Radio Télévision Luxembourg (RTL) in its Role as a Transnational Programme Supplier (1955–1980)

Completed research project
Funded by the German Research Foundation (DFG)

This project aims to analyse and compare to what extent the Luxembourgian programme supplier and commercial company of RTL has contributed to the transformation of media cultures in the Federal Republic of Germany and France. In this way, the cultural and social, historically-formative transition from shortage to prosperity society experienced by both countries will be addressed. This process was not only closely connected to the dissemination of audio-visual media, but also significantly accelerated by them. According to the working hypothesis, RTL as a very successful, commercially-orientated supplier of radio programmes, which eluded direct national regulation efforts due to its location in Luxembourg, played a pioneering role in this process. Taking into account the three levels of strategy, programming and perceptions in the Federal Republic and France, it will be examined how the supplier advanced its radio programmes, and how politics, the media and society reacted to this. By scrutinising a major transnational player, the project paradigmatically seeks to provide a better understanding of the early transformation stage of media cultures up to the point of commercialised and liberalised public spheres in Europe.

Forschung

Projekte

Book cover of "Welle der Konsumgesellschaft?".

Stimulus of the Consumer Society?
Radio Luxembourg in France, 1945-1975

Completed PhD project

During the second half of the twentieth century, radio became the leading media in France. Even after the establishment of television in the 1960s, radio remained both an important source of information and a companion in daily life. This doctoral thesis is based on the hypothesis that the change in broadcasting was closely interwoven with the development of the surrounding consumer society.

Bookcover: Grenzenlose Unterhaltung. Radio Luxemburg in der Bundesrepublik 1957-1980 | Published in the ZZF publication series "Medien und Gesellschaftswandel im 20. Jahrhundert" (2021).

Radio Télévision Luxembourg (RTL) as a Transnational Programme Provider (1955–1980)

Katja Berg
Completed PhD project

With the aid of the Luxembourgian programme provider RTL, the contribution of this commercial enterprise to the transformation of media cultures in West Germany and France will be comparatively examined. The project surveys the transition from a society of shortage to a consumer society, which shaped social and cultural history and was experienced by both societies during this time.

Radio Télévision Luxembourg (RTL) in its Role as a Transnational Programme Supplier (1955–1980)

Completed research project
Funded by the German Research Foundation (DFG)

This project aims to analyse and compare to what extent the Luxembourgian programme supplier and commercial company of RTL has contributed to the transformation of media cultures in the Federal Republic of Germany and France. In this way, the cultural and social, historically-formative transition from shortage to prosperity society experienced by both countries will be addressed. This process was not only closely connected to the dissemination of audio-visual media, but also significantly accelerated by them. According to the working hypothesis, RTL as a very successful, commercially-orientated supplier of radio programmes, which eluded direct national regulation efforts due to its location in Luxembourg, played a pioneering role in this process. Taking into account the three levels of strategy, programming and perceptions in the Federal Republic and France, it will be examined how the supplier advanced its radio programmes, and how politics, the media and society reacted to this. By scrutinising a major transnational player, the project paradigmatically seeks to provide a better understanding of the early transformation stage of media cultures up to the point of commercialised and liberalised public spheres in Europe.

Forschung

Projekte

Book cover of "Welle der Konsumgesellschaft?".

Stimulus of the Consumer Society?
Radio Luxembourg in France, 1945-1975

Completed PhD project

During the second half of the twentieth century, radio became the leading media in France. Even after the establishment of television in the 1960s, radio remained both an important source of information and a companion in daily life. This doctoral thesis is based on the hypothesis that the change in broadcasting was closely interwoven with the development of the surrounding consumer society.

Bookcover: Grenzenlose Unterhaltung. Radio Luxemburg in der Bundesrepublik 1957-1980 | Published in the ZZF publication series "Medien und Gesellschaftswandel im 20. Jahrhundert" (2021).

Radio Télévision Luxembourg (RTL) as a Transnational Programme Provider (1955–1980)

Katja Berg
Completed PhD project

With the aid of the Luxembourgian programme provider RTL, the contribution of this commercial enterprise to the transformation of media cultures in West Germany and France will be comparatively examined. The project surveys the transition from a society of shortage to a consumer society, which shaped social and cultural history and was experienced by both societies during this time.