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HAMBURG (dpa-AFX) – The director of West German Broadcasting (WDR), Tom Buhrow, has spoken out in favor of a major broadcasting reform and a new social contract for public broadcasters. “My firm impression is that Germany doesn’t seem to want us to the same extent in ten years – nor to want to finance it as it does today,” said the 64-year-old on Wednesday evening in front of the Übersee-Club in Hamburg, which regularly has high-ranking representatives business, politics and culture. The “Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung” (Thursday edition) published the speech.
The director, who expressly did not speak in his capacity as the current ARD chairman, but spoke for himself, suggested key points for the reform. “Firstly, we have to break out of the previous system of state chancellery here and broadcaster there. Secondly, we need a round table to work out a new social contract. A kind of constituent assembly for our new, non-profit broadcasting.” Thirdly, there should be no taboos or bans on thinking at this round table. Buhrow also spoke of reliability and security for at least one generation.
