Germany's AfD Win Threatens Public Broadcasting, MDR Exit Possible
The far-right AfD party won the Saxony-Anhalt state election with 43.8% of the vote but fell short of a majority, preventing an immediate unilateral exit from the MDR public broadcaster. However, talks with the BSW party could enable a future state withdrawal via changes to broadcasting treaties, potentially starting in 2029. Such a move would devastate regional journalism and public service media in the state. Meanwhile, Google is reportedly in talks with major Hollywood studios to license film archives and characters for AI training, potentially reshaping copyright and media monetization. The ARD media library will premiere new 'Tatort' episodes on Fridays, requiring registration, to convert anonymous reach into registered, returning users. France invests €500 million in audiovisual industry, positioning itself against Big Tech.
- •AfD wins Saxony-Anhalt election with 43.8% but lacks majority.
- •Google in talks with Disney, Universal, Warner Bros. for AI content licensing.
- •ARD Mediathek to offer early 'Tatort' episodes requiring registration.
