A lucrative deal between the state and Bertelsmann, a secret agreement and the comment function under RTL articles, what does it mean? A service for the public.

It is September 2018, Luxembourg is in the middle of an exciting election campaign. And yet Prime Minister and Minister of Media Xavier Bettel still manages to find his way to Gütersloh, where he is embraced by Bertelsmann heiress Liz Mohn and Bertelsmann and RTL Group CEO Thomas Rabe. What was it about?

Was the visit supposed to be a gesture of solidarity from Europe’s largest media group, a small support for his friend and election campaigner Xavier Bettel? Or was it about discussing a spectacular deal around the company „Majorel“ and thereby giving Xavier Bettel arguments to refute the impending criticism of the staff reductions of RTL Group in Luxembourg? Or was it about something much more important and essential? About the comment function on rtl.lu?!

Since Luxembourg is fortunately not a serious democracy, Xavier Bettel was able to single-handedly, in the middle of the election campaign and without discussion in parliament, simply sign a supplementary agreement with Bertelsmann to the convention between the state and CLT-UFA. CLT-UFA is a Bertelsmann subsidiary and the company behind RTL Luxembourg. The agreement itself remained secret, of course. Xavier Bettel nevertheless had his ministry declare the positive news.

„As part of Prime Minister Xavier Bettel’s visit to Gütersloh, an extension of the concession agreement between RTL Group and the Luxembourg government was also signed. This addition to the existing agreement, which renewed the public programming mandate for radio and television in Luxembourg for the period 2021 to 2023, will be extended to RTL Luxembourg’s digital platforms.“ (Source: Communiqué Service Media 05.09.2018)

Of course, no one in this country could do anything with that information. The CSV wanted to return to power and with that, their ability to think critically had already been put away in a drawer as a precaution. Sven Clement no longer wants to be dragged to court over another secret agreement. The press houses were so busy with their own downfall that they didn’t notice how, in passing and without announcement, a „Service Publics“ internet site had been launched. Even though it was in direct competition with all their own sites. The fact that TV, radio and internet were being mixed even more at RTL and that RTL could manipulate its finances even better: It didn’t interest anyone.

Years later, however, what was actually signed in Gütersloh became indirectly public. Fortunately, Xavier Bettel had remained Minister of Media and his Chief of Staff and former CLT-UFA employee had found a way to transfer a lot more money to CLT-UFA. They were no longer in the throes of an election campaign, but in power and could now openly admit everything. In the new convention, namely the one from 2024-2030, there is a small chapter entitled „Engagements relatifs aux missions de service public des plateformes digitales exploitées par CLT-UFA“. This is probably at least partly the text that was in the secret agreement of 2018. It is about elevating the site rtl.lu to the stage of a „Public Service“. What does this have to do with the RTL user comments, you ask?

In the agreement, the state obliges RTL.lu to provide, among other things, the following essential functions: „forums, chats, blogs and comment sections allowing users to enter into dialogue with CLT-UFA and to provide comments and other content, in connection with the content“. You may now be wondering where the chats, blogs and other opportunities with which you could enter into dialogue with RTL are. Where is the large and transparent exchange to which RTL.lu has committed itself. Where is the „Public Service“ that rtl.lu ensures for society, in order to, erm… strengthen democracy and give a voice to unheard voices?

But it has always been right under your nose. You just didn’t recognize it. Yes, exactly, the user comment function on RTL.lu is part of the „Public Service“! It is an institution, a kind of cultural heritage - and we should simply be grateful that in this most beautiful form of citizen participation, we are receiving the recognition that Xavier Bettel fought for in Güterloh.

The following list of comments was downloaded from the site rtl.lu and anonymized. Enjoy your service Public.