2024-09-26 14:54:35
The Broadcasting Commission is planning to cut 20 radio waves and up to five television channels from ARD and ZDF. ARD chairman Kai Gniffke will make such a request – but he describes the problems.
ARD Chairman Kai Gniffke (SWR) has commented on the possible cancellations of television and radio stations (WELT reported). At a press conference, Gniffke said, while referring to the rumored number of 20 radio stations that could be removed within ARD according to the contract for a new state media contract: “This behavior does not affect ARD, but the audience .”
Loss of programs is always primarily a loss for users of such channels. “You have to know what you’re doing,” Gniffke said, speaking on the plans. Remedial reform has yet to come to ARD; it has to be presented to the Bundesrat on Friday and then go to an online hearing in order to be signed by the ministers at the end of October, if possible. If there really are cuts, it would be “unrealistic hope for listeners,” said SWR director Gniffke — his station would be able to do without two stations.
However, the delay of all channels must be regulated in a certain order. The SWR state contract would have to be changed first, the commissioning of the waves to be canceled would have to be removed, and the approval of the governing bodies would still be required. However, Gniffke is sure that ARD will “adhere to the law” if they order cancellations. In Germany, the federal states are responsible for media policy. However, they still have to accept.
As for the widespread elimination of four to five special interest channels on television in local areas, Gniffke hesitated. What is important here are the questions given to the broadcasters. Until this is clear, the motto is: “Be careful of the curb.” Basically, ARD will try to avoid service cancellation in any case if the channels are no longer available.
It is also unclear whether the federal states will agree unanimously to the planned increase in the broadcasting price to 18.94 euros. It’s not like him this time. A media report said that ARD, ZDF and Deutschlandradio will probably not be sued by the Federal Constitutional Court if the increase does not come by January 1, 2025. However, Gniffke did not confirm this. ARD is planning to increase the contribution.
“Close to market failure”
At a meeting in Cologne, ARD directors also decided to expand the joint audio library (project name “ARD Audiothek Next”), which should be in an optimized form next year. Instead of the current 41 different audio applications, there will be only one application. Audio offers from ZDF and Deutschlandradio should also be available via this app in a timely manner – and eventually also offers from commercial media companies.
The idea, Gniffke said, is to make the media use “more freedom of foreign platform operators”. The power of technology companies is “close to market failure,” said the ARD president. Operators already control what content users see, without content providers having any control options.
Directors also regulate the financial balance within the ARD. This means that the seven state broadcasters ensure that the two smallest ARD broadcasters, Radio Bremen and Saarländischer Rundfunk, are adequately funded. “We stayed united with each other and we were able to do it,” Gniffke said.
Finally, the director of SWR is able to announce that the position of ARD chairman will be transferred to Hessischer Rundfunk (HR) as planned on January 1, 2025, which will be supported in this role by Radio Bremen. Gniffke’s colleague Florian Hager in Frankfurt will become ARD chairman. HR has had one of its own under Hager Radio program cuts announced – Three of the six independent radio waves are to be discontinued by 2032.
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