ZDF and Joyn Reach Streaming Content Agreement

The public broadcaster ZDF and the streaming platform Joyn have agreed to embed ZDF's on‑demand programs directly within the Joyn service. The deal ends a months‑long legal dispute that began when Joyn incorporated ZDF and ARD content without prior approval. Under the agreement, ZDF retains the rights to its productions and traffic from the embedded content will be credited to ZDF, while the programmes will remain ad‑free for viewers.

The partnership, negotiated by ProSiebenSat.1, the owner of Joyn, is set for implementation in the autumn, though an exact launch date has not been announced. The arrangement is supported by a new reform state treaty that encourages cooperation between private media firms and public broadcasters. Negotiations with ARD are still ongoing, and no comparable deal has been reached with that broadcaster yet.