The district of Charlottenburg-Wilmersdorf even offers two podcasts Photo: BZ
By Isabel Pancake
Half of Berlin’s districts have – or had – their own podcast. But most Berliners have never streamed it. 60,000 euros of taxpayers’ money flow into the podcast production.
Most of the money went to the podcast “Moabit Talks – A journey through 50 years of Berlin urban development funding” (558 listeners per episode) from the Mitte district office on it – 33,000 euros! The money for six episodes comes from the federal and state urban development program “Living Centers and Districts”.
220 euros per moderation for mayors
The production of the podcast, which has since been discontinued, was also really expensive “From LiBe – From Lichtenberg” (450 listeners per episode) from the former Lichtenberg district mayor Michael Grunst (53, Left). Cost: 19,840 euros! According to the district, 220 euros were due for each moderation alone… There are also 40 euros for a podcast hosting platform.
At the podcast of the Steglitz-Zehlendorf district office “official chat” (350 listeners per episode) 2,000 euros flowed into professional technology. The district paid an additional 950 euros for an intro of almost 20 seconds.
The district of Tempelhof-Schöneberg finances its podcast “I talk to” (150 to 200 listeners per episode) from the prize money of the Berlin Administration Prize 2021. Costs: 2,785 euros.
Only one district manages without money
Charlottenburg-Wilmersdorf even has two podcasts: “Health in dialogue” (100 listeners per episode, costs 1,014 euros) and “Corridor radio – the town hall talk” (100 to 1000 listeners per episode, costs 850 euros).
The Spandau podcast, on the other hand, comes without any tax money “Between Four Ears” from the volunteer office. But the number of listeners is almost identical: 70 to 120 streams per episode.
At the podcast “Clear line” no costs were incurred by the finance senate – number of listeners unknown. The Kultursenat has its podcast “Listen to Europe!” financed from “funds for measures of European political communication”.
A spokesman for the culture senate writes when asked by the BZ: “Information on the order volume and payments made cannot be made for reasons of commercial confidentiality.”