Deutsche Welle to Close Greek Service, Reduce Staff After Funding Cut
The decision was made during a joint special session of the Broadcasting Council, Administrative Board, and DW management, where a broad cost-saving plan was approved.
Under the 2026 federal budget, Germany cut its contribution to DW by $11.8 million (€10 million), bringing total funding down to $489 million (€415 million). Combined with an additional $12.9 million (€11 million) gap caused by unadjusted collective wage increases, the broadcaster now faces a total required savings of $24.7 million (€21 million).
“Numerous positions across the organization will be eliminated, and investment funds significantly reduced. In purely numerical terms, around 160 full-time positions are affected, although the final number may vary. There will be no layoffs,” the broadcaster said in a statement.
DW’s Greek service, which has operated for more than six decades, will be discontinued. “Greece has long been a member of the European Union and is a stable democracy with a diverse media landscape, which is why DW must make cuts in this area,” it added.
“DW must remain a strong voice for freedom, especially in restricted media markets such as Russia and Iran. To do that, it needs reliable, long-term funding. Due to the cuts, the broadcaster will have to expect significant losses in reach,” DW Broadcasting Council Chair Karl Justen said.
Legal Disclaimer:
MENAFN provides the
information “as is” without warranty of any kind. We do not accept
any responsibility or liability for the accuracy, content, images,
videos, licenses, completeness, legality, or reliability of the information
contained in this article. If you have any complaints or copyright
issues related to this article, kindly contact the provider above.
Legal Disclaimer:
EIN Presswire provides this news content "as is" without warranty of any kind. We do not accept any responsibility or liability for the accuracy, content, images, videos, licenses, completeness, legality, or reliability of the information contained in this article. If you have any complaints or copyright issues related to this article, kindly contact the author above.
