How far apart the positions of the parties at the formation table are on the future of public broadcasting became clear on Thursday morning during the first media debate since the House of Representatives elections last November.
NSC was the only forming party that did not want to cut the 900 million euros that the government contributes to the NPO budget. However, there are ideas in the party about stopping the third channel, NPO3, in favor of other forms of distribution. “We also want to turn things upside down,” said Member of Parliament Nicolien van Vroonhoven (NSC). “But our commitment is not to make cuts.”
The PVV reiterated its wish to close down the NPO. Party member Martine van der Velde stated that she would be consistent in this: even if the radical right channel Ongehoord Nederland were to be more prominent, for example, the PVV maintains that media provision is not a task of the government. “The fact that in our view there is mainly a left-wing voice does not contribute to our opinion about the NPO, but that is separate from the fact that the system is outdated. That makes the NPO useless.”
The PVV has always been clear and extreme in its view of the NPO. Some positions of the PVV have been put 'on hold' by Geert Wilders for reasons of conflict with principles of the rule of law. But dealing with the NPO is not part of that. The party does not see any function of public broadcasting in protecting the rule of law, as advocated by the NPO board and many MPs.
NSC leader Pieter Omtzigt made it clear in the formation debate last month that the NPO is not an afterthought for him. It is reflected in the outline agreement that the parties are currently negotiating. “That seems clear to me.”
VVD wants efficiency gains
The VVD thinks that with efficiency improvements the NPO can make do with much less money. “Collaboration at the back, pluralism at the front,” in the words of faction member Claire Martens-America. In the long term, 400 million euros less would have to go to the NPO. Broadcasters should focus on the core: journalism, sports and culture. Entertainment seems to be given over to the commercial channels, something Joost Eerdmans' JA21 is also in favor of. BBB wants a new definition of what falls under the public task and wonders in which areas the NPO must compete with commercial channels and streaming services.
Outgoing State Secretary Fleur Gräper (D66, Culture & Media) noted that according to the Media Act there are six positions for member broadcasters and two task broadcasters (NOS and NTR). “But this is not working properly.” There are currently no fewer than eleven member broadcasters that must meet the criteria of six broadcasting agents (in which broadcasters can collaborate, such as AVROTROS). In her opinion, it is up to the House to think about what pluralism should look like, she said. “But efficiency should not be the only starting point.”
BBB, the smallest faction at the formation table, mainly wants to make a profit by converting the system of 'external pluralism' into a 'BBC model', in which the broadcasting associations would only serve as suppliers of TV programs. BBB MP Mona Keijzer called the Van Geel committee's advisory report, with recommendations for a future-proof broadcasting system, “old wine in old bottles”. She also asked the State Secretary to provide “building blocks” for a more radical transformation of the system. State Secretary Gräper promised this, although she will no longer experience the new Media Act that is required for this when a new cabinet takes office. Don Ceder (Christian Union) asked Keijzer for a little more restraint when it comes to political intervention in the design of the NPO. The BBB politician could do little with that. “Unfortunately, unfortunately, unfortunately we will have to make the Media Act.”
The wish in the House to no longer judge broadcasters on the basis of membership numbers was widely shared. This would require a costly marketing effort, at a time when people are less likely to join a broadcaster.
No cultural themes
It was the first debate of the Media & Culture committee. The discussion of cultural themes was removed from the agenda on Wednesday through an emergency procedure, to the annoyance of the CDA. According to Harmen Krul, “we are letting the sector down.”
NSC wants to ensure that political influence on the NPO gradually increases. Although the Media Act places the cabinet at a distance when it comes to appointments of broadcasting directors, according to Van Vroonhoven, the cabinet can exert influence through one article. If the Media Authority makes a decision, the State Secretary can torpedo it. NSC wants to delete this article. The party also wants to give the Consumer & Markets Authority “tools” to assess media mergers, such as between TV company RTL Nederland and the largest newspaper publisher DPG, not only on the basis of economic influence on market forces.
Also read
What will be left of the NPO if the forming parties are allowed to implement their drastic cuts?
Correction (April 12): in an earlier version, the State Secretary's maiden name was incorrect, namely Koolwijk instead of Van Koolwijk. In line with other publications, only Gräper was chosen.
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