re:publica 25: ARD and ZDF want to stand up to big tech and global streamers

For ARD and ZDF, the streaming OS announced last year and already implemented in parts since March, especially for the second channel, is an important building block for more independence from large internet companies from the USA and thus for digital sovereignty. Matthias Hölscher, head of the strategic distribution network at ZDF, described the initiative on Monday at the re:publica internet conference in Berlin as a good way to “fight back” against Big Tech and the “globally active streamers”.

In addition to a streaming player, the joint technical foundation of the public broadcasters should include the login system including user data, a recommendation system and core design elements. The aim is not to build a “huge platform” from the outset for all potential partners, including those from the European Broadcasting Union (EBU), explained the head of ARD Online, Benjamin Fischer. Instead, users would receive a “personalized feed” from all participants. Anyone who has subscribed to podcasts or news programs, for example, can find them all again through this continuous content overview. However, ARD will initially continue to have two separate apps for the media library and the audio library, as the latter is often used in the car and is tailored to this.

“We have outsourced to American big tech platforms” such as Apple, Google with YouTube, Meta, or Netflix for too long, Fischer agrees with Hölscher on the direction of travel. “We need to bring that back.” To increase opportunities for dialog and participation, ARD and ZDF are relying on the international Public Spaces Incubator project. This also aims to create a digital space for constructive exchange. The first step is to re-establish viewer loyalty and strengthen their platforms, emphasized Fischer. The next question is how the ecosystem can be opened up to third parties such as content creators or institutions. Compatibility with decentralized social media platforms such as Fediverse, which links Mastodon, PeerTube and other services, is also being examined.

Nucleus for a European network

Public broadcasters are in direct competition with social media, video and streaming platforms, Hölscher explained. They were all fighting for consumers' limited time for media consumption. However, direct competition with Instagram, Facebook, X & Co. would go to the limits of the mandate of the fee-financed broadcasters. This does not include the requirement to build a social network. Although an expert opinion raises the question of an alternative offer and counterbalance here too, its implementation would also have something to do with resources.

According to Hölscher, ARD and ZDF want to offer users a “digital home” with Streaming OS and return a publicly funded technology to society. The name not only stands for Operating System, but also for Open Source. If, for example, a theater today has the idea of putting a trailer on its website, it would have to rely on third-party platforms such as YouTube. In the future, such an institution could use “our player”. This would make us “more independent of the big tech companies”. The streaming platform also relies on “transparent public algorithms” in the form of in-house developments for its feed and recommendation system. Netflix would give interested parties the bird if they asked about these program routines.

Ideally, ARD and ZDF would also develop the joint technical system under the hood with Deutschlandradio, explained Fischer. The approach is to always think in terms of Europe and to initially include the German-language content of Arte, for example. The plan is to move towards multilingualism and to reflect “the entire diversity of Europe”. Hölscher spoke of a “nucleus for a European network”. There are also talks with ORF, for example, which is already involved in principle via 3sat. A “large content cosmos” is to be created from independent online presences. Further functionalities are to be activated on Friday.

(dmk)