‘Culture is at risk of disappearing from public broadcasting!’ Task force sounds the alarm

The cultural programming of public broadcasting is under severe pressure. Due to the announced budget cuts, dozens of radio and television titles will disappear from 2027 onwards, and channels such as NPO 2 Extra and NPO Soul & Jazz will be discontinued. There is less and less room for genres without direct commercial value – but with great public significance. The fact that cuts are being made first and the public system is only being reviewed afterwards increases the risk that short-term effects will take precedence.

The Cultural and Creative Sector Task Force, a partnership of more than a hundred industry and professional organisations, warns in a letter to the House of Representatives that this will result in more than just the loss of programmes. It strikes at the heart of a public duty: making culture visible. From music to architecture, from books to dance, from regional heritage to contemporary art. Expressions that stimulate the imagination, connect people, and allow us to look beyond our own bubble. Much of this finds no place on commercial channels and receives insufficient editorial coverage online. Public broadcasting should be the place for long-term development, artistic freedom and independent creativity – