ARD The First
Munich (ots)
The German producer landscape is subject to profound changes due to digitization and globalization. In addition, there are exorbitant cost increases, a significant shortage of skilled workers and the consequences of the pandemic.
ARD film director Karola Wille:
“In this time of change, high-performing producers are a crucial guarantee for fulfilling our social mission with diverse productions and the demand for excellence. We see the challenges and sometimes existential concerns of the creative industries, are aware of our responsibility for the creative industries and strengthen them with a bundle of measures.”
- ARD supports federal and state film funding agencies with EUR 50 million annually
In the interest of strengthening and developing German cinema films, ARD continues to voluntarily support the Filmförderungsanstalt (FFA) beyond its legal obligations with funds for film funding measures and joint productions as well as media services.
Around 50 million euros flow annually from the broadcasting contributions that the state broadcasting corporations receive to the federal and state film funding bodies.
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However, in order to work side by side with ARD to keep German cinema films attractive to the public and to make them fit for the future, a far-reaching reorganization of film funding is required, in particular the exploitation cascade. In FreeTV and FreeVOD, there is a need for more flexible and earlier exploitation options in order to ensure that the cinema film is attractive and up-to-date in the public service offering. Prerequisites must be created that provide incentives for free TV broadcasters and PayVoD providers alike to invest in cinema films at an early stage. However, the current regulation in the Film Funding Act leads to a structural disadvantage for free TV broadcasters. The ARD will therefore be intensively involved in the reform process.
- In challenging times, ARD relies on calculation realism
Calculation realism is more important now than ever. The ARD has laid down this principle in its self-commitment “ARD key points for balanced contractual conditions and a fair distribution of exploitation rights in productions for the genres fiction, entertainment and documentation”.
Thomas Schreiber, Managing Director of ARD Degeto:
“Degeto lives the calculation realism. In addition to the extension of the Corona aid measures, it is particularly important to us that we provide the productions with sufficient and fair financial resources in times of high cost increases and a shortage of skilled workers in accordance with the regulations of the key issues paper on calculation realism. To ensure the future viability of the producers and producers through fair production conditions, ARD Degeto has increased its average budget for the productions accordingly. In order to make this possible with an unchanged overall budget for Degeto, we have reduced the number of commissioned film productions by five productions for 2023.”
The ARD key issues paper can be found here: Key issues paper of the ARD 2021 (daserste.de)
- Layer model of the ARD more important than ever
With the layer model, ARD has relied on the fair distribution of exploitation rights for several years. If the station’s funds are not sufficient to cover the full production costs, the producers can decide to purchase rights in exchange for a share of the financing, which they can then exploit on the market.
The layer model quantifies the value of rights in “corridors” and, thanks to its flexibility, corresponds to the requirements of the different genres as well as the dynamics of the TV market. Broadcasters and producers can thus create a fair distribution of exploitation rights with regard to the specific production. This model is unique to date and has proven itself in practice. It is currently being evaluated together with the German producer associations.
Details on the ARD layer model and a comprehensive guide can be found in the “ARD key points for balanced contractual conditions and a fair distribution of exploitation rights in productions for the genres fiction, entertainment and documentation”.
The current ARD voluntary commitment applies from 01/2021 to 12/2024.
LINK to ARD key issues paper Key issues paper of the ARD 2021 (daserste.de)
- With the extension of the ARD rescue package, ARD is standing by the side of German producers even after the pandemic situation
The directors of the ARD state broadcasters and ARD Degeto have extended the voluntary corona aid measures for producers until the end of 2023. This includes both the “ARD rescue package” to cover corona-related additional costs in the event of damage as well as the assumption of hygiene costs to enable productions.
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Original content from: ARD Das Erste, transmitted by news aktuell
