The German media authorities have published the list of TV and radio channels that will receive prioritised placement on smart TVs and user interfaces for easy discovery.
The so-called Public Value list contains channels and services which, in the view of the media regulators, make a particular contribution to the diversity of opinion and offerings in Germany. The list was determined in a process unique in Europe after a public tender.
The Public Value list includes public and commercial broadcasters, their catch-up services and apps, local and regional offerings as well as international channels such as BBC World News. Notably, some channels are missing, for example RTLup, VOXup, Nitro, Sat.1 Gold, Sat.1 emotions, ProSieben Maxx, ProSieben Fun, Kabel Eins Doku, Sixx, Tele 5, MTV and Disney Channel.
The media authorities also published a recommendation for the hierarchical order of the channels and services as a guideline for user interface providers. The public value list (in alphabetical order) and the recommendation for the ranking are available on the media authorities’ website at www.die-medienanstalten.de/public-value. According to the legislation, the prescriptions must be implemented on user interfaces within a period of six months.
“With the successful classification of public value offerings, the media authorities support diversity-promoting media players in their work. With the move, we are jointly making an important contribution to journalistic quality and against disinformation,” said Albrecht Bähr, head of the media authorities’ committee of chairs.
Dr Wolfgang Kreißig, chair of the conference of directors of the media authorities, added: “The structural safeguarding of diversity of opinion in the dual system by means of the criterion of easy accessibility of specific high-quality content is modern media regulation in the digital world. The federal media law has thus opened up the possibility of rewarding the creation of content that is particularly relevant to society and to improving its funding.”
