Cologne, Germany -- Peter Frey has been named the new editor-in-chief at German public broadcaster ZDF following a nomination process plagued by internal drama and political scandal.
Frey was not the first candidate for the job. The contract for ZDF's current editor-in-chief, Nikolaus Brender, was up for renewal. Brender had the support of the network's director and a majority of its rank-and-file.
But Roland Koch, a right-wing politician and governor of the state of Hessen, where ZDF has its corporate headquarters, blocked the move. Using his influence with other conservative political appointees on ZDF's executive board, Koch was able to prevent Bender from receiving the two-thirds majority of votes he need to renew his contract.
Koch has been accused of trying to silence free speech and exert political control over the country's tax-financed broadcasting system. One opposition politician has dubbed him "Roland Berlusconi" comparing Koch's move to the...
Frey was not the first candidate for the job. The contract for ZDF's current editor-in-chief, Nikolaus Brender, was up for renewal. Brender had the support of the network's director and a majority of its rank-and-file.
But Roland Koch, a right-wing politician and governor of the state of Hessen, where ZDF has its corporate headquarters, blocked the move. Using his influence with other conservative political appointees on ZDF's executive board, Koch was able to prevent Bender from receiving the two-thirds majority of votes he need to renew his contract.
Koch has been accused of trying to silence free speech and exert political control over the country's tax-financed broadcasting system. One opposition politician has dubbed him "Roland Berlusconi" comparing Koch's move to the...
- 12/11/2009
- by By Scott Roxborough
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
COLOGNE, Germany -- Germany's public broadcasters have pulled the plug on live coverage of the Tour de France after yet another doping scandal at cycling's premiere event.
In an unprecedented move, public channels ARD and ZDF on Wednesday canceled live coverage of the Tour. In its place, the channels aired a special one-hour report on doping in sports before returning to regular, nonsports programming.
German cycling fans aren't being completely cut off -- niche cable channel Eurosport will continue to air live coverage -- but the move is certain to be a major blow to the Tour's ratings in Germany and therefore to its sponsors.
The decision to drop the Tour de France came after cyclist Patrik Sinkewitz, who rides for Germany's T-Mobile team, tested positive for a banned supplement.
ZDF editor in chief Nikolaus Brender said the move was "a yellow card for the Tour," referring to the warning card a soccer referee waves at a player after calling a foul.
In an unprecedented move, public channels ARD and ZDF on Wednesday canceled live coverage of the Tour. In its place, the channels aired a special one-hour report on doping in sports before returning to regular, nonsports programming.
German cycling fans aren't being completely cut off -- niche cable channel Eurosport will continue to air live coverage -- but the move is certain to be a major blow to the Tour's ratings in Germany and therefore to its sponsors.
The decision to drop the Tour de France came after cyclist Patrik Sinkewitz, who rides for Germany's T-Mobile team, tested positive for a banned supplement.
ZDF editor in chief Nikolaus Brender said the move was "a yellow card for the Tour," referring to the warning card a soccer referee waves at a player after calling a foul.
- 7/19/2007
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
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