Germany

[DE] 12th Broadcasting Agreement Signed

IRIS 2009-2:1/15

Anne Yliniva-Hoffmann

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

After lengthy negotiations (see IRIS 2008-10: 9), the Minister-Presidents of the Länder officially signed the 12th Rundfunkänderungsstaatsvertrag (Agreement amending the Inter-State Broadcasting Agreement - RÄStV) on 18 December 2008.

The deadline for implementation of the three-stage test for existing telemedia services was brought forward by five months to 31 August 2010. This step was criticised by the public service broadcasters, along with the fact that some parts of the agreement go further than the requirements of the European Commission, such as the stipulation that sports broadcasts can only be made available in media libraries for 24 hours after the original broadcast.

The 12th RÄStV, which should enter into force on 1 June 2009, requires the approval of the Landtage (State parliaments).