In the debate on inclusion, accessibility plays a crucial role. The topic of accessibility has long established itself as part of the work of die Medienanstalten. Regular monitoring of the offerings, informative data on media usage, and communication…

Campus radio, open channels, non-commercial local radio – all these media have one thing in common: they are produced by amateurs – but frequently with great professionalism.

Harmonisation of media policy on the European level started in October 1989 with the Directive on Transfrontier Television (TwF) which was revised in 1997, forming the legal basis for commercial television in Europe. The European Convention on…

Conventional television is still considered to be the leading medium and is particularly important in shaping public opinion. It is therefore subject to supervision by the state media authorities as is the medium of radio. But just like with radio,…

Online social networks, instant messaging services, search engines and video portals: these so-called digital intermediaries have become key elements of people's communication and information behaviour. As such, they are receiving increased attention…

The task of protecting minors consists of evaluating media content for any potential harmful effects it might have and regulating how such content becomes available to the public. This helps ensure that children receive minimal exposure to influences…

Media literacy is the ability to understand media, to use them reasonably and to evaluate the risks involved. What does WhatsApp do with my data? Am I allowed to simply share photos I took of my friends on Facebook? And is my smart TV playing “Big…

Using the Internet to stream video and audio involves large amounts of data. This raises the issue of whether Internet service providers (ISPs) must treat all data the same way or whether they may discriminate between various types of content; it’s a…

The purpose of platform regulation is to ensure diversity of the content offered on media platforms. As this is an area of great importance to forming public opinion, platform regulation covers a range of matters – from findability to accessibility.

The Media Authorities supervise the broadcasting programmes that they have licensed, as well as audiovisual content available online in compliance with the requirements given by media-related legislation. In particular, they check whether the content…

Even in times of digitisation and media convergence, radio belongs to the most-used media in Germany. Listeners place high trust in radio, it offers a diverse range of programmes, and it convinces advertising clients with its wide reach.

A major focus of the media authorities in each state is the promotion of variety in privately owned television and radio, both in terms of the range of content and services offered and in the number of providers themselves.

Private television and radio broadcasters are financed primarily by advertising. The same goes for successful content providers on social networks like YouTube, Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat, and Twitter. Content providers often collaborate with…

In order to broadcast programmes on television or radio, private broadcasters must obtain licensing from the proper legal authorities, regardless of whether the programme is broadcast via antenna, cable, satellite, or the Internet.