ANPThe NPO logo on the Mediapark in Hilversum
NOS Nieuws•vandaag, 15:26
If it were up to the Public Broadcasting Advisory Board, the Dutch Public Broadcasting (NPO) may consist of a maximum of six broadcasting associations. The council investigated the future of public broadcasting on behalf of the cabinet.
The maximum number of broadcasters is one of the recommendations that can be read in the Unity in Versatility report. It was handed over today to State Secretary Gunay Uslu of Culture and Media.
Furthermore, the advisory board, led by former politician Pieter van Geel (CDA), says that the government should interfere less with public broadcasting. Broadcasters must also meet stricter conditions and be assessed on criteria such as recognisability and added value in society.
Carrier broadcasters
There are now nine member broadcasters, but that number should be reduced to six “supporting broadcasters”. These broadcasters must, just like now, have 150,000 paying members. That number will be maintained to prevent fragmentation in the public system.
“Other broadcasters can join as ‘editorial broadcasters’ without management responsibility,” Van Geel writes. These editorial broadcasters will then fall under the supporting broadcasters.
According to the advisory board, no changes are necessary for the two task broadcasters NOS and NTR, without paying members but each with their own specific task stated in the Media Act.
