New ZDF Director in one ballot
Thomas Bellut, ZDF's former programming director, will become the network's new director general, succeeding Markus Schächter. He is tasked with establishing ZDF's foothold in the digital world, where television and the Internet are increasingly converging.
The Television Council elected Thomas Bellut as the new boss with an overwhelming majority in the first round of voting. This was announced by ZDF on Friday. Bellut received 70 yes votes from the 73 television councillors present at the vote in Berlin. One voted against Bellut, two abstained. 47 votes would have been necessary. Bellut was the only candidate. After ten years, Markus Schächter was not seeking a new term of office as director. Bellut's successor as program director will not be decided until later.
