Observed Signal · Oct 21, 2026 · Policy Update · Source: DWDL · Impact: 4/5 · Sentiment: Negative
German Media Houses Demand Fair Rules for Platforms and AI
At the Medientage München, a panel organized by VAUNET brought together representatives from politics, public broadcasting, private TV, and publishing. They expressed shared concerns about the growing power of platforms and AI providers over content access and monetization. Key demands included fairer regulatory frameworks, better discoverability of journalistic content, and measures against the unauthorized use of content by AI. Stefan Hilscher of BDZV criticized Meta's upcoming Commercial Terms, calling the planned use of publisher content 'a theft at the highest level'. ARD's Susanne Pfab highlighted a 'double gatekeeper position' of platforms and AI, stressing the need for cooperation and fair compensation.
High importance as it signals unified German media industry pressure for platform and AI regulation, potentially impacting ad tech and content monetization.
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Key Takeaways & Evidence Grounding
- At Medientage München, German media representatives demanded fair rules for platforms and AI.
- VAUNET organized a panel with leaders from ARD, BDZV, and politics.
- Stefan Hilscher (BDZV) criticized Meta's upcoming Commercial Terms as 'theft'.
- ARD's Susanne Pfab called for cooperation and fair compensation for content in AI responses.
- The event took place on 21.10.2026.
Connected Companies & Entities
3 Entities mapped“Claus Grewenig is VAUNET chairman and media policy chief at RTL.”
“ARD Secretary-General Susanne Pfab spoke about cooperation and content monetization.”
“Meta's planned Commercial Terms changes were criticized as allowing use of publisher content.”
Ontology Mapping & Concepts
Related Market Signals & Shifts
Recent verified developments and strategic activity across this market segment.
VAUNET Criticizes German Media Policy Implementation
At its annual get-together in Berlin, German private media association VAUNET celebrated but also criticized the political landscape. Chairman Claus Grewenig highlighted a 'grave implementation problem' in digital regulation, noting that 72% of digital ad revenues go to global Big Tech platforms. He criticized new legislative burdens instead of relief for private media, advocated for eased media merger rules, and urged faster implementation of the Digitale-Medien-Staatsvertrag (DMStV). Rhineland-Palatinate State Secretary Torsten Welling, who coordinates the Rundfunkkommission, defended the DMStV draft as a 'media policy masterpiece' aiming to create fair rules and address media concentration in the digital age. The event also saw a debate between Grewenig and Welling on platform regulation versus deregulation of private media.
Munich Media Days: Industry's Big Challenges Discussed
The 40th Medientage München conference, held from October 21-23, 2026, brings together media, politics, and business leaders to address key industry challenges: AI's impact, platform dominance, and journalism's future. BLM President Thorsten Schmiege and Medien.Bayern CEO Stefan Sutor highlight concerns over digital sovereignty, declining journalistic visibility on social platforms (e.g., only ~1% on TikTok feeds), and funding shifts. The event features panels on TV, audio, and AI, with over 5,000 attendees. A proposed Digitaler Medien-Staatsvertrag aims to enhance discoverability of journalistic content in recommendation systems, possibly via quotas (10-20% per BLM study). Debates also cover the legal status of podcasters, AI transparency rules, and potential digital levies on large platforms to support media diversity.
BLM President Cautious on Digital Tax for Platforms
Thorsten Schmiege, President of the Bavarian media authority BLM and current Chairman of the DLM, expressed skepticism about the proposed digital tax ('Digitalabgabe') for large platforms like Google and Meta, stating it is 'in a dead end.' In an exclusive interview with MEEDIA, he emphasized that the core issue is the lack of digital sovereignty and unequal liability rules. He calls for a graded liability system and a diversity obligation for platforms, arguing that transparency alone is insufficient. Schmiege also highlighted the risk of smaller publishers being disadvantaged by exclusive deals between platforms and major media houses, and discussed the impact of AI on media regulation, including the BLM's AI competence center and the world's first AI radio approval.
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