The proposed investment obligation for streaming services remains a contentious issue within the German film industry. The submissions made to the hearing held by the Bundestag’s Culture Committee on 14 October reveal a clear divide: Whilst production associations are calling for mandatory investment and a stronger position for independent producers, private media providers reject the draft bill in its current form. The main points of contention are the level of the quotas, the distribution of rights and the question of how Germany’s position as a production hub can be strengthened in the long term.

The Production Alliance, PROG, AG DOK and the German Film Academy support the investment obligation in principle. They see it as a means of encouraging large media companies to play a greater role in the financing of German productions. At the same time, they warn against further watering down the proposed investment quotas of eight and twelve per cent respectively. Independent producers must also retain rights to their works and be able to benefit financially from their long-term exploitation.

VAUNET, however, considers the proposed requirements to be disproportionate. The Association of Private Media organisations criticises the combination of mandatory investment, minimum quotas and restrictions on the deduction of expenditure. It warns of additional costs and legal risks and calls instead for tax incentives that are competitive on an international level.

The Association of Technical Services for Film and Television (VTFF) is also calling for a reliable regulatory framework. It is calling for higher investment quotas and greater recognition of technical service providers and production services actually carried out in Germany. It also advocates a tax incentive for production that is secured in the long term.

At its core, this is not just about the obligation to invest, but also about how such investments are structured and who benefits economically from them. The submissions make it clear that media providers, producers and technical operators continue to have differing expectations of the law.