Fernsehturm Heidelberg, Transmission tower on Königstuhl hill, Heidelberg, Germany

Fernsehturm Heidelberg is a concrete transmission tower standing on Königstuhl hill overlooking the city. Built at this elevated location, it broadcasts radio and television signals to the surrounding region from its 82-meter structure.

Built in 1958, the tower originally served dual purposes, with water storage tanks positioned behind its observation platform. Over time it became primarily used for broadcasting operations.

The tower carries four analog FM programs — SWR1 Baden-Württemberg at 97.8 MHz, SWR Kultur at 88.8 MHz, SWR3 at 99.9 MHz and SWR4 at 104.1 MHz — plus DAB+ multiplexes on channels 5C, 9B, 9D and 11B. Its DVB-T2 broadcasts began on 31 May 2016, when Heidelberg was among the first German sites converted.

The tower has an elevator leading to an observation deck at 30 meters, but has been closed to visitors since 2002. It is visible from surrounding areas and accessible by road up Königstuhl hill, though entry inside is not permitted.

The tower does not need great height to function because its location on Königstuhl already provides about 570 meters of natural elevation. This geographic advantage replaces what would otherwise require a much taller structure.