public service media in germany: normative framework and technological developments

Public Service Media in Germany: normative framework and technical

developments.

Dr. Roberto Suárez CandelMarie Curie Research Fellow

Torino, Sept. 21st, 2010Meeting of the Gruppo Europeo di Torino

Gruppo Europeo di Torino, Sept 2010 - Dr. Roberto Suárez Candel 1

Public Service Media in Germany

PSB - DigitalRedefining and repositioning Public Service Broadcasting in the digital

and multiplatform scenario.Post-doctoral Research Project

funded by the Marie Curie Intra-European Action

www.psb-digital.eu



Outline

1. Situation of Public Service Media in Germany

2. The ‘Three Steps Test’ (Dreistufentest)3. Public Service Funding4. Technical developments and innovation



1. Public Service in Germany



• 2009, the public fee = 7.6 billions €

• ARD-Dritte, the regional (state) public channels were the most viewed channels in Germany, with 13.5% of the share.

• Das Erste and ZDF also had good results, with 12.7% and 12.5% respectively.




• The public service thematic channels obtained more discrete viewing figures (between 0.7% and 1.4%), but they were also leaders in that market niche. • The public service offer is the leader of the

German market with an average aggregated daily audience share between 41.5% and 45.3% (2009).




2. The ‘Three Steps Test’ (Dreistufentest)

• 2002-2004: complaints in front of the European Commission against German Public Broadcasters: funding / activities

• Better definition of Public Service Remit

• Ex –ante evaluation procedure

• 2005-2006: CE carries out investigations

• 2006/2007: Beihilfekompromiss



• 2008: design + regulatory process

• June 2009: 12th Interstate Broadcasting Treaty enters into force and incorporates the ‘Three Steps Test’

• June 2009 – August 2010: Test implementation complex & expensive




Which are the 3 steps?

1. To what degree does the offer conform to the democratic, social and cultural needs of society?






2. To what degree does the offer contribute to editorial competition in a qualitative manner?





3. What financial expenditure is required for the implementation of the offer?





1. Compliance with Public Service Remit

2. Editorial Competition

3. Funding



A very complex implementation process:• Definition of Public Service Remit for Telemedia

• Definition of evaluation criteria

• Broadcasting Councils needed training

• Extra budget and administrative task force

• External economic assessment

• Participation of third parties




• Each public broadcaster carried out several tests

• Criticism concerning transparency

• Self-censorship / Depublizierung

All the evaluations had a POSITIVE result


A very complex implementation process:



3. Public Service Funding

• Convergence sets a new scenario

• Beyond 2013: From receiver ownership to residence basis

• Need for changes in the GEZ?



4. Technical developments and innovation

German PSB are innovative agents

• Leading and reference role during the DTT transition (2003-2008)

• Take part in the satellite analogue switch-off (April 2012)



German PSB are innovative agents

• Multiplatform offer: Sat, Cab, DTT, IPTV, Web Tv.

• Online activities: Mediathek, podcast, rss, newsletters, social networking.

• HbbTV, High Definition

4. Technical developments and innovation


Grazie!

Dr. Roberto Suárez CandelMarie Curie Research FellowHans Bredow InstitutHamburg - Germany

[email protected]

public service media in germany: normative framework and technological developments

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