Germany's attraction to streaming services like Netflix and Co. observed by Weimer
In a recent interview with the Rheinische Post, German Culture Minister Wolfram Weimer voiced his concerns about the current state of the German film industry, stating that it is under pressure and in existential distress. Weimer expressed his worry that the industry is producing too many films without adequately considering the audience.
Weimer's concerns about the industry's audience focus may not have been mentioned in earlier discussions, but they highlight the need for a shift in strategy to ensure the industry's sustainability. The federal government has pledged to create further incentives to strengthen the production of films and series in Germany, with the aim of enabling more investments in the sector.
Germany is increasingly being seen as a potential home for creative value creation, and Weimer's comments about the media industry are likely related to the competitive landscape created by digital platforms and streaming services. In particular, he mentioned the emergence of media monopolies of American origin in Germany.
Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, Apple TV+, and Disney+ have all shown significant interest in the German market. While the specifics of their investment plans are not yet known, these streaming services are likely to continue investing in local content to maintain their market presence and appeal to diverse audiences.
Weimer met with representatives from these streaming services to discuss potential investment opportunities. Although no concrete commitments were made during the meeting, Weimer suggested that the corporations consider investing in Germany beforehand. He also expressed a desire to attract talent to the country.
The exchange between Weimer and the media conglomerates was described as open and constructive, but Weimer did not speak of any commitments following the meeting. Weimer's comments about structural upheavals in the media industry due to digital platforms and streaming services, however, underscore the need for ongoing dialogue and collaboration between the government and the media industry to ensure a vibrant and sustainable future for German film and media.
[1] https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/international/international-news/germany-streaming-market-boom-1234992171/ [2] https://www.reuters.com/article/us-netflix-germany-idUSKBN29K25D [3] https://www.statista.com/statistics/1091519/amazon-prime-video-germany-users/
The federal government, in an effort to strengthen the production of films and series in Germany, plans to create further incentives for investments. These incentives may attract the interest of streaming service giants like Netflix,Amazon Prime Video, Apple TV+, and Disney+, whose investment plans in the German market remain unclear.
Weimer, in his meetings with representatives from these media conglomerates, suggested that they consider investing in Germany and also expressed a desire to attract talent to the country, highlighting the need for ongoing dialogue and collaboration between the government and the media industry to maintain a vibrant and sustainable German film and media industry.