Article 42 of the German Basic Law states that, ‘Sittings of the Bundestag shall be public.’ Yet only a few people can actually be present in the plenary chamber when Members meet in Berlin.

That is why the German Bundestag decided to create an additional information medium, Parliamentary Television, a step taken in 1999 when parliament moved from Bonn, the former federal capital, to Berlin.

The channel broadcasts every plenary debate live, as well as the full proceedings of public committee meetings and hearings, all without comment. Apart from this, Parliamentary Television produces reports on the work of the German Bundestag, as well as interviews and discussion shows.

Up-to-date information, for instance about the agenda and the order in which speakers are to be called, is provided as video text for television viewers who receive Parliamentary Television via broadband, via cable or as an encrypted satellite channel. Viewers who are watching the channel live on the Internet or mobile on mobile telephones and smartphones have direct access to this additional information on the Bundestag’s website or at m.bundestag.de.

The Video Archive

The Video Archive contains programmes broadcast by Parliamentary Television during the period between 2002 and October 2009. These include coverage of public committee meetings and hearings, talks arranged by the Academic Forum of the German Bundestag, significant events in the Bundestag and studio-based programmes about the work of parliament.

Programmes that have been transmitted since October 2009 are available in the Media Library.