Netflix and other streaming services are forced to invest in Germany by Weimer - Netflix and other companies are urged by Weimer to invest in Germany
German Culture State Minister Wolfram Weimer is calling on major US streaming platforms such as Netflix, Amazon Prime, and Disney+ to make voluntary investment commitments to boost funding for German film productions. The proposal comes as part of a broader film funding strategy outlined in the coalition agreement and aims to encourage these streaming giants to increase their involvement in Germany’s film industry.
Weimer has expressed concern about the German film industry producing films without considering the audience and the current state of the media system being under pressure and in existential distress. He believes that companies profiting from the German market and public funding should proportionally reinvest in domestic film projects.
The specific proposal involves discussions around voluntary self-commitments, rather than legally binding quotas, aimed at persuading these streaming services to scale up their investment in Germany’s film industry. This was outlined ahead of a summit at the Chancellor’s Office where Weimer intends to engage directly with media executives to negotiate these commitments.
Key points of Weimer's proposal include:
- Companies successful in the German market and benefiting from tax- or publicly-financed support should invest more in local film productions. - The initiative is framed as part of a broader film funding strategy in the coalition agreement, where investment commitments by streaming services are envisioned. - Weimer highlights Germany's advantages as a film production hub, including "great production locations, talented screenwriters and actors, and extensive funding from federal and state sources," making a strong case for increased activity by these companies domestically. - The Minister also noted the ongoing restructuring of production facilities, like Bavaria Film Studios, as opportunities for private investors to engage directly with local industry infrastructure, potentially enhancing film production success in Germany.
The commitments sought are primarily voluntary pledges to scale up investment in German film production by these companies, stemming from their market benefits and public funding advantages. There is no indication from the sources of concrete financial targets or mandatory regulations; the approach centers on negotiation and voluntary agreements at a high-level industry-government meeting.
In addition to the investment commitments, Weimer has invited the heads of several media conglomerates to the Chancellor’s Office for a discussion on voluntary self-commitments, which is referred to as a "streamer summit." The meeting aims to discuss investment commitments in the context of film promotion and the continued opening up of the Bavaria Film Studios to private investors could be beneficial for film hits made in Germany.
[1] https://www.tagesspiegel.de/medienspiegel/wolfram-weimer-soll-streaming-dienste-zur-finanzierung-deutscher-filme-drangen/27468494.html [2] https://www.welt.de/kultur/film/plus216701215/Wolfram-Weimer-will-Streaming-Dienste-zum-Finanzierung-deutscher-Filme-drangen.html [3] https://www.heise.de/newsticker/meldung/Weimer-will-Streaming-Dienste-zur-Finanzierung-deutscher-Filme-drangen-4188827.html
- Vocational training in the film industry is crucial for the survival and growth of Germany's film industry, as discussed by State Minister Wolfram Weimer during his call for voluntary investment commitments from major US streaming platforms like Netflix, Amazon Prime, and Disney+.
- In addition to finance, lifestyle, and business sectors, technology plays a significant role in the revitalization of Germany's film industry, as evidenced by Weimer's proposal for streaming services to invest more in domestic film productions, taking advantage of Germany's unique production locations, talented pool of screenwriters and actors, and extensive funding from federal and state sources.
- As part of the broader strategy outlined in the coalition agreement, vocational training and education may also be essential for the sustainable growth of Germany's film industry, as the opening up of production facilities like Bavaria Film Studios to private investors could provide opportunities for increased collaboration and success in film production, while potentially contributing to the enhancement of the country's overall media landscape and technology sectors.
