How to Download ARD Mediathek Videos and Live Streams

Lumi 22/01/2025

CleverGet ARD Downloader

1,029 views

What is ARD? It’s short for Arbeitsgemeinschaft der öffentlich-rechtlichen Rundfunkanstalten der Bundesrepublik Deutschland, which can be translated as Working Group of Public Broadcasters of the Federal Republic of Germany. So what about ARD Mediathek? Supported by this German public broadcasting network, ARD Mediathek is a streaming platform that offers movies, series, livestreams, and regional/national TV programs for free. Want to watch ARD Mediathek and download videos for offline playback? Look no further. This blog will introduce the best tool to help you make ARD Mediathek download videos to your PC easily. Just don’t miss out.

Part 1: Is ARD Mediathek Free in Germany?

Sponsored by ARD, the German public broadcasting network, ARD Mediathek is free to use in Germany. This is because ARD is funded by a mandatory license fee, which is known as Rundfunkbeitrag. The fee is paid by every citizen in Germany, regardless if they have access to TVs, radio, or the Internet. So, to some degree, yes, it is free. But, as the saying goes, “There’s no such thing as a free lunch.” You always get what you pay.

Therefore, as long as you are a German citizen and have paid the Rundfunkbeitrag, you can enjoy free streaming of shows, movies, and sports events from ARD Mediathek in Germany. Sometimes you might want to download your favorite clips of the shows, to edit, share or something like that. So, can you download ARD Mediathek for offline viewing? The answer is positive. Just read on to find more specific information.

Part 2: Can You Download Shows on ARD Mediathek

As mentioned earlier, you can make ARD Mediathek download videos for offline viewing. However, the download feature applies to mobile apps only. There is no way to download ARD Mediathek videos via browsers or smart TVs. And just like most streaming services, the ARD Mediathek download feature is limited for legal reasons.

Here are the major limitations of the ARD Mediathek download feature.

○ Only the ARD Mediathek mobile app allows video downloads.

○ The ARD Mediathek app is the only place to view and play these downloaded videos.

○ You can not change the location for the ARD Mediathek download.

○ It is not possible to move the data from the device's internal memory to an external storage medium such as an SD card.

○ Playback is limited to the period of the stay. Once the stay time has expired, the video can no longer be played.

Part 3: How to Download ARD Videos and Live Streams for Offline Viewing

While the ARD Mediathek video download feature is available on mobile apps only, there are other ways that can help you download ARD Mediathek videos for offline viewing. In this part, we will introduce how to download ARD Mediathek videos with the mobile app and a third-party video downloader. Just check them out.

1. How to download ARD Videos and Live Streams on mobile app (ARD Mediathek)

Step 1. Open the ARD Mediathek app. Find the video you want to download.

Step 2. Tap on the Download icon below the video window to download ARD Mediathek videos.

Step 3. Your downloaded ARD Mediathek videos can be found in the default folder in the internal memory.

2. How to download ARD Videos and Live Streams on PC

Now you know how to download ARD Mediathek videos on mobile apps. So what about computers? As introduced earlier, the native ARD Mediathek download feature is not available on PC. But worry not, here comes CleverGet ARD Downloader, a third-party video downloader that supports ARD Mediathek download PC. You can download as many ARD Mediathek videos as you want with it easily.

Developed with state-of-the-art video processing technologies, the downloader makes it simple to save your favorite videos from ARD Mediathek. Whether you want to download ARD movies, TV shows, or ARD livestream videos, CleverGet Al-in-One is the best tool that comes in handy. You can save all videos on ARD Mediathek with the highest quality possible. Just check out its powerful features now.

Main features of CleverGet ARD Downloader

1. Download ARD Mediathek video to MP4/MKV

Unlike the native ARD Mediathek download feature that allows you to download videos for in-app playback only, CleverGet ARD Downloader lets you download ARD Mediathek movies to MP4/MKV files. That means you can watch your favorite ARD Mediathek movies and TV episodes offline on any device without restriction!

2. Support up to 1080p ARD Mediathek download

As the best video downloader, CleverGet ARD Downloader can help you download ARD Mediathek videos in 1080p resolution. With the most sophisticated video processing technology, the downloader supports 1:1 quality retained in downloaded videos, which delivers the best visual and audio experience offline.

3. ARD Mediathek download PC with GPU acceleration

Supporting GPU hardware acceleration technologies such as NVIDIA CUDA, Intel Quick Sync, and AMD APP, CleverGet ARD Downloader can help you download ARD Mediathek videos efficiently. As long as your computer is equipped with qualified GPU cards, you can enjoy fast ARD Mediathek downloads directly.

4. ARD Mediathek download in batches

Want to download the ARD Mediathek series easily? CleverGet ARD Downloader is here to help. The video downloader can identify every episode associated with the playing video and offer all the download options available. You can batch add a full season/whole seasons of a TV series and wait for them to be downloaded quickly.

5. Preserve multilingual tracks and subtitles

CleverGet ARD Downloader is an expert ARD Mediathek downloader that is capable of successfully capturing multilingual audio tracks and subtitles (if available). You can select your favorite to download ARD Mediathek videos for a more engaging viewing experience.

Now you know the manin features of this powerful tool, so how to download ARD Mediathek videos and save them permanently without worrying them being removed due to licensing issue? Check out the guide below.

How to download ARD Mediathek without limitations using CleverGet ARD Downloader

Step 1: Install CleverGet ARD Downloader

Download the software by clicking on the link that corresponds to the type of device you have. You can install CleverGet ARD Downloader for free.

• 

• CleverGet ARD Downloader

  - Download ARD movies, TV series at high resolution.
  - Batch download related videos from your target urls.
  - Download ARD videos to MP4/MKV to adapt various devices.
  - Download selected audio tracks and subtitles, or save subtitles as SRT.
  - Remove ads and pop-ups from downloaded videos for smooth watching.

  DownloadDownload

Step 2: Set Output Folder

Head to the settings icon in the top right and choose the General tab. Set the output folder before downloading videos from ARD Mediathek. You can also change the language and appearance settings here.

Step 3: Locate ARD Mediathek Video

Use the built-in web browser to play the ARD Mediathek video that you wish to download. Be sure to click the Download icon located in the lower right corner to analyze the video sources.

Step 4: Download ARD Mediathek Video

There will be a window with download options appearing later. Each option contains details about the size, frame rate, and quality of the video. Select any option to download ARD Mediathek videos.

Step 5: Check ARD Mediathek Download Task

You can find all the download tasks in the sidebar. Feel free to pause or delete any task here.

That’s it! You can download three videos from ARD Mediathek with CleverGet ARD Downloader for free. Want to download unlimited ARD Mediathek videos? Just go get the premium subscriptions!

Part 4: FAQs

How to download ARD Mediathek videos? You can either download it with the app or a third-party video downloader. Should you have any questions regarding the ARD Mediathek download, just check out the frequently asked ones to learn more.

Q1. How can I watch ARD Mediathek shows outside Germany?

Yes. You can watch ARD Mediathek movies and TV shows even if you are not physically in Germany. Just use a VPN or proxy server to hide your IP and bypass the geo-restriction. Here ExpressVPN and NordVPN can be solid choices, which offer a handful of German VPN servers that support large bandwidth streaming and gaming.

Q2. How can I verify my age on ARD Mediathek?

With a personal ARD account, you can confirm your age and unlock blocked content at any time. That means you will need to create an ARD account first. Then you can verify your age with a valid ID, including German identity cards, European passports, or residence permits.

Please note that invalid or expired documents or passports from non-European countries are not acceptable. Meanwhile, if your age is confirmed at 16, the age rating block will be carried out until the person reaches the age of majority.

Q3. Can I download podcasts from ARD Mediathek using CleverGet?

Yes. You can download podcasts, live streaming videos, movies, TV shows, and all the videos on ARD Mediathek with CleverGet ARD Downloader.

Part 5: Conclusion

What is ARD Mediathek and how to download ARD Mediathek videos? This blog has covered all specifics, including step-by-step guides to downloading ARD Mediathek videos with the app and a third-party video downloader. But if you want to enjoy your favorite videos offline without limits, CleverGet ARD Downloader is your best bet. The downloader can help you save all videos on ARD Mediathek to MP4/MKV for unrestricted playback. You can also keep your favorite ARD Mediathek movies and TV shows offline! Just get it and check it out yourself.