Funk started three years ago - a public law online content network for 14 to 29 year olds from ARD and ZDF. The makers certify that there is "still room for improvement", although according to a study the target group is doing quite well. But currently the setting of three YouTube formats is causing a stir. More than 70 channels are currently available - just as many rows have been stamped out by the makers since funk was founded. One of the most recent deletion candidates is "100percentme", a channel that focuses on young people with disabilities. "Quantitative and qualitative" targets had not been met, which is why the format would be discontinued at the end of the year.
Specifically, it was probably about metrics for the number of subscribers to YouTube but also factors such as the distribution of certain stories among influencers who are important in the target group. The channel was produced by the "Vice" magazine for young people. The subject area is hardly present in the general media landscape, which is why the start of "100percentme" in April 2019 also received public attention.
Users find harsh words about hiring. So it says in the comments on YouTube that the radio contribution should also finance formats "that do not have as much coverage, but are of social, political or other important importance". At funk it is said that the decision was not made easy. But it is important to the network "to treat all channels equally". In the future, people are trying to "integrate better and more naturally" with disabilities. Funk does not reveal exactly how. After all, you subtitle a large part of the funk content professionally.
Comparatively little research journalism
The channel "Softie" should also be discontinued, in the funk self-description "the home of the queer feminist community on the Internet." According to a funk spokeswoman, the topics that would have made this channel successful would also be taken up in other funk formats. This also consists, above all, of short-term content - classic research journalism, which is at least a cornerstone of the ARD and ZDF program, does relatively little. The funk program also consists primarily of short-term content - classic research journalism, which is a cornerstone of the ARD and ZDF program mandate, is relatively rare.
Nevertheless, "hunter-gatherer" should also fall victim to the deletion. This is an information format that is produced together with the editorial staff of the ZDF program "Frontal 21".
One of the reasons for the attitude: "Hunter & Collector" owes its reach to a large extent to Facebook. But the Facebook users are obviously too old. "The platform became generally too old for our target group," said the funk spokeswoman. In the future, they want to break new ground in the design of investigative formats and have already planned personnel and budget.
The fee-financed radio network is subject to the strict regulations of the Interstate Broadcasting Treaty. It has to stay young because the target group is firmly defined as the 14 to 29 year olds. This includes a fixed review of all formats in the form of discussions with the producers, which take place at least every six months. The annual budget for radio from the broadcasting contribution is around 45 million euros. A third of these come from ZDF and two thirds from ARD. The content is available on YouTube, Facebook, Snapchat, TikTok and Instagram as well as on the funk website.