Germany

[DE] Regional Windows to Stay

IRIS 2003-7:1/42

Alexander Scheuer

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

As well as defining the remit of the public service broadcasters, the 7. Rundfunkänderungsstaatsvertrag (Amendment to the 7th Inter-State Agreement on Broadcasting - RfÄStV), adopted at the end of June 2003, sets out some new regulations on improvements to regional reporting.

In order to ensure diversity of opinion, Art. 25 (4) of the RfStV stipulates that general television programmes which are transmitted nationwide should include so-called window programmes in accordance with the provisions of State law. Under Art. 25 (2) RfStV, broadcasters which achieve a viewer rating of 25% to 30%, which is significant under media concentration law, shall be granted a 2% bonus if they transmit window programmes. This is meant to encourage broadcasters to keep regional windows.