The SPD completely needs to pressure streamers and broadcasters to put money into movies by regulation | EUROtoday

The Federal Cabinet has not but decided on the deliberate funding levy from streamers and broadcasters for German movies. The matter has been postponed till subsequent week. The State Secretary within the Federal Ministry of Finance, Björn Böhning (SPD), insists on a regulation. Minister of State for Culture Wolfram Weimer believes {that a} voluntary dedication is true. His idea states that “the main effects of a legal investment obligation” may also be achieved “through a voluntary commitment by market participants”, and this “more quickly, more efficiently and with less bureaucratic effort for administration and companies”.

Streamers and personal broadcasters have dedicated to investing not less than 1.83 billion euros by 2030. The cash might keep in Germany, whereas an EU regulation doesn’t permit any nationwide limits. The SPD, supported by a part of the movie business, rejects a voluntary dedication as a result of it isn’t “binding,” as Martin Rabanus, media coverage spokesman for the SPD parliamentary group, wrote to Weimer.

The Minister of State for Culture receives assist from the federal authorities, the CDU/CSU parliamentary group, the states and the movie business. Federal Minister of Economics Katherina Reiche (CDU) informed the FAZ: “The film and media industry is an important economic factor for our country. It creates added value, attracts investments and secures jobs in a highly dynamic industry. Every decision in this area has a direct impact on innovative strength and the attractiveness of the location. Voluntary commitments can open doors for investments without creating new bureaucracy that often nips projects in the bud. It is fundamentally good to achieve political goals even without legal intervention, because they are borne by those affected. Voluntary commitment seems to be suitable for this.”

Approval also comes from the media policy spokeswoman for the CDU parliamentary group, Ottilie Klein. For Nathanael Liminski, media minister and head of the state chancellery in North Rhine-Westphalia, one of the most important film production locations, “legal regulation is only the last resort.” He welcomes Weimer’s plan to “make rapidly implementable agreements with the business”. In conjunction with the increased funding from the federal government, there is a chance of triggering a boost in investment for Germany as a production location. What is crucial is that the promised investments come. If the desired effects are not achieved, the legislation would have to be tightened up, Liminski told the FAZ

Act as an alternative of speaking – that is what the Association of Film and Television Technical Companies (VTFF) calls for from federal politicians. The dialogue about saving Germany as a movie location should lead to concrete choices this yr, in any other case the state of affairs for technical and inventive service suppliers will proceed to worsen. What issues just isn’t whether or not there’s a voluntary dedication or a regulation. It is essential that the introduced manufacturing budgets attain all trades in Germany from January 2026. The Federal Ministry of Finance had introduced a rise in movie funding from 130 million euros to 250 million from January 1st, however linked this enhance to laws for larger investments in streaming platforms, personal and public broadcasters.