On air since May 1953

Radio

From shortwave to audio-on-demand

Three hours in German on shortwave: DW first went on air with this radio format in 1953. Sixty years later DW has become a multimedia organization, providing information in 30 languages to people on all continents.

Television

50 years of TV content from Germany

From distributing cassettes of TV magazines to broadcasting up-to-date, round-the-clock programs via satellite in four languages, Deutsche Welle's television presence has expanded significantly since its start in 1963.

Online

Multimedia content in 30 languages

In 1994, DW uploaded news stories, analysis and background reports to the Internet for the first time, becoming the first public broadcaster in Germany to go online. The beginning of a success story in the digital world.

Media Training

Supporting media development worldwide

DW has been involved in media development since 1965. That year, a training center for radio broadcasting was founded in Cologne as a means of fostering media development in Africa, Asia and Central and South America.

Service: 60 years DW

Special page: Celebrating 60 years of journalism

Special page: 60 years DW in German

studio at Northwest German Broadcasting (NWDR)

DW's first broadcast

Starting something ground-breaking

"All of us were incredibly nervous," recalls one of the people who witnessed DW's very first broadcast in 1953. The spring sun, of all things, put the premiere in jeopardy and perplexed DW experts.

background

"A grand achievement"

Reforms are an ongoing process at DW. Ever since it first went on air, transformation has always been an integral part of DW’s work.

Program

DW Transtel

Contact

our anniversary