Ext. 2731 - European University Institute

EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT
SOCIALIST GROUP
LUXEMBOURG· CENTRE EUROPEEN, PLATEAU DU KIRCHBERG· Tel. 47711 and 472797 . P.O. BOX 1601
PE/GS/202/77
Luxembourg. 13 October 1977
NOTE FOR THE MEMBERS OF THE SOCIAL! ST GROUP
Subject: The Socialist Group's Working Party on the Press - visit to
RTL'sGerman-language broadcasting service in Luxembourg
At 11 a.m. on 13 October 1977 the Working Party on the Press visited the
German-language broadcasting service of RTL. The working party was represented
by its chairman. Horst Seefeld. and Willy Dondelinger. RTL's representative
was Mr Steinbauer. administrative head of the German-language programme.
Horst Seefeld outlined the reasons why the Socialist Group's Working
Party on the Press was seeking contacts with the media in the various meeting
places of the European Parliament and drew attention to the plans for direct
elections. The substance of the discussion can be summarized as follows:
The German-language programme has 6 million listeners daily. mainly in
the 30 to 60 age-group. In the 19605 RTL broadcast only music but. for some
time. the station has been building up its own news service. News bulletins
last for approximately three to five minutes and are supplemented by informally
presented reports on current events.
The German-language programme has a staff of 50 and is financed out of
advertising revenue.
News bulletins arc unlikely to be a suitable means of pUblicising topics
of European interest. 1\ possible forum for discussion on current affairs
might be the 'Mr Morning' programme. which is broadcast from 8.30 a.m. to
10.30 a.m. To discuss an increase in the German-language programme's coverage
of European affairs a further meeting is to be arranged with RTL's corres­
pondent in Bonn, Mr Muller-Gerbes and with the editor. Mr Overdick.
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