Overview

• Major U.S. platforms including Netflix, Amazon Prime, Apple+ and Disney+ expressed willingness to increase investments in German films and series following the July 23 summit.
• Culture Minister Wolfram Weimer said the federal government will roll out additional tax incentives and funding measures to bolster Germany’s production landscape.
• Discussions continue on whether to impose binding investment obligations or a digital levy on streaming services under the 2021 coalition agreement, with no rules yet enacted.
• Weimer encouraged platforms to consider direct equity stakes in local facilities such as the restructuring Bavaria Filmstudios to deepen their involvement.
• Media commentators are calling for mandatory quotas akin to France’s rule requiring platforms to invest at least 20 percent of their local revenues in national productions.