Tom Weidig. Photo: GilPe (CC BY-SA 4.0) | Hannergrond: Tristan Schmurr

Tom Weidig, a member of the right-wing ADR faction in the Chamber of Deputies, has taken a public stand on the debate over RTL subsidies for the first time. He is now positioning himself as a defender of RTL and state subsidies: a shock to his followers, who are commenting by dozens. However, it is a completely consistent decision.

As the only representative of parliament on the RTL „Follow-up Commission“, which examines compliance with the concession agreement between RTL and the state, Tom Weidig has exclusive insights. Files that the government and RTL have so far kept secret are on the ADR MP’s table. Tom Weidig’s statements and views are therefore decisive for a functioning control and the ADR has recently put itself in a favorable position. In this powerful position, Tom Weidig now has a problem: If he criticizes RTL’s financial tricks, he risks that Luxembourg will get a public television in the future. And that must be prevented.

RTL and the identity of the country

Petition No. 3001 by ADR Nord treasurer Carlo Kirsch, in which he calls for a stop to subsidies for RTL, is „against our party line,“ said Tom Weidig in a post on Facebook. And Weidig was, exceptionally, right: RTL1 also reported at the time how hypocritical the petition is. There is obvious confusion in the party: What are you for now, and what exactly did you want to stir up more?

With the vote on the RTL financing law in May 2022, Tom Weidig tries to explain to his party colleagues, the ADR has taken a position in favor of state support for the private media monopolist. The Wort reported on this post yesterday, and asking within the ADR ranks only leaves the surface of the disagreement.

In the comments to the post, Tom Weidig partially addresses the discussion. He sees „no alternative“ to RTL TV. In his view, the only other option, a „TV 100komma7“, as he calls the creation of a public television station, must be prevented. The ADR therefore sees itself as a pro-RTL party. As with other far-right parties, it is not the commercial private media that pose a threat, but the public media that are committed to democracy. Although the ADR wants to have more influence on the content of RTL’s programming in its program, the party and the broadcaster seem to get along well with each other, with a few exceptions, as we have already shown here on the site. Tom Weidig even goes so far as to say about the Bertelsmann subsidiary „Without RTL we would lose a lot of our identity“ and RTL would „do a lot for our language“.

Screenshot: Facebook

Can a far-right RTL fan control RTL?

The most explosive thing about the discussion: At the moment, apart from the Ministry of Media, only Tom Weidig can really control RTL. He alone has access to the important documents that the government and RTL have withheld from the public until now. By 31.01. this year at the latest, RTL must have submitted the next audit of its finances for 2023. Based on this audit, it is decided to again finance millions to RTL. Basically, Tom Weidig is obliged to intervene.

It is up to Tom Weidig to investigate why all the companies and structures around RTL Tv Luxembourg, e.g. the Advertising Directorate IP and the technology and broadcasting company BCE, but also RTL Radio Luxembourg and RTL NewMedia (Online) make millions in profits - but it is precisely at RTL TV that the million-dollar hole is practically created, which the state then has to fill. Tom Weidig must unravel what RTL has deliberately and maximally non-transparently welded together: the mixing of content, personnel and material between RTL Radio, TV and online. Where are the advertising revenues that run on the Internet with TV contributions accounted for? Who pays the staff who work for both TV and radio? The ADR deputy must exert pressure, demand evidence and properly get involved in the case.

But his Facebook comments show that he is practically eating out of RTL’s hand and repeating the spin of RTL management - combined with ridiculous comparisons.

Screenshot: Facebook

Tom Weidig also knows that RTL might not survive a financial scandal. And that then the public television feared by the right-wing radicals could emerge. The question is therefore: Does Tom Weidig even want to properly control RTL?