ARD

• 7 January – Der Sonne entgegen (1985)
• 14 January – Gespenstergeschichten (1985)
• 31 January – Känguru (1985–1986)
• 22 March – ...Erbin sein - dagegen sehr (1985)
• 3 April – Schöne Ferien (1985)
• 25 April – Zentrale Bangkok (1985)
• 27 June – Ein Mann macht klar Schiff (1985–1986)
• July – War was, Rickie? (1985)
• 18 September – Levin und Gutman (1985)
• 11 October –
  • Ich, Christian Hahn (1985–1986)
  • Das Rätsel der Sandbank (1985)
• 15 November – Fritz Golgowsky (1985–1986)
• 8 December – Lindenstraße (1985–2020)

ZDF

• 23 January – Ein Heim für Tiere (1985–1992)
• 19 February – Der eiserne Weg [de] (1985)
• 28 April – Glücklich geschieden (1985)
• 30 August – Alte Gauner (1985)
• 1 September – Via Mala (1985)
• 12 September – Die Nervensäge (1985–1986)
• 22 October – The Black Forest Clinic (1985–1989)
• 5 December – Oliver Maass (1985)

DFF

• 4 January – Die Leute von Züderow (1985)
• 27 January – Bei Hausers zu Hause (1985)
• 8 March – Johann Sebastian Bach (1985)
• 17 May – Zahn um Zahn (1985–1988)
• 10 November – Der Sohn des Schützen (1985)

International

• 2 January - The Love Boat (1977–1986) (Sat.1)
• 29 May - Hill Street Blues (1981–1987) (ZDF)
• 27 August - Danger Mouse (1981–1992) (ZDF)

BFBS

• 19 May - Bertha (1985–1986)
• T-Bag (1985–1992)
• Who Sir? Me Sir? (1985)
• / Dogtanian and the Three Muskehounds (1981–1982)
• Dodger, Bonzo and the Rest (1985–1986)
• Puddle Lane (1985–1989)
• Mop and Smiff (1985)
• Tales from Fat Tulip's Garden (1985)
• Dempsey and Makepeace (1985–1986)
• Gems (1985–1988)
• EastEnders (1985–present)

1950s

• Tagesschau (1952–present)

1960s

• heute (1963-present)

1970s

• heute-journal (1978-present)
• Tagesthemen (1978-present)

1980s

• Wetten, dass..? (1981-2014)

Launches

Conversions and rebrandings

Closures