Christine Strobl zum Unterhaltungsangebot der ARD | Medientage München

I am Christine Strobl, I work at ARD and there primarily for Das Erste and the ARD Mediathek.

I think the decisive thing is the encounters, conversations, hearing how others are doing, learning from each other, exchanging ideas. And it's wonderful that we can do this in person again. I think that's what I'm most looking forward to, and that will also be the lasting impression.

Netflix, actually just recently, last week or the week before. They do some things really well. But I always like to look at others anyway; I've never claimed we do everything best. You can learn a lot by looking at the world and trends. What fascinates me is the trend toward documentaries, and that plays into our hands because we can pick up on that too. But we also need to change in terms of production methods and storytelling for documentary content. And I think we have already learned and implemented quite a bit from private providers, both in documentary and fiction. There are flagship projects like Babylon Berlin that can go international.

Yes, I am clearly for the latter. I think we will always want to keep up internationally, but that will lead to more cooperation and becoming more international. We need to orient ourselves towards international trends. And that will only work if we concentrate and do a bit less, but then do it really big. I believe that's one of the things to survive in the world and in the competition.

Entertainment is an offering we absolutely need to reach all people. My goal is, and I think we all should have, that we shouldn't make an elite program. We should be able to offer programs for everyone. Entertainment plays a decisive role in that. I think it's also very German to discuss this. I can convey much more through entertainment than through a pure news piece sometimes; it's easier and more accessible. Besides, people are also meant to enjoy themselves. Social cohesion works not only through conflict but also through shared laughter and tears. Emotional appeal is damn important. Therefore, entertainment is not just because the mandate requires it, but out of deep conviction a very important component.

I think it's very important that we think more about combining investigative topics with entertainment. In comedy, like Carolin Kebekus, Extra 3, we already have that, but we can expand that color because we can reach different target groups. But I also believe in classic big entertainment, like 'Klein gegen Groß' or similar. Trends are also reflected in our quiz formats on Das Erste. But I also focus on bringing seriousness and journalistic topics into entertainment, and for the Mediathek, for younger audiences, with different faces. That's probably the biggest trend, it will be very face-related.

We have never gone about buying away a lot. If we're honest, we are strong when we build people up, let them develop. I think in recent years, people have been bought away from us. Clearly there are limits; we've known that for a long time. But I believe we have the strength to use people who are good in one program area—like someone like Zamperoni or Alexander Bommes, who come from sports or entertainment—in other areas too. We have so many possibilities that we shouldn't be afraid.

I think that's the crucial point. We are in a crisis now, that's true. But here at Medientage you can feel it: the world is raging around us—war, crises. And we have the chance in Germany to report freely. We have a well-funded public broadcasting system. But that is only the foundation. The responsibility to make something of it is ours. And we should do that.