state media authority. Direct peer with identical Landesmedienanstalt functions (private broadcasting regulation, digital platform oversight, youth media protection) and fellow participant in inter-state research cooperation.
• Die Medienanstalten (ALM): The joint office of all 14 German state media authorities (including LFK). Direct peer / umbrella organization: coordinates nationwide media authority activities, publishes joint research studies, and represents Landesmedienanstalten at the federal level — including studies that LFK co-funds.

Market position

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/lfkde
• Facebookfacebook.com/lfkde
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/landesanstalt-fuer-kommunikation

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles7 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Landesanstalt für Kommunikation Baden-Württemberg (LFK)