ZDFinfo

What ZDFinfo does

ZDFinfo is a German free-to-air thematic television channel operated by ZDF (Zweites Deutsches Fernsehen), a public broadcasting corporation established under German state law. Launched in 2009 and broadcasting 24 hours since 2011, ZDFinfo specializes in documentaries, reports, current affairs, history programming (notably the Terra X brand), science shows, and true crime content. The channel targets a broad German-speaking audience seeking in-depth, non-commercial informational content, with secondary reach into younger and family audiences through adjacent ZDF sub-brands such as ZDFtivi and ZDFneo.

ZDFinfo's technical foundation is the ZDF Streaming-Portal, a web and app-based platform supporting live streams, on-demand video, personalized recommendations via the Mein ZDF account system, age verification for protected content, and cross-platform availability on Smart TVs, iOS, and Android. Integrations include Nielsen and Piano Analytics for audience measurement, GfK SENSIC.net for cross-channel measurement, and Sentry for error monitoring. The platform is operated through a closely integrated ecosystem with ARD (ARD-ZDF Streaming Network), funk (online youth content), KiKA, 3sat, and ARTE, which collectively expand distribution and co-production capacity.

The business model is non-commercial in orientation. ZDFinfo receives no separate revenue disclosure; instead, ZDF is primarily funded through the statutory Rundfunkbeitrag (€18.36 per month per German household), supplemented by advertising income and sponsorships. Distribution is free-to-air linear broadcast plus ad-supported VOD via the ZDF streaming portal. Customer segments are horizontal: the general German public, with the channel positioned as a public-interest alternative to commercial documentary and news offerings. Strategic direction is set under public-law oversight (Fernsehrat, Verwaltungsrat), with no private equity, venture capital, or shareholder ownership structures applicable.

Name

ZDFinfo

Legal name

Zweites Deutsches Fernsehen

Website

https://zdf.info

Company type

Public

Founded year

2009

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

ZDFinfo is a German public television channel operated by ZDF, offering documentaries, reports, history, and science programming to German-speaking audiences via linear broadcast and multi-platform streaming.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Public Broadcasting

NAICS

Television Broadcasting Stations (51612), Media Streaming Distribution Services, Social Networks, and Other Media Networks and Content Providers (516210)

SIC

Television Broadcasting Stations (4833)

akta.pro primary industry

National General-Entertainment Broadcast Networks (MPABAAAA)

Keywords

• Documentary television
• Public broadcasting
• Informational programming
• Streaming media
• News programming

Headquarters

HQ city

Mainz

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Digital Commerce or Content

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Others

Revenue model

1. Rundfunkbeitrag (Broadcasting Fee): Public broadcasting fee funding from German residents, contributing to core operational costs
2. Advertising Revenue: Supplementary advertising income from broadcast and digital advertising placements

Pricing tiers

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels3 records

Core offering

ZDFinfo is a German free-to-air documentation and information television channel operated by ZDF, offering in-depth documentaries, reports, portraits, true crime content, and educational programming. It distributes content via linear TV broadcast, the ZDF Streaming-Portal, Smart TV apps, and mobile applications, providing viewers with reliable, non-commercial informational content. The channel launched in 2009 as part of ZDF's digital channel strategy and began 24-hour broadcasting in 2011.

Product overview

ZDFinfo is part of the broader ZDF (Zweites Deutsches Fernsehen) broadcasting organization, which operates as a multi-channel public-service media platform. The core offering is the ZDF Streaming-Portal, a unified streaming platform that hosts ZDF's main programming alongside sub-brands ZDFinfo (documentaries and factual content), ZDFneo (lifestyle and international content), and ZDFtivi (children's programming). Supporting features include Mein ZDF (personalized account management), ZDFheute (news application), ZDFmitreden (audience survey platform), and ZDFspaces (interactive discussion applications). The platform offers content across films, series, documentaries, news, sports, and children's programming, with personalization and recommendation features available to registered users.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• ZDFinfo Documentation and information channel of ZDF offering documentaries, reports, portraits, true crime content, and educational programming for the general German-speaking audience.
• ZDF Streaming-Portal

