As a longtime viewer and supporter of German public broadcasting, I wholeheartedly agree with the call to action by the film and TV industry. The quality of programming is not just about entertainment, it’s about maintaining our democratic values and ensuring the survival of a system that plays a crucial role in shaping our society.
The German film and television industry is urging public broadcasters to enhance their programming quality, warning that a failure to do so could jeopardize their democratic credibility. This call comes amidst growing criticism from Germany’s rising far-right movement.
The creative communities within Germany’s film and television sector, such as the German Screenwriters Guild, the Film and TV Producers Alliance, the Federal Actors Association, the Producers Association, and the German Directors Guild, have collectively urged public broadcasters to promise that at least half of their budgets will be allocated towards producing shows, rather than management and administrative expenses.
As an ardent supporter, I penned a heartfelt missive to our esteemed state and governing bodies, outlining our “50+ for Programming” initiative. This visionary plan is designed to foster broader public approval and enhance the democratic mandate of our cherished public broadcasting service.
For every euro put into programming, it also bolsters the robustness of Germany’s media democracy at the same time,” the letter states.
In a straightforward manner:
With the Alternative for Germany (AfD) gaining influence, following their victories in three consecutive regional elections in eastern Germany, concerns arise that this could lead to attempts to reduce funding or dissolve the nation’s public broadcasting institutions.
In a letter, German artists express concern that only about half (44%) of TV license fees earmarked for public broadcasting are being used for programming content at present. They believe this amount is too low and compromises the quality and credibility of the programs. They’re advocating for a rule in the media state treaty, which regulates public broadcasting funding, that mandates at least 50% of these funds be allocated to programming. This requirement would prevent future reforms from leading to further reductions in the budget for content production.
The letter emphasizes our commitment to ensuring varied and top-notch programming, as it’s crucial not just for public broadcasting but also its very existence. Public broadcasting derives its credibility solely from its content, and this is reinforced by offering excellent, high-quality programs. The more we ensure a high standard of programming, the more resistant public broadcasting becomes to political forces that question its legitimacy. Therefore, investing in quality programming beyond 50+ isn’t just about entertainment; it’s a strong political stance supporting robust public broadcasting, a clear indication from the political sphere that fees are being used effectively to create good content and benefit the citizens who pay them.
Reducing funding for public broadcasting poses a severe risk to numerous sectors within Germany’s media industry. A significant portion of the content produced by ARD and ZDF originates from independent production companies and freelance workers, whose livelihoods would be jeopardized without these public commission contracts.
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2024-10-02 14:54