ARTE: French-German Experiments in Crossing the Borders. \'One Media \xe2\x80\x93 Three Screens\' Convergence and Interactivity at its Full Potential?

Abstract

This contribution is aimed at discussing different current policies of convergence as well as\xc2\xa0questioning whether these exploit the opportunities of digital media to their full potential, especially with\xc2\xa0regard to transmedia storytelling, interactivity, participation and networking.Taking the portfolio of the \xe2\x80\x98European Culture Channel\xe2\x80\x99 ARTE as an example, I draw a sketch of existing and\xc2\xa0emerging industrial strategies as well as of new formats and user practices. In the second part of the article, I\xc2\xa0examine one specific genre within this context I look at the collaborative, networked transmedia documentary\xc2\xa0Prison Valley to consider transformations at both the macro and the micro level. Last but not least, I question\xc2\xa0whether ARTE fulfils its promise to be the first \xe2\x80\x9c100% bi-medial channel\xe2\x80\x9d (according to ARTE\xe2\x80\x99s mission\xc2\xa0statement), or whether it promotes an \xe2\x80\x98extended side-by-sideness\xe2\x80\x99 of devices and practices, which would\xc2\xa0constitute the first steps towards the synergetic potential of media convergence