Deutsche TV-Plattform

Activities of the German TV-Platform
The activities of the German TV-Platform concentrate on two main tasks: the co-ordination of common interests of the digital media sector and informing the public about latest developments. Within the co-ordinating function of the association, the work is mainly accomplished by the different Working Groups (WG). The Working Groups are initiated by the General Assembly, and perform specific tasks assigned to them by the Board of Directors. Four Working Groups are currently active under the umbrella of the German TV-Platform:

WG 3D-HD-TV
WG Terrestrial
WG Digitalisation
WG Smart TV

The members of the German TV-Platform have the opportunity to actively participate in the Working Groups composed of interdisciplinary teams. The participants of the Working Groups co-operate in a constructive manner. They exchange information and discuss cross-sectoral market changes at an early stage, developing solutions and scenarios. These serve as a basis for technical, economic and political decisions of national bodies and institutions concerned. Current issues are dealt with in internal and/or public workshops. Both the Board of Directors and the Working Groups exchange regularly with political and regulatory bodies thus, in order to raise awareness of the regulators.

The second group of tasks of the German TV-Platform can best be described with the umbrella term public relations. Important elements of this work are to provide company-independent and technology-neutral information via the websites, to edit a periodical newsletter “TV Zukunft” and to publish press releases. Additionally, TV-Platform organises press conferences and background discussions appropriate to the occasion, and publishes positions papers and reports. The TV-Platform also participates actively in important meetings of the industrial branch, and organises public events.

One of the highlights is the annual Symposium of the German TV-Platform on current issues in media technology. The German TV-Platform has organised 18 symposia since 1991. The first symposium took place in Hamburg in April 1991 under the title “Aufbruch zu HDTV” [Branch heading to HDTV]. The last symposium was held in Mainz end of April 2009 and dealt with the issue “Television – Lifestyle – MyMedia. Media Use and Media Technology in Flux”. [Fernsehen – Lifestyle – MyMedia. Mediennutzung und Medientechnologie im Wandel]