AfD on culture and media

The AfD makes a total overhaul of public broadcasting the condition for Baden-Württemberg staying in the Medienstaatsvertrag (interstate media treaty). Public broadcasting would shrink by at least 90 percent and the license fee would go. If the other states do not agree within 100 days, the state would withdraw.

The AfD wants to make public TV and radio much smaller. They should mostly inform and teach. The AfD wants to end the broadcasting fee. The other states should agree within 100 days. If not, the AfD wants to quit the broadcasting treaty.

The demands are a cut of at least 90 percent and a focus on basic provision of information, education and culture. The license fee would be replaced by funding from levies on media products. Members of the broadcasting councils would be elected directly by the people. The fifteen other states would have 100 days from the start of the government to agree bindingly; otherwise the premier would declare withdrawal and pursue a separate broadcasting model for the state. The platform accuses the broadcasters of bias and of paying their executives too much.

The AfD wants to review state funding of culture, which it often regards as ideologically motivated. At the same time, community cultural associations are to receive financial help. State-funded theaters are to remain neutral in party politics.

The AfD wants to check how culture is funded. It says the money is often given for political reasons. Small cultural clubs should get more help. Theaters with state money should not support any party.

In the program's view, culture serves to preserve identity; the party rejects an arbitrary multiculturalism while welcoming inspiration from around the world. Private engagement and private money are to get more support. Funding applications are to be simple enough for volunteers in small clubs to handle. Citizens are to have more say in commissions for art in public spaces.

The AfD wants Baden-Württemberg to immediately withdraw from the interstate treaty that governs the public broadcaster SWR. Public broadcasting would in future be paid for only by those who choose to pay.

SWR is a public broadcaster. A treaty sets its rules. The AfD wants to cancel this treaty right away. Only people who want to pay should pay for public broadcasting.

The platform calls for two steps. First, the state should withdraw from the SWR treaty without delay. Second, public broadcasting should move to a model in which payment is voluntary.

The AfD wants a fundamental reform of film funding in Baden-Württemberg. In its view, the state-owned agency MFG funds politically one-sided projects. If reform proves impossible, the MFG should be dissolved.

The state gives money for films. The AfD says this money goes to politically one-sided films. It wants to change the funding a lot. If that fails, the funding agency MFG should close.

According to the platform, the Medien- und Filmgesellschaft Baden-Württemberg (MFG) hands out about 18 million euros a year. The AfD accuses it of financing left-leaning content that reaches into public broadcasting. In future, economic criteria should carry more weight. Politically independent experts should decide on grants. If reform fails, the MFG should be dissolved.