Observed Signal · Jun 25, 2026 · Policy Update · Source: DWDL · Impact: 4/5 · Sentiment: Positive
Germany raises merger thresholds, eases media cooperations
The German federal cabinet approved a draft for the 12th amendment to the Act against Restraints of Competition (GWB), raising turnover thresholds for merger control and introducing media-specific changes to ease cooperation. The existing cooperation allowance for newspaper and magazine publishers is extended to private broadcasters and public-service broadcasters, with cartel reviews to particularly consider strengthening positions in inter-media competition. Cooperations serving services of general economic interest would be exempt from the cartel prohibition, and rescue mergers in the press sector are facilitated. The Bundeskartellamt will have a faster procedure for private broadcaster cooperations to quickly create legal clarity. Industry group VAUNET welcomed the change but urged further adjustments, including lowering the broadcast multiplier in merger control from 8 to 4.
A government amendment to competition law that eases media cooperation and changes merger-control thresholds can materially affect media consolidation, publishers' ability to compete with dominant digital platforms, and how the Bundeskartellamt assesses broadcasting deals—impacting ad markets and industry structure.
Track Google Signals & Market Shifts in Real-Time
Polaris7 autonomous intelligence agents track regulatory filings, primary sources, executive changes, and deal flow 24/7. Create your free Explorer workspace to monitor these entities.
Key Takeaways & Evidence Grounding
- The German cabinet approved the draft of the 12th amendment to the Act against Restraints of Competition (GWB) on 2026-06-25.
- Turnover thresholds for merger control will be generally increased under the draft amendment.
- Cooperation privileges already available to newspaper and magazine publishers are extended to private broadcasters and made easier for public-service broadcasters.
- Cooperations that deliver services of general economic interest are to be exempted from the cartel prohibition under the draft.
- VAUNET welcomed the amendment but called for lowering the 'broadcast multiplier' in merger control from 8 to 4 and for broader enabling of cooperation with public broadcasters.
Connected Companies & Entities
3 Entities mapped“VAUNET pointed out that Google, Meta and Amazon now take half of all German net advertising investments, and 72 percent of in-stream video r...”
“VAUNET pointed out that Google, Meta and Amazon now take half of all German net advertising investments, and 72 percent of in-stream video r...”
“VAUNET pointed out that Google, Meta and Amazon now take half of all German net advertising investments, and 72 percent of in-stream video r...”
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.
Bavaria to Soften Planned BR Broadcasting Law Changes
The Bavarian state government said it will scale back several proposed changes to the Bayerisches Rundfunkgesetz after widespread criticism. Bavarian media minister Florian Herrmann told the BR supervisory council the BR Fernsehen should retain a 60% "information quota", but that the definition will also include culture and education. The government will remove the contested term "Gestaltungsziele" and replace it with wording forbidding the overall programme from serving a single party, group, interest or worldview. The adjustments respond to concerns about conflicts with the Medienstaatsvertrag and followed feedback from hearings; the final bill filing date for the Landtag is not yet known.
Industry Reacts to RTL-Sky Deutschland Deal
The EU Commission approved RTL’s takeover of Sky Deutschland without conditions, prompting reactions across the German media industry. VAUNET managing director Daniela Beaujean welcomed the decision as aligning with calls to strengthen European content providers versus dominant global streaming platforms and referenced the upcoming GWB legal revision. Bundeskartellamt President Andreas Mundt explained the case differed from previously blocked mergers and noted a market shift driven by growing online-advertising opportunities on streaming services. Pay-TV veteran Wolfram Winter compared the integration to earlier Premiere-era shifts and highlighted Sky’s expertise in CRM and ARPU as assets for competing with Netflix and other global players. ProSiebenSat.1 did not issue a statement; its CEO Marco Giordani has recently prioritized linear TV over streaming.
Track Real-Time Market Signals & Shifts
Set up custom watchlists to receive automated, evidence-grounded executive digests whenever material signals or shifts occur across your tracked landscape.