Mayors Are Fighting for Crime Novels from the East

The future of “Polizeiruf 110” and the Dresden “Tatort” episodes is sparking opposition: In a joint open letter, Magdeburg Mayor Simone Borris (independent) and Dresden Mayor Dirk Hilbert (FDP) are calling on MDR to reconsider the planned production moratorium and ensure the long-term future of the shows.

The city leaders emphasize the importance of the crime series for the visibility of eastern Germany. The shows bring stories and images of the region into millions of living rooms. A withdrawal from production sites in eastern Germany would weaken the new federal states’ media presence in public broadcasting, the letter states.

At the same time, the mayors point to the economic consequences. Film productions benefit the creative industries, technical service providers, skilled trades businesses, hotels, and the restaurant industry. The boost to the cities’ image is also considerable.

MDR Cites Cost-Cutting Necessities

In May, MDR announced that, due to financial cutbacks, it would suspend new productions for “Tatort” and “Polizeiruf 110” for an initial period of three years. The broadcaster cited what it saw as the lack of an increase in the broadcasting license fee and the resulting funding shortfall as the reason. Episodes that have already been produced or contractually agreed upon are not affected.