Search results : 1375

The Bundesverwaltungsgericht (Federal Administrative Court - BVerwG) has decided that the contributions paid by the film, video and television industries to the Filmförderungsanstalt (Film Support Office - FFA) are unconstitutional in their current form. It suspended proceedings arising from complaints by nine cinema operators and referred them to the Bundesverfassungsgericht (Federal Constitutional Court - BVerfG). It acknowledged that contributions by cinema operators, video companies and TV providers to support film promotion were, in principle, justified. However, under the current rules,...

The Kommission für Zulassung und Aufsicht (Licensing and Monitoring Commission - ZAK) and the Gremienvorsitzendenkonferenz (Conference of Authority Chairpersons - GVK) of the Landesmedienanstalten (State Media Authorities) have adopted a common set of rules for radio and television competitions. The rules particularly concern the protection of children and young people. Youngsters may take part in competitions (but not game shows) from the age of 14; children under 14 are generally prohibited from participating in competitions and game shows, with the exception of competitions that are free to...

On 19 December 2008, the Bundesrat (upper house of parliament) approved the fifth amendment to the Filmförderungsgesetz (Film Subsidies Act - FFG), which had already been adopted by the Bundestag (lower house of parliament) on 13 November 2008. The most important changes concern the shortening of blocking periods for the media exploitation of films, the inclusion of new forms of exploitation, such as video-on-demand (VoD) and changes to the system of support for reference films and short films. In addition, so-called "media obligations" in the TV sector will be increased in the form of advertising...

On 13 January 2009, the Federal Government's Coalition Committee reached an agreement on the details of the so-called "second economic package", which was due to be approved on 18 February 2009. One aspect of the package is a comprehensive broadband strategy, designed to drive forward the expansion of broadband, fill in supply gaps and support the development of high-performance wired and wireless networks. The broadband strategy focuses particularly on the use of digital dividends, measures to reduce investment costs, aspects of funding and regulation relating to investment and growth. Decisions...

According to a decision of the Niedersächsische Oberverwaltungsgericht (Lower Saxony Higher Administrative Court - OVG) in Lüneburg, the television broadcaster RTL breached human dignity with a report on the ill-treatment of a helpless old man (case no. 10 LA 101/07). The Verwaltungsgericht Hannover (Hanover Administrative Court) had previously upheld a decision taken by the Niedersächsische Landesmedienanstalt (Lower Saxony State Media Authority - NLM) against RTL due to a breach of human dignity (see IRIS 2007-3: 11). During various news and magazine programmes on 1 December 2004, RTL had broadcast...