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration7 records

AI capability4 records

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• ARD (Arbeitsgemeinschaft der öffentlich-rechtlichen Rundfunkanstalten der Bundesrepublik Deutschland)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerARD and ZDF are joint operators of the ARD-ZDF-Streaming-Netzwerk, enabling content sharing between ARD Mediathek and ZDF streaming portal. Both are German public broadcasters collaborating on digital distribution and content accessibility.
• funkcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerJoint venture between ARD and ZDF as equal partners, responsible for online content offerings targeting younger audiences. ZDF serves as co-operator alongside Südwestrundfunk (SWR) which holds operational leadership.
• ARTE (Association Relative à la Télévision Européenne)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerEuropean culture channel co-produced by ARD, ZDF, France Télévisions, and SRG SSR. Offers joint documentary selections and cultural programming including The European Collection.
• KiKA (Kinderkanal von ARD und ZDF)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerJoint children's channel operated by ARD and ZDF, providing children's programming that complements ZDFinfo's content offerings for younger audiences.
• phoenixminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPublic service broadcaster specializing in news and documentary content, operated independently with collaboration on event coverage and current affairs programming.
• 3satcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGerman-language cultural channel operated jointly by ARD, ZDF, ORF, and SRF, offering cultural programming, documentaries, and international co-productions.

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• funk: funk is the ARD-ZDF joint venture for online content aimed at younger audiences, with ZDF as a co-operator. It is a direct peer in digital content distribution and a named strategic partner of ZDF/ZDFinfo.
• ARD Mediathek: ARD Mediathek is the streaming portal of ARD, Germany's other major public broadcaster and direct partner in the ARD-ZDF Streaming Network. It is the closest functional peer: same public-broadcaster model, same Rundfunkbeitrag funding, and overlapping documentary/information programming competing for the same German audience.
• Deutsche Welle (DW): Deutsche Welle is Germany's international public broadcaster funded by the German federal government. It is a direct peer as a German public broadcaster producing news and documentary content, though it targets international rather than domestic audiences.
• ARTE: ARTE is the European culture and documentary channel co-produced by ARD, ZDF, France Télévisions, and SRG SSR. It is a direct peer in premium documentary content and a named strategic partner of ZDF/ZDFinfo.
• 3sat: 3sat is a German-language cultural and documentary channel jointly operated by ARD, ZDF, ORF, and SRF. It is a direct peer in cultural/documentary content and a named strategic co-development partner of ZDF/ZDFinfo.
• Phoenix: Phoenix is a German public-service documentary and news channel jointly operated by ARD and ZDF. It is a direct peer in factual/news programming and is explicitly named as a partner of ZDF/ZDFinfo for event coverage and current affairs.
• KiKA (Kinderkanal): KiKA is the joint children's channel operated by ARD and ZDF. It is a direct peer within the same public-broadcaster portfolio, sharing governance, funding, and distribution infrastructure with ZDFinfo.

Broad incumbents

• RTL (RTL Deutschland): RTL is Germany's largest commercial broadcaster, operating a portfolio of general-entertainment and documentary-leaning channels. It is a broad incumbent competitor for advertising spend and viewer attention in the German TV market.
• ProSiebenSat.1 Media: ProSiebenSat.1 is one of Germany's largest commercial broadcasting groups, operating free-to-air and streaming channels. It is a broad incumbent competing for the same German linear-TV and streaming audience as ZDFinfo.
• Netflix Germany: Netflix is the leading global streaming platform with substantial investment in German-language documentary and factual content. It is a broad incumbent competing with ZDFinfo for on-demand documentary viewing in Germany.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/@ZDF
• Facebookfacebook.com/ZDF
• Instagraminstagram.com/zdf
• TikToktiktok.com/@zdf
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/zdfinfo

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Subsidiaries1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about ZDFinfo