Bundestag holds first reading of German streaming investment bill, refers it to committee
The Bundestag debated the MedienInvestVG for the first time on 24 September and referred it to its committees, with the Committee for Culture and Media leading. A public hearing has been reported for 14 October.
What this basis means: Regulatory filing, government body, court or industry association.
The Bundestag held the first reading of the government's Mediendienste-Investitionsverpflichtungs-Gesetz (MedienInvestVG, reference 21/7820) on 24 September 2026. The bill was referred to the committees for further deliberation, with the Committee for Culture and Media as lead committee. One speech, by David Schliesing (Die Linke), was submitted in writing for the record.
The bill would require domestic and foreign audiovisual media services to invest 8% of annual net turnover in European and German productions, with the Federal Film Board (FFA) monitoring compliance and able to levy a compensatory charge of 75% on shortfalls.
Trade outlet THE SPOT (Blickpunkt:Film) reported that CSU member Anja Weisgerber said the coalition would examine the rules in detail and amend them where necessary, in response to comments from the European Commission and legal opinions, and that SPD member Martin Rabanus said the bill could be completed in late autumn. The outlet also reported that the culture committee has scheduled a public hearing for 14 October 2026.
Tracked instrument MedienInvestVG (federal investment obligation for audiovisual services), draft
Sources
- Mediendienste-Investitionsverpflichtungs-Gesetz debattiert (opens in a new tab) Deutscher Bundestag
- "Wir werden gegebenenfalls nachbessern": Das MedienInvestVG im Bundestag (opens in a new tab) THE SPOT (Blickpunkt:Film)