Markus Schächter’s tenure as Director General of ZDF will end in March 2012 at the end of his second term in office. He has been in office since 2002. Mr Schächter also sits on the European Broadcasting Union's Executive Board.

Commenting on the reasons for his decision, Schächter said. "It is my personal belief and my understanding of the top positions in top companies …. that ten years is the right length of time in this framework…then it's time to put the leadership into other hands.”