Germany

[DE] 11th Inter-State Broadcasting Agreement Adopted

IRIS 2008-8:1/17

Alexander Scheuer

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

On 12 June 2008, the Minister-Presidents of the Länder held their concluding discussions and signed the 11. Staatsvertrag zur Änderung rundfunkrechtlicher Staatsverträge (11th Inter-State Agreement Amending Inter-State Broadcasting Agreements - RÄStV).

The new text mainly serves to incorporate the increase in broadcasting licence fees. It also prolongs the financing structure of the jugendschutz.net institution for a further four years.

It is probable that this Inter-State Agreement will no longer include any revised regulations governing the internal income redistribution system within the ARD, which could extend beyond the compromise reached between the Directors General. For the time being, the report of the Kommission zur Ermittlung des Finanzbedarfs der Rundfunkanstalten (Commission for Establishing the Financial Requirements of Broadcasters - KEF) is awaited.

As long as all ratification documents are submitted by 31 December 2008, the Agreement should enter into force on 1 January 2009.