ERF – The broadcaster for a whole lifetime
“Good News” via radio, TV and the Internet
Wetzlar, Germany (ERF). "The broadcaster for a whole lifetime" - that’s the slogan of ERF Medien (Wetzlar). The Christian media enterprise offers programming that is quite literally for everyone. ERF was founded 50 years ago, and was one of the first private broadcasters in Germany to spread the gospel through the media, first via radio, and now also on TV and the Internet. The 230 staff desire to implement ERF’s slogan through a wide variety of journalistic endeavours. ERF is a multifaceted German media company, providing quality content via radio, television and the Internet, all serving to help people discover and deepen faith in Jesus Christ and to live this out within their churches and society.
Financed almost solely through donations, ERF has an annual budget of approximately 15 million Euros. In 2001, a foundation was established to further financially support the ministry. ERF is the media partner of various denominations in Germany including the Lutheran Church, Evangelical Free Churches and many others and considers itself to be a broadcaster for evangelicals in Germany.
Since March, 2009 ERF has its own TV and radio broadcast channel. ERF produces some of its own programs such as “Hof mit Himmel” (Courtyard to Heaven) and “Gott sei Dank!” (Thank God!), current affairs magazines, features, documentaries, life-style magazines and talk-shows. On Sundays, worship services from various churches all over Germany are broadcast. External productions, for instance from ERF Switzerland, are also broadcast. In addition, the film “Jesus”, based upon the gospel of Luke, is broadcast every night from 11pm to 5am in 21 languages.
ERF eins can be received via digital signal through the satellite ASTRA, through an increasing number of cable networks, and also on the internet (www.erf.de). Selected programs from ERF are also being broadcast by other networks such as DAS VIERTE, rheinmaintv, bw family.tv and approximately 25 other regional networks. In addition ERF also provides the opportunity to listen to three different audio signals including ERF Radio, ERF Pop and Life Channel in Swiss German.
ERF Radio offers a wide range of programmes such as early morning devotionals, current affairs magazine programmes, call-in programmes, and modern Christian pop music. Over 1,400 volunteer writers contribute to the programming content. ERF Radio broadcasts around the clock via ASTRA Satellite using both analogue and digital signals and also via cable networks in Baden-Württemberg, Bavaria (Munich), southern Hessen, Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, Thuringia, and Saxony. ERF Radio is also available on the Internet (www.erf.de) and on the telephone. In addition, ERF broadcasts for several hours (in the mornings and evenings) on Am/MW 1539 kHz. The Web radio channel, CrossChannel.de, is aimed towards teens and young adults from 14 to 25. (www.CrossChannel.de). Since April, 2009 ERF Pop is available on the web with music and content for the middle generation.
Hardly any other media has ever found a place in everyday life as quickly as the Internet. It is an extraordinary medium for challenging people to consider faith issues, helping people to grow in their faith, and linking Christians together. ERF Online has been catering to these issues since 1996. On the portal www.erf.de, ERF Medien presents its best content from radio, TV and online editors. Visitors to the site find up-to-date and true-to-life inspiration for their faith and background information about issues concerning the church and society. In addition, they can hear ERF Radio broadcasts via livestream, MP3 or podcasts, as well as watch hundreds of TV shows in TV quality – 24 hours per day, at no cost.
On www.jesus-online.de, ERF seeks to make the Christian faith evident and understandable in interactive ways, an effort that is supported by more than 300 volunteer workers and cooperative partners. For users with deeper questions about faith, the portal “mehrglauben.de” went online in March, 2010.
ERF was founded in 1959 and made its first broadcast in 1961. ERF stays in close contact with its listeners, viewers of its TV channel and those accessing its internet site. Hundreds of calls, emails, faxes and letters reach its headquarters following each programme. ERF puts an emphasis on service – each enquiry is answered personally. ERF offers information about its programmes, for instance tips about literature and contact to churches, counsellors, help centres, and therapists. Listeners and those watching the TV channel send in personal questions about life to ERF, and each of these enquiries receives a competent and confidential answer. ERF has a Germany-wide network of counsellors available to its listeners, TV viewers and internet users alike.
Programmes broadcast by ERF are not only in German. In Germany and beyond, ERF contributes to the cost of broadcasts in 45 languages. For those living in German-speaking regions, ERF produces ten foreign-language radio programs. Together with its international partner, Trans World Radio, ERF is helping to spread the Gospel in over 200 languages throughout the world.
ERF’s bi-monthly broadcast guide “ANTENNE” has a circulation of 115,000 copies and is available in Germany for an annual fee of 10 Euros.
Contact
ERF Medien
35573 Wetzlar
Phone: +49 (0)6441 957-0
Fax: +49 (0)6441 957-51120
E-Mail: info@erf.de
Internet: www.erf.de
