Funk (service)

{{Infobox website

| name = Funk

| logo = Funk-Logo-2023.svg

| logo_size = 150px

| logo_alt =

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| screenshot_alt = ghhxt

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| type = Video on demand

| foundation =

| predecessor =

| location = Mainz

| country = Germany

| area_served = Germany

| founder =

| CEO =

| key_people = Florian Hager, Sophie Burkhardt

| services = Streaming service

| revenue =

| operating_income =

| parent = {{Plainlist|

}}

| owner =

| url = {{Official URL}}

| alexa =

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| users =

| language = German

| current_status = Active

| launch_date = {{Start date|2016|10|01|df=y}}

}}

Funk is a German video-on-demand service, operated by the public broadcasters ARD and ZDF. SWR, a regional ARD member, is responsible for the service.{{cite web |url=https://www.funk.net/impressum |title=Impressum of funk |work=funk.net |publisher=funk |access-date=February 6, 2021 |language=de |archive-date=January 15, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210115135515/https://www.funk.net/impressum |url-status=live }} Funk describes itself as a "content network". The target group is people between the age of 14 and 29.{{cite web|title=Das ist funk|trans-title=We are funk|url=https://presse.funk.net/das-ist-funk/|access-date=2021-08-04|work=funk.net|date=8 March 2021|publisher=funk|language=de, en|archive-date=2024-05-19|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240519164609/https://presse.funk.net/das-ist-funk/|url-status=live}}

History

The director of SWR, Peter Boudgoust, advocated for a public service offer for the target audience in 2011.{{Cite web|date=June 10, 2011|title=SWR-Intendant Boudgoust wiedergewählt|url=https://www.haz.de/Nachrichten/Medien-TV/Uebersicht/SWR-Intendant-Boudgoust-wiedergewaehlt|access-date=February 6, 2021|work=Hannoversche Allgemeinen Zeitung|language=de|archive-date=June 21, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200621200603/https://www.haz.de/Nachrichten/Medien-TV/Uebersicht/SWR-Intendant-Boudgoust-wiedergewaehlt|url-status=dead}} On 27 November 2012, SWR expressed a wish to merge EinsPlus with ZDFkultur. The new station created by this merger would be produced jointly by ARD and ZDF and primarily target a young audience.{{cite web|date=November 28, 2011|title=ARD will neuen Jugendkanal schaffen – EinsPlus soll wegfallen|url=https://www.digitalfernsehen.de/news/medien-news/maerkte/ard-will-neuen-jugendkanal-schaffen-einsplus-soll-wegfallen-408669/|access-date=February 6, 2021|website=DIGITAL FERNSEHEN|publisher=Auerbach Verlag und Infodienste GmbH|language=de|archive-date=April 11, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210411101638/https://www.digitalfernsehen.de/news/medien-news/maerkte/ard-will-neuen-jugendkanal-schaffen-einsplus-soll-wegfallen-408669/|url-status=live}} ZDF expressed caution, pointing out that this would require a decision by politicians. However, ZDF had already made a similar statement in advance and did not rule out, for example, a discontinuation of ZDFkultur in favor of a joint youth channel.

About

Funk is aimed at people between the ages of 14 and 29, who rarely access the traditional media used for public broadcasting. Two thirds of the project's funding is provided by ARD and one third by ZDF.{{Cite web |url=https://www.digitalfernsehen.de/news/medien-news/maerkte/jugendkanal-von-ard-und-zdf-laenderchefs-stimmen-zu-425229/ |title=Jugendkanal von ARD und ZDF: Länderchefs stimmen zu |website=DIGITAL FERNSEHEN |publisher=Auerbach Verlag und Infodienste GmbH |date=December 4, 2015 |access-date=February 6, 2021 |language=de |archive-date=May 13, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210513005046/https://www.digitalfernsehen.de/news/medien-news/maerkte/jugendkanal-von-ard-und-zdf-laenderchefs-stimmen-zu-425229/ |url-status=live }}

Funk produces over 70 programs for social media platforms, such as YouTube, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, TikTok, Spotify, Snapchat, and the funk.net web app, as well as publishing browser games such as Bundesfighter II Turbo. These are distributed on their own channels or accounts. The programs focus on information and entertainment.{{cite web|title=Transparenz|trans-title=Transparency|url=https://www.funk.net/transparenz|access-date=February 6, 2021|work=funk.net|publisher=funk|language=de|archive-date=April 13, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210413174626/https://www.funk.net/transparenz|url-status=live}} In addition, some series are distributed under license, sometimes in their original English versions. Programs are produced by various private production companies, the company's own production companies or by the broadcasters themselves.

The funk network is subject to the Interstate Broadcasting Agreement. This includes a review of all broadcasts at least every six months.{{Cite web |last=Müller |first=Martin |url=https://www.spiegel.de/kultur/gesellschaft/funk-mehrere-formate-werden-beim-jugendnetzwerk-eingestellt-a-1302379.html |title=Jugendnetzwerk funk streicht Vorzeigeprojekte |website=Der Spiegel |publisher=DER SPIEGEL GmbH & Co. KG |date=December 20, 2019 |access-date=February 6, 2021 |language=de |archive-date=December 22, 2019 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20191222143430/https://www.spiegel.de/kultur/gesellschaft/funk-mehrere-formate-werden-beim-jugendnetzwerk-eingestellt-a-1302379.html |url-status=live }}