Media Study - Medija centar Beograd

In cases where commercial media in Austria can apply for a local frequency, strict conditions to the programming
are set by the national broadcasting councils.
In Germany, the regulatory body of the regions or “Länder” defines the public service obligations for local
broadcasting. Usually, these obligations regard welfare, local economy, local social issues and local politics. In
Germany, analogue local radio broadcasts may only be disseminated by associations of civil society individuals.
There must be a minimum of 8 individuals from various groups in civil society, including the county assembly,
churches, trade unions, employers’ associations, youth and sports associations, charity, consumer protection
associations etc. The regulatory body grants the permission for the specific programming formula and the
dissemination area so that only one station broadcasts within a specific geographical area.
Local radio must serve the public interest and in general must ensure plurality of opinion. Associations of
stakeholders can produce a framework program for more than one distribution area. Programs must be scheduled
for at least 8 hours a day and government bodies must be given air time for official announcements. An operating
company is responsible for the technical transmission but must not exercise any editorial influence. Thus, almost
each large administrative district has its own radio. They have an extensive network which broadcasts when the
individual stations do not broadcast their own productions.
Local TV
and Radio
Commercial/non-commercial
Denmark Local TV is noncommercial
Germany Non-commercial
radios
Austria Mixture of
commercial and
non-commercial
broadcasters
Sources:
http://www.rtr.at/de/ffat/Fernsehfonds
http://www.radionetz.at/
Print media
Own or shared
frequency
Shared frequency
within each region
Only one radio station
given permission in
each area but can be
on shared frequency
Own frequency, in
several cases shared
frequency within each
region (radios)
Public support Legalities
Grants can be given
from the Broadcasting
Council depending on
percentage of local
production
13,5 mil € per year for
support of TV
production and
1 mil. € per year for
non-commercial
private radios from RTR
– national regulatory
body (incl. local
broadcasters)
Typical local civil society
associations. Also nonprofit
associations may
broadcast in several
regions
Radios are associations
and often in networks
with other local radios
Mixture of private
companies and local civil
society nonprofit
associations.
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