AKS is a company according to German law started in 1984 by a group of publishing companies together with representatives of the directors group of the German Stage Association and a group of producers of the "new German film". The objective and purpose of AKS is to produce "cultural multiplicity in German language countries in the new media" and "to enable the participation of smaller independent, culture-oriented program producers". Of special relevance for AKS is the "publishers principle" of program production, the principle of independence as practiced by the print media. AKS has an advisory board to watch over the basic principles. Members of the advisory board include former state secretary Günter Gaus, Dr. Burkhard Hirsch and Hans Abich.