Commission to examine the equality of competition between the press, radio / television and film

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The commission investigating the playing field of the press, radio / television and film , after its chairman Elmar Michel also called "Michel-Commission", was in December 1964 by the German Bundestag convened commission , which was to investigate the alleged predatory pricing to the detriment of the press.

History of origin

In the early 1960s criticized newspaper publishers, including Axel Springer and, initially, Rudolf Augstein , the public television because in their opinion, the cause of the crisis in the German daily press was. The BDZV demanded an appropriate participation of the publishers in television . Furthermore, he wanted to remove the distortion of competition he saw between the private press and public broadcasting. Therefore, in the summer of 1963, the plan was developed to set up a commission of inquiry to clarify the competitive situation. As a result, on December 14, 1963, a seven-member commission was constituted, which is known as the "Michel Commission" after its chairman (Elmar Michel).

Investigation results

On September 27, 1967, the Commission presented the results of its investigation to the public. The conclusion was that there would be no distortion of competition between the press and public service broadcasting, which at that time still had a monopoly position. The idea of ​​publisher television was rejected. Competition in the newspaper market was seen as more relevant.

literature

  • Dussel, Konrad: German daily press in the 19th and 20th centuries, Münster 2004.
  • Kain, Florian: Private television, Axel Springer Verlag and the German press. The Media Policy Debate in the Sixties. Munster 2003.
  • Melchert, Florian: Freedom of expression in danger? The Media Policy Debate in the Federal Republic of Germany from the TV Controversy to the Anti-Springer Campaign (1961–1969), Bochum 2003.
  • Pürer, Heinz / Raabe, Johannes: Press in Germany, Konstanz 2007.
  • Tonnemacher, Jan: Communication Policy in Germany, Konstanz 2003.