Germany

[DE] Compulsory Digitisation

IRIS 2003-3:1/16

Stephanie Homburger

Institute of European Media Law (EMR), Saarbrücken/Brussels

A new Landesmediengesetz (Regional Media ActThürLMG) for the Thuringia Bundesland entered into force on 14 January 2003. Under the Act, the transition from analogue to digital broadcasting is to be accelerated. According to Article 3.8 of the ThürLMG, only digital terrestrial frequencies will be allocated in Thuringia after 1 January 2004. Analogue frequencies will continue to be available in exceptional cases if, on account of national, regional or local circumstances in the supply area, this is necessary to guarantee sufficient diversity of programming and opinion, or if the broadcaster also provides a digital terrestrial service in the same supply area. In the latter case, analogue frequencies will only be allocated for a maximum of five years and only if it is technically feasible.

The switch to digital broadcasting has been coordinated nation-wide since 1997 under the "Initiative Digitaler Rundfunk" (Digital Broadcasting Initiative - IDR). The Initiative, which aims to complete the transition to digital broadcasting by 2010, is being jointly run by the Federal Ministry for the Economy and Employment and the Bundesländer.