Outrage Over Planned 3sat and Arte Merger: IMZ Calls it a Fatal Move

The upcoming German Conference of Minister Presidents on October 23 will discuss a new state treaty on public broadcasting, including a controversial plan to merge the cultural channels 3sat and Arte.

This proposal has sparked widespread protest, with nearly 150,000 signatures on an online petition and opposition from cultural organizations like the German Journalists' Association and the German Cultural Council.

The International Music Center (IMZ) in Vienna also condemned the merger, warning it would reduce cultural offerings from the DACH region (Germany, Austria, Switzerland). While the IMZ supports the Europeanization of Arte to strengthen Europe's cultural identity, it argues that 3sat and Arte fulfill distinct roles: Arte promotes a pan-European cultural exchange, while 3sat preserves transnational cultural programming from German-speaking countries.

Prominent artists, including Anne-Sophie Mutter and Daniel Hope, have also voiced their support for keeping 3sat independent.