Broadcasting as a means of signal transmission in Germany

The paper at hand provides a brief overview of the development of broadcasting as a means of signal transmission in Germany during its emergence (1920-1945), nationwide extension (1946-1980), expansion of satellite andcable broadcasting (1981-1995) and the still ongoing process of digitalisation (up from 1996). With regard to the general subject of the project the paper is embedded in, it also briefly dis-cusses the most obvious and relevant consequences of the alteringforms of signal transmission for broadcasting as a logistic and technological system to transmit information, and the consequences for broadcasting as an institution that provides information to the public - and thus has societal, political, cultural and economicimplications.