Kulturstaatsminister Wolfram Weimer, who sits as an independent, has reiterated his opposition to a statutory investment requirement for U.S. streaming platforms operating in Germany. In an interview with “Handelsblatt” (Wednesday edition) he warned that a law would create heavy bureaucracy and restrict companies that produce content locally.
Weimer also hinted at potential U.S. retaliation, noting that the U.S. Embassy keeps a close eye on the German film‑funding debate.
For weeks the Federal Chancellery and the Federal Ministry of Finance have been at odds over the future of film support. Finance Minister Lars Klingbeil (SPD) had attached €120 million in extra funding to a condition that major streaming giants-Netflix, Disney, and others-raise their German investment. Klingbeil intends to enforce this condition through legislation. Weimer rejects that approach and has instead negotiated voluntary pledges from the industry’s biggest players.
He cautioned that any law would only be enforceable under EU competition rules if it required investments to be made within the EU, and that legal challenges would likely arise. Public‑broadcasting networks have already warned that such a law would constitute an unacceptable intrusion into their programming freedom, and foreign streamers are similarly opposed, especially when regulations are too specific and stringent.
“We have a very good compromise that even senior SPD deputies support” the culture minister’s spokesperson said. Voluntary commitments will be monitored quickly, and if they are not honored, legislation will be introduced. Weimer trusts that ARD, ZDF, RTL, Pro Sieben and Netflix (among others) will keep their promises.