Germany

[DE] Media authorities demand more accessible private TV programming

IRIS 2015-2:1/12

Cristina Bachmeier

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

At its meeting in Halle in mid-November 2014, the Gesamtkonferenz (General Conference - GK) of the German media authorities (comprising the Conference of Chairpersons of the Decision-Taking Councils and the Conference of Directors) criticised the inadequate provision of accessible programming on private television.

According to the media authorities’ press release on the subject, published on 19 November 2014, the RTL media group in particular remains insufficiently committed in this field. In a study carried out over the last two years, the number of subtitled programmes broadcast by the two main private broadcasting groups, ProSiebenSat.1 and the RTL media group, was analysed. The GK had previously asked the broadcasters to show at least one programme each evening on one of their channels with subtitles for hearing-impaired viewers.

The study showed that ProSiebenSat.1 had been meeting this requirement since the end of 2013 and would soon be working towards providing subtitles for live programmes.

The RTL group, on the other hand, was still not broadcasting any programmes with special subtitles for hearing-impaired viewers in fixed programme slots in 2014. The accessibility of programmes with simple subtitles was also very limited.

In view of the important theme of inclusion in the TV sector, the GK is planning to produce a report on media use among people with impairments. By doing so, it aims to highlight the importance of “equal participation of all citizens in the democratic processes of opinion-forming in private broadcasting on all channels”.

Finally, the GK indicated that it would endeavour to tighten the relevant legislation should the private broadcasters, especially the RTL media group, fail to sufficiently develop their accessible programming.