SWR will not broadcast the parade: Wine Institute regrets the move

Cost-cutting measures - SWR will not broadcast the parade: Wine Institute regrets the move

In the context of comprehensive cost-saving measures, Southwest German Broadcasting (SWR) will not live broadcast the German Wine Festival Parade with tens of thousands of participants and spectators for the time being. "We are reducing, among other things, the effort for transmissions of public events that only take place annually and attract fewer and fewer viewers on television", said an SWR spokeswoman to the German Press Agency. "The broadcast of the parade cost us a significant five-figure amount last year. This amount will now be permanently cut from our budget."

However, the SWR will certainly report on the parade at the end of October in Neustadt on the Wine Road. "We are working on modern forms to better reach younger people with our mission of regional content", emphasized the spokeswoman.

As for the German Wine Queen election, the SWR has no plans for cuts for the time being. "We have invested significantly in the modernization of transmissions from the Congress Hall in Neustadt in the past two years", the spokeswoman added.

German Wine Institute: "It hurts"

The German Wine Institute (DWI) welcomed the decision regarding the German Wine Queen election but regretted the step concerning the Wine Festival Parade. "The decision of the SWR means that our sector lost in the competition with the Sender's topics in this individual decision", said a spokesman in Bodenheim to the German Press Agency. "It hurts, because the wine sector needs every support - also media -, as it is currently facing the most challenging transformation processes." Specifically, viticulture is a visually striking, identity-forming theme that holds people together in turbulent times.

The origins of the Wine Festival Parade can be traced back to 1909, when the first Winemaker's Parade marked the beginning of the wine festival season in the "Pearl of the Palatinate", emphasized the DWI spokesman. The parade helps present active winemakers and winemakers, as well as the representatives of the current vintage to the public. "The parade attracts up to 100,000 people annually."

Neustadt: "Talks will be held"

The administration of Neustadt on the Wine Road emphasized the significance of the parade for the German Wine Festival and the entire city. After internal talks with the SWR, the long-term partner has assured the recording of the parade in October, informed a spokeswoman of the commune in the Palatinate. "After the German Wine Festival, the responsible parties will hold talks on how the recording and transmission in 2025 and in the following years can be designed."

The SWR has announced that, due to budget and cost pressure in its TV program, it plans to sell several real estate properties and make cuts in administration, production, infrastructure, and programming. As the publicly-funded ARD broadcaster announced at the beginning of the week, roughly 280 million Euro - or around 70 million Euro per year - are expected to be saved in the next four years.

1. Southwest Broadcasting (SWR) has decided to stop live broadcasting the German Wine Festival Parade due to cost-cutting measures, as stated by an SWR spokeswoman to the German Press Agency.
2. The SWR will still cover the German Wine Festival Parade at the end of October in Neustadt an der Weinstraße, focusing on modern ways to appeal to younger audiences.
3. Regarding the German Wine Queen election, SWR has no immediate plans for budget cuts, having invested significantly in modernizing their transmissions from Neustadt.
4. The German Wine Institute (DWI) supports the decision for the Wine Queen election but regrets the parade's exclusion, as it's a valuable opportunity for the wine sector.
5. Neustadt on the Wine Road acknowledges the parade's importance and is working with SWR to ensure its future recording and transmission during the German Wine Festival.
6. SWR is planning to save money by selling real estate properties and making cuts in administration, production, infrastructure, and programming, as part of their four-year cost-saving plan.
7. The wine festival in Neustadt (dosse) in Rhineland-Palatinate attracts up to 100,000 people every year, showcasing active winemakers and winemakers and the representatives of the current vintage to the public.

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