The online mail order company Amazon has applied for a broadcasting license. The responsible Bavarian regional center for new media has confirmed corresponding media reports heise online. The process is currently still running.

First, the industry magazine teltarif reported on the Amazon application. According to the teltarif, the Munich-based German Amazon subsidiary submitted the application last November. It is about a TV program called “Prime Video Live”.

Amazon has not yet commented on the application for the broadcasting license, the Bavarian State Center for New Media has responded with reference to the current Procedure also not commented on the background to the process. It is unclear whether Amazon is planning a linear TV channel or just a streaming channel.

Champions League at Amazon It is possible that Amazon’s broadcast license is primarily about the Champions League: Amazon will hold from the season 2021 / 22 Rights to broadcast Tuesday evening games of the premier football league exclusively in Germany. A broadcast license may be required for such live broadcasts.

The usual on-demand offers from Amazon do not require authorization because they are not classified as broadcasting under the Interstate Media Treaty. However, Amazon already owned the rights for audio live streams and video transmissions of Bundesliga games. In addition, the mail order company on Amazon Prime Video works with the sports livestream provider DAZN, who has already 2019 received a broadcast license from the Berlin-Brandenburg media authority.

The State Media Treaty replaced the State Broadcasting Treaty on November 7th 2020. It softens the boundaries between the media forms: For example, the same rules now apply to live streamers on Internet platforms as to television.

(dahe)