1980

Photo More TV at DW: first production of "European Journal".

The annual survey of the International Short Wave Club shows DW to be listeners' favorite foreign broadcasting service, followed by the BBC, Radio Netherlands, Voice of America and Radio Australia.

DW moves into its new house in Cologne and the first programs are broadcast.

Conrad Ahlers dies on December 18th. He had only served as director-general since March 1st. Until the post can be filled, Heinz Fellhauer is named interim director-general.

1981

On March 16th, the former governing mayor of Berlin, Klaus Schutz is chosen as DW's fourth director-general. His term begins on July 1st.

1982

First DW symposium on the subject: "Immigrant Country, Multi-racial Society or Something Else? The Federal Republic and its Foreigners."

A conference on asylum policies follows the same year.

1983

"The Baumann Family" language program is discontinued. Its replacement, a joint effort with DLF, the Goethe Institute and Inter Nationes, is called "Auf Deutsch gesagt" (Say it in German).

1984

The new relay station, Trincomalee, in Sri Lanka starts test runs.