It stands for Arbeitsgemeinschaft der Ã ffentlich-rechtlichen Rundfunkanstalten der Bundesrepublik Deutschland . This can be translated as `` Consortium of public-law broadcasting institutions of the Federal Republic of Germany '' . ARD ( full name : Arbeitsgemeinschaft der Ã ffentlich-rechtlichen Rundfunkanstalten der Bundesrepublik Deutschland -- `` Consortium of public-law broadcasting institutions of the Federal Republic of Germany '' ) is a joint organization of Germany 's regional public-service broadcasters .