BERLIN (dpa-AFX) - Immediately after the announcement of the date of the new Bundestag elections, the first television stations have announced their plans for election campaign coverage.

RTL and ntv are planning three TV debates on a single evening. "In three consecutive rounds, two candidates for chancellor or top candidates from the SPD, CDU/CSU, Bündnis 90/Die Grünen, FDP, AfD and BSW will each face the questions that move the country. Initial talks with the parties are now underway," announced the two broadcasters from the same TV family. No date has yet been set.

The Managing Director of RTL News and ntv, Martin Gradl, said: "Early elections and unclear majorities require new approaches in TV election campaigns. There are too many perspectives and possibilities for a classic TV duel, which is supposed to offer people real added value for their election decision."

ProSieben and Sat.1 are obviously also planning new concepts. Its network had "already invited the major parties to new duel constellations in early fall," said ProSiebenSat.1 editor-in-chief Sven Pietsch. "We have renewed this invitation to the CDU/CSU, SPD, Bündnis90/Die Grünen and the AfD in recent days. We are in constructive talks."

It was announced on Tuesday that a new Bundestag is to be elected on February 23. After the collapse of the traffic light coalition, the SPD and CDU/CSU had agreed to aim for this date. The date has also been agreed with the Greens as the SPD's junior partner in the red-green minority government.

First, Chancellor Olaf Scholz (SPD) will face a vote of confidence in the Bundestag on December 16. If, as expected, Scholz does not receive a majority, the election date will be formally proposed by the cabinet to Federal President Frank-Walter Steinmeier, who will then decide./bok/DP/mis