ZDFinfo

ZDFinfo is a German free-to-air television channel operating in the documentary and information format . The primary language of broadcasting is German. The channel is owned and operated by ZDF, Germany\'s public-service broadcaster, and is based in Mainz, Germany . ZDFinfo was launched on August 27, 1997, under the name ZDFinfokanal, and was rebranded to its current name on September 5, 2011 . The channel is available in high definition, with the HD feed having been launched on April 30, 2012, and upgraded to native HD quality in May 2015 . The channel\'s programming is aimed at a younger, information-interested audience seeking in-depth knowledge and context .

On air, ZDFinfo\'s programming consists almost exclusively of documentaries and reports covering history, politics, science, true crime, and current affairs . The channel\'s mission is to go beyond daily news headlines to explain complex relationships and provide reliable orientation in an increasingly complex world . Flagship documentary series include Terra X, which covers nature, science, and history, as well as ZDFzeit and ZDFzoom, which focus on political and social topics . Historical documentaries are a major focus, covering all eras from antiquity to the Middle Ages to contemporary history, with a particular emphasis on 20th-century German history including the Nazi era, World War II, the division of Germany, and the peaceful revolution of 1989 . Science programming includes Leschs Kosmos and Morgan Freeman: Mysterien des Weltalls . True crime formats are also a regular part of the schedule, including the German series Aufgeklärt – Spektakuläre Kriminalfälle, Ermittler!, and Überführt mit Joe Bausch, as well as international crime documentaries .

Beyond documentaries, ZDFinfo incorporates interactive elements and digital engagement into its programming. The channel has introduced formats that leverage social media debates and online discussions, including the interactive political talk show log in, which airs weekly and invites viewers to participate in political discourse . Another format, heute plus, allows the producers of ZDF\'s flagship heute news program to engage directly with viewers . The channel also experiments with user-driven content under the working title My Info, which curates the most-viewed and highest-rated videos from the ZDF Mediathek into television programs . The consumer-focused WISO series airs weeknights at 7:45 pm, with different themes each day: WISO Recht (law), WISO Technik (technology), WISO Umwelt (environment), WISO Leben (life), and WISO Geld (money) . On Sunday evenings at 7:40 pm, ZDFinfo airs the comedy format heute-show, providing political satire that deviates from the channel\'s usual documentary focus .

During major sporting events, ZDFinfo serves as an overflow channel for ZDF\'s main broadcast. The channel has been used to provide additional coverage of the Olympic Games since 2004 in Athens, as well as FIFA World Cups and UEFA European Championships, allowing simultaneous matches to be broadcast live . The channel also provides live special coverage during breaking news events, such as during the Egyptian revolution in 2011, when it aired translated coverage from the Arabic broadcaster Al Arabiya, and during the 2011 earthquake in Japan, when it broadcast translated coverage from NHK World TV . ZDFinfo has broadcast other sports including swimming world championships, diving competitions at European championships, and world equestrian games .

ZDFinfo is available throughout Germany, Austria, Switzerland, and parts of Europe via digital terrestrial television (DVB-T2 HD), cable networks (DVB-C), satellite (Astra at 19.2 degrees east), and IPTV platforms . The channel broadcasts in high definition with 720p resolution via satellite and 1080p via DVB-T2 and streaming . The channel is unencrypted and free-to-air on satellite . Viewers can watch online the live broadcast of ZDFinfo through the official ZDF website at zdf.de and the ZDFmediathek mobile application . Online television of ZDFinfo is also accessible on streaming platforms such as Zattoo, Waipu.tv, Joyn, Magenta TV, and others, many of which offer the live stream in their free basic packages . The ZDFmediathek also provides on-demand access to documentaries and programs for a limited time after broadcast. The channel\'s programming is designed to be available across multiple devices, ensuring accessibility for viewers who prefer to watch on smartphones, tablets, computers, or smart televisions .

ZDFinfo strives to be the young information brand within the ZDF family, providing high-quality, well-researched, and engaging documentaries and reports that help viewers understand the world around them . The mission of the channel is to provide reliable, fact-based information that allows viewers to form their own opinions and participate in informed social discourse . The channel produces more than 360 new documentaries per year, ensuring a continuous stream of fresh content . ZDFinfo is part of ZDF\'s digital program portfolio, which also includes the main ZDF channel and ZDFneo, and is funded primarily through the German broadcast license fee, which ensures its editorial independence from commercial and political pressures . Thanks to modern digital platforms, ZDFinfo provides the opportunity to watch online the live broadcast on any device - from smartphones to Smart TVs - ensuring that German-speaking audiences across Europe and around the world can access its documentary programming wherever they are .