Its predecessor organizations, SDR and SWF, were formally dissolved at 24:00 on 30 September 1998, SWR legally succeeding them with effect from 0:00 on 1 October 1998.

The French Military Government established SWF as the sole public broadcaster in their occupation zone.

The two corporations had intended to merge in 1990, but the merger was pushed back by the reunification process.

SWR provides programs to various TV and radio networks, some done in collaboration with other broadcasters, and others completely independently.

Seven other directors serve under him (locations of their offices in parentheses): SWR operates the following musical organizations: Within the ARD, SWR is responsible for the coordination of the joint network programming on the networks 3sat and arte as well as the main Internet site for the ARD, ARD.de.

SWR is also responsible for some of the foreign studios operated on behalf of the ARD: The following companies are subsidiaries of SWR-Holding GmbH: