German authorities raid P7S1, RTL

Germany’s Federal Cartel Office searched the offices of German broadcasters ProSiebenSat.1 and RTL yesterday morning.

The precise reasons for the raids were not immediately clear, but German press reports suggest they centred on concerns around the encryption of hitherto free-to-air programmes by the broadcasters with a view to charging a subscription to view them.

RTL confirmed its German offices had been searched and issued a statement that said the Cartel Office “has been conducting investigations in the area of program distribution”.