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GEZ fees are set to rise sharply - an ARD media library is already subject to a fee

2023-03-29T12:13:26.011Z


Learning from Netflix and Amazon Prime: The ARD probably thought so too and launched their own paid streaming service...


Learning from Netflix and Amazon Prime: The ARD probably thought so too and launched their own paid streaming service...

Berlin - The media libraries of ARD and ZDF are popular, even if many are annoyed that series and films are often only available for a short time.

But the offers are free of charge.

However, not all!

With the ARD Plus platform, the public broadcasters have a streaming offer that is strongly reminiscent of Netflix and Co and costs money every month!

At the same time, there are plans to increase the broadcasting fee, formerly known as GEZ, from around 18 euros to a maximum of 25 euros per month.

For EUR 4.99 per month, ARD Plus subscribers have "a large selection of content that is no longer available in the ARD media library" from "70 years of ARD TV history, which is otherwise only available as a download or on DVD", available, the site says.

There are a lot of older crime scene episodes, seven seasons of "In All Friendship - The Young Doctors" or the classic film Lola Run.

So many things that you can certainly watch freely on television, also on ARD, ZDF and the third channels.

ARD Plus costs money: Why is it chargeable?

So why charge?

"In addition to the media state treaty, the broadcast-specific rights situation also plays a role in whether and for how long content can be offered in the ARD media library - here, for example, image, music and license rights are relevant.

Because the acquisition of rights often costs money - and the amount of the costs also depends on the period of time," says ARD on tagesschau.de.

At the start of the autumn, the ARD was forced to publish a lengthy article explaining this because of heavy criticism on the Internet.

There is now sharp criticism not only in social media, but also from politics, especially because of the plans to increase fees.

The parliamentary managing director of the CSU in the Bundestag Stefan Müller (CSU) sees the offer critically, says to Merkur.de from IPPEN.MEDIA: “It is not the task of the ARD to compete with other streaming providers.

The income that is generated from films that are already paid for with broadcasting fees must reduce the broadcasting fee.”

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© Jan Woitas / dpa

CSU politician attacks ARD and ZDF for GEZ plans: "Reduce broadcasting fee"

But the public broadcasters are not thinking of reducing the broadcasting fee.

On the contrary.

By the end of April, they have to report to the Commission for Determining the Financial Needs of Broadcasters (KEF) how much money they need.

A report by "Business Insider" on Friday said that the ARD directors had agreed on a proposal.

The ARD wants to register an "uncovered financing requirement" in the single-digit billions with the KEF.

That makes it necessary to increase the broadcasting fee from the current EUR 18.36 per month to more than EUR 20.

If it gets really expensive, it could even rise to 25.19 euros per month.

GEZ: There is a threat of an increase in fees – despite ARD Plus

What happens to the income from the ARD streaming platform?

On the page to which the ARD press office refers after a Merkur request, it says: “As a voluntary additional offer, no funds from the broadcasting fee are made available for ARD Plus.

Just as with the sale of DVDs or content to external VoD platforms, editorial and technical costs have to be covered.

In addition, rights are acquired and producers and authors are remunerated for additional uses.”

According to the press office, the number of subscribers to the public streaming service is not publicly disclosed.

List of rubrics: © Jan Woitas / dpa

Source: merkur

All news articles on 2023-03-29

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