The German association of private broadcasters VPRT has threatened to go to the European Court if public broadcasters ARD and ZDF continue to expand their digital offers. According to chairman Jürgen Doetz the planned activities of the public broadcasters are unlawful.
Doetz says the plans are in conflict with a recent agreement between the European Commission and the German states with regard to the extent to which public broadcasters are allowed to invest in digital ventures. The new media plans include making newscasts available on mobile TV, on-demand online services as well as ARD’s plan to turn Eins Extra into an all-news channel. The VPRT finds all of these plans unacceptable.