A levy for online platsforms that use media content is considered.
With its coalition agreement the two parties - CDU/CSU and SDP - commit to strengthen media diversity and ensuring freedom of expression. Support for public and private broadcasting is expressed as well as support for continued terrestrial broadcasting in the UHF band (470–694 MHz).
Independent and diverse media ensure free public debate. Within the dual media system, we advocate for both pluralistic public broadcasting and fair regulatory and funding conditions for private media. (text continued below)
We refrain from imposing additional advertising restrictions. We are examining the introduction of a levy for online platforms that use media content. The proceeds should benefit the media location. In the interest of providing comprehensive journalistic content, we are creating legal certainty with a view to non-profit status.
We want a more intensive discourse on media and strengthen relevant institutions to achieve this. We will discuss the challenges of newspaper delivery with publishers. Competition law must be further developed at all levels and integrated with the state media concentration laws, including to examine mergers between media companies and providers of media-relevant infrastructure.
Cooperation in public broadcasting should become the norm following the current state reforms. Therefore, we are creating an exception to competition law, and cooperation between private media companies should also be facilitated. We protect terrestrial broadcasting as critical infrastructure. The UHF band is also available to media and cultural services; the balance with security requirements is currently being evaluated.
The new government with Friedrich Merz (CDU) as the new chancellor will be sworn in May 6, 2025.
The Coalition Agreement 2025 (Full text)