📋 Tender Overview
Public broadcasting is to be made more modern, streamlined and digital and its appropriate funding is to be secured for the future. Children and young people are to be better protected from the growing dangers of inappropriate content in digital media. These are the central goals of the media package, which the cabinet approved in three draft state treaties on Tuesday, January 21, 2025.
More modern, slimmer and more digital – “More class instead of mass”
The draft of the reform treaty contains a package of measures to strengthen the mandate of public broadcasting while simultaneously reducing the number of radio programs and special interest channels. In addition, the requirements for the similarity of the broadcasters' offerings to the press are being tightened up. Only with modern public broadcasting can we ensure its high level of acceptance among the population in the future.
Prime Minister Winfried Kretschmann
"The need for quality journalism has never been greater than it is now. Opinion formation must not be left to a few global platforms. Public broadcasting must be a counterweight to this. This requires the highest standards of sources, research and preparation of information. Public broadcasting must keep this promise of quality day after day. The reform treaty therefore aims to strengthen its strengths and make the overall system leaner and more efficient. Only with a modern public broadcasting service can we ensure its high level of acceptance among the population in the future," said Prime Minister Winfried Kretschmann following the cabinet meeting.
Adequate financing – simplified procedure for the future
The cabinet also approved the draft amendment to the State Treaty on Broadcasting Financing , which provides for a system change from 2027 onwards based on the broadcasting fee of 18.36 euros by introducing an objection model. In future, the proposal of the Commission for the Determination of the Financial Requirements of Broadcasting Institutions (KEF) to adjust the broadcasting fee will come into force immediately unless a quorum from the states determined by the state treaty objects to this proposal. The quorums will be staggered depending on the amount of the fee increase.
Media State Secretary Rudi Hoogvliet said: "The broadcasting fee must not become a political football. At the same time, it must not become the rule that the Federal Constitutional Court sets the fee. Therefore, a new mechanism is needed to make the process more resilient overall. With the objection model, we want to create clarity, stability and planning security. The appeal to the Federal Constitutional Court by ARD and ZDF in November has made the discussions on this matter within the state group considerably more difficult. I therefore assume that the institutions will include the decision-making situation within the state group in their considerations when taking their next steps in this process."
Strengthening child and youth media protection
The cabinet also approved the draft of the Sixth Media Amendment State Treaty , which is intended to implement a fundamental amendment to the Youth Media Protection State Treaty. The state treaty provides for changes in technical youth media protection and focuses on the operating systems of mobile devices such as smartphones and tablets. In future, providers of operating systems for mobile devices must create a way to activate a youth protection function in the device settings in a simple and easily accessible way. The age set there is compared with the age rating in the app and the app can only be used on the device if it matches the set age. In order to improve law enforcement, especially in cross-border cases, the powers of the state media authorities are also being expanded.
The protection of children and young people on the internet must be improved. We cannot allow our youngest to be left defenseless in the digital space against the flood of disinformation and hate.
Prime Minister Winfried Kretschmann
The Prime Minister stressed: "The protection of children and young people on the Internet must be improved. We cannot allow our youngest to be left defenseless in the digital space to the flood of disinformation and hate. The announcements from the USA to reduce protective measures therefore give rise to fears of the worst. The figures for disinformation and insults on the Internet are dramatic. This makes us all the more in need of modern regulation, such as the one we are now tackling with the state treaty."
Further action
The state treaty package will now be forwarded to the state parliament of Baden-Württemberg . The signing of the state treaties by the Prime Minister is scheduled for March 2025. While the new financing model is to apply retroactively to January 1, 2025, the two other state treaties are scheduled to come into force in December 2025.
