1960-1964

1960

Deutsche Welle becomes an independent broadcasting service, based on the law for establishing broadcasting institutions under federal law. Accordingly - although only until June, 1962 - DW is no longer a member of the ARD - the association of German public broadcasters.

1961

The business journalist Otto Wesemann is chosen to be the first director-general of DW by the Broadcasting Board. Chairman of the first Broadcasting Board is Felix von Eckardt.

1962

Bockhacken

DW-RADIO vastly expands its programming. The new languages are Persian, Spanish for Latin America and Portuguese for Brazil, Turkish, Russian, Polish, Czech, Slovakian, Hungarian, Serbian and Croatian. The English Service, previously only broadcast to North America, is expanded as well and can be heard in Australia, East Asia, the Pacific and Africa. The French Service is now also broadcasting to Africa.

1963

Following the establishment of the radio transcription service, DW launches its first television activities. In addition to radio manuscripts and tapes DW begins distributing film copies. The first country to receive these is Sudan. DW-RADIO adds new languages: Kiswaheli and Haussa for Africa, Indonesian for Asia, as well as Bulgarian, Romanian and Slovenian in Europe.

1964


The signal generator and reception station at Bockhacken begins operations.

DW-RADIO begins broadcasting in Greek, Italian, Hindi and Urdu.