Telesaar
| Company type | Private television broadcaster |
|---|---|
| Industry | Broadcasting |
| Founded | 1953 |
| Defunct | 1958 |
| Headquarters | Saarland , Germany (then independent Saarland) |
Area served | Saarland, Germany |
| Products | Television broadcasting |
Telesaar holds the distinction of being Germany's inaugural private television broadcaster, commencing operations in 1954 under the management of European Broadcast and Television AG, the same entity behind the Europe 1 transmitter. It transmitted on VHF channel 7, utilizing the French television standard until Saarland was integrated into West Germany.[1]
This arrangement was feasible because Saarland remained outside the Federal Republic of Germany until late 1956, thereby exempt from German broadcasting regulations. Despite employing the French TV system, which was incompatible with German receivers, authorities in Germany ordered its closure, mandating technical modifications to the transmitter by mid-1958. Archived Telesaar broadcasts are preserved by Saarländischer Rundfunk.[2]
History
Saarland, functioning independently from Germany between 1945 and 1957 and engaged in an economic partnership with France from 1947 to 1959, enacted legislation governing broadcasting on June 18, 1952. Subsequently, on October 24, Radiodiffusion Saaroise S.A.R.L. was established, with ownership divided as two-thirds held by the Saarland State and one-third by Société Financière de Radiodiffusion (Sofirad). Its supervisory board comprised both French and Saarland representatives, chaired by Frédéric Schlachter.[1]
Frédéric Billmann, serving as general director of Saarland Radio, aspired to launch a television station but faced financial constraints. This led to an unusual alliance with private entities at that time. On May 16, 1952, Telesaar/Saarländische Fernseh S.A. along with the Saarland Television Production Company were formed. The principal shareholder was Images et Sons, a Monaco-based company led by Charles Michelson and Prince Rainier III of Monaco, aiming to create a network of private broadcasters within France. Plans included erecting a new transmitter at Felsberg for Europe No. 1 radio to circumvent the French state broadcasting monopoly. In return for transmission rights granted by Saarland, Images et Sons committed to establishing a television service for Télé-Sarre and delivering a complimentary daily three-hour program. The European Radio and Television Company—an Images et Sons subsidiary—constructed radio and TV transmitters at Felsberg-Berus near the Franco-German border. Another transmitter located at Eschberger Hof near Saarbrücken began airing Télé-Sarre on December 23, 1953.[1]
Télé-Sarre broadcast its own Tagesschau news segment every day—preceding the nationwide German version’s adoption of a seven-day schedule starting in October 1956. The footage originated from Paris without accompanying audio but featured text captions. The primary broadcast was scheduled at 8 p.m., followed by a live repeat at 9:45 p.m., concluding with sign-off.[1]
Following Saarland’s reintegration into West Germany in 1957, Telesaar emerged as the country’s foremost commercial television channel. Nonetheless, German broadcasting authorities regarded it as infringing upon ARD's public broadcasting exclusivity. Law enforcement shut down the transmitter on January 25, 1958; subsequently, on March 10, the Federal Post Minister mandated permanent cessation by mid-July. Télé-Sarre terminated its broadcasts on July 15, 1958.