Court Rules Ex-RBB Director Entitled to EUR8,000 Monthly Pension Until Retirement

A recent court ruling has confirmed that Claudia Nothelle, a former program director at Rundfunk Berlin-Brandenburg (RBB), is entitled to a monthly pension exceeding EUR8,000 until her retirement. This decision comes amidst ongoing scrutiny of public broadcasting finances in Germany, particularly regarding the mandatory broadcasting fee that supports these institutions.

In 2023, the ARD, ZDF, and Deutschlandradio collectively generated approximately EUR9 billion from these fees, which constitute the primary revenue source for public broadcasters. These funds are allocated not only for programming but also for personnel remuneration, which has been a point of contention.

The Berlin Labor Court ruled on April 25, 2025, that Nothelle's entitlement to her pension remains valid, dismissing RBB's claim for the repayment of her pension. According to the court, the broadcaster had "completely lost" the case. The ruling entitles Nothelle to receive retroactive payments that had been previously suspended, alongside future disbursements amounting to EUR8,437 monthly. The total claim in the lawsuit reached EUR503,690.

Nothelle served as program director at RBB from 2009 until her departure in 2016. Following the conclusion of her directorate contract in 2019, she began receiving her pension in addition to a severance package, as stipulated in her employment agreement. The cessation of her payments occurred after the new leadership at RBB halted them in December 2023, following allegations of nepotism surrounding the former director Patricia Schlesinger, who resigned in August 2022. Efforts to mediate between Nothelle and RBB were unsuccessful, leading to legal proceedings.

Now at 61 years old, Nothelle is expected to receive her pension until she reaches the age of 67. This monthly amount stands in stark contrast to the salaries of current RBB executives. For instance, Katrin Vernau, who held the position of director until September 2023, earned an annual salary of EUR208,139, equating to EUR17,344 monthly. Her successor, Ulrike Demmer, received EUR73,334 from September to December 2023, or EUR18,333 per month.

In comparison, the highest-paid public broadcasting director in 2023 was Tom Buhrow of the Westdeutscher Rundfunk (WDR), who received EUR413,100 annually, amounting to EUR34,425 monthly. In addition to their salaries, these directors are also entitled to various benefits, including company cars and other allowances, the specifics of which are often not disclosed.