Germany

[DE] State Media Authorities and Sport 1 Reach Settlement on TV Competitions

IRIS 2011-8:1/23

Anne Yliniva-Hoffmann

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

On 7 July 2011, the Kommission für Zulassung und Aufsicht der Landesmedienanstalten (Licensing and Monitoring Commission of the State Media Authorities - ZAK) announced that the special interest television broadcaster Sport 1 and the Landesmedienanstalten (State media authorities - LMA) had agreed to settle their disputes concerning consumer protection in game shows (see IRIS 2011-1/23).

Under the settlement, the broadcaster Sport 1 recognised the media authorities’ interpretation of the rules on competitions adopted in 2009 (see IRIS 2009-3/12) as binding, withdrew its appeals and objections against complaints and fines and paid a fine of EUR 52,500 for three breaches of the rules on competitions.

For their part, the media authorities cancelled four fines and agreed to stop related court procedures. According to reports, however, one procedure will go ahead, with both parties believing the outcome will be relevant to the interpretation of the law.

Sport 1 also declared its intention to ensure that the rules on competitions are respected in its programmes in future by providing its staff with appropriate training and taking organisational precautions.

The Bayerische Landeszentrale für neue Medien (Bavarian new media authority - BLM), as the media authority responsible for Sport 1, will ensure that these agreements are honoured.