The decision by ZDF leadership to cancel a scheduled performance by musician Danger Dan on the 100th episode of the satirical show Die Anstalt has triggered a sharp debate within the broadcaster’s television council, known as the Fernsehrat. During a heated committee session, members who had previously signed an open letter criticizing the cancellation accused network Intendant Norbert Himmler of cowardice, while supporters argued that the preemptive protest undermined the council’s institutional authority.
The controversy centers on the track “Keine Angst,” which was slated to serve as a high-profile feature of the July broadcast dedicated to political radicalization in Germany and the rise of the Alternative for Germany (AfD) and the Sahra Wagenknecht Alliance (BSW). ZDF Intendant Norbert Himmler defended the cancellation during the council meeting, stating that leadership would never agree to broadcast a song that could be interpreted as a call to violence. He added that an adequate editorial contextualization of the track during the live broadcast would have been impossible. According to Himmler, the decision did not restrict freedom of art or expression, but rather represented the network exercising its programming freedom under internal guidelines.
Content and Controversy Surrounding the Track
The lyrics of “Keine Angst” urge listeners to take resistance into their own hands, form independent groups, and target political opponents. The song calls for identifying perceived fascists, exposing them to neighbors or employers, and producing flyers and posters featuring names and addresses. Near its conclusion, the track references confrontation and coordination, ending with explicit greetings to members of the so-called “Hammerbande,” a left-wing extremist group whose members carried out attacks on suspected right-wing radicals and have since received multi-year prison sentences.
The fallout during the Fernsehrat session revealed deep divisions among the oversight body’s members. Cornelia Berger, who represents the trade union ver.di on the council, argued that the cancellation inflicted sustainable damage on the broadcaster. According to a report by epd medien, Berger stated that the song could have initiated a necessary public debate and warned that the cancellation might exert a chilling effect on other editorial teams. Conversely, Steffen Kampeter, representing employer interests on the council, backed Himmler and criticized the authors of the open letter for undercutting the oversight body’s function through a public campaign.
Financial Results and Separate Program Complaints
Beyond the satirical show dispute, the Fernsehrat addressed separate programming and financial matters during its proceedings. Council members reviewed and nearly unanimously dismissed programming complaints directed at the documentary Am Puls mit Sarah Tacke – System Bürgergeld: Leben ohne Leistung? Critics had alleged that the broadcast stigmatized welfare recipients. While the council found no violation of ZDF programming guidelines, it classified the report as one-sided and instructed that greater balance be maintained in future productions.
On the financial front, ZDF reported a deficit of 78,6 million euros for the 2025 fiscal year. Total revenues exceeded 2,6 billion euros, driven by 2,2 billion euros from the mandatory broadcasting fee alongside 165 million euros generated from advertising and sponsorship. Expenditures similarly hovered around 2,6 billion euros, with program expenses accounting for 1,39 billion euros and personnel costs consuming 480 million euros.
Keep reading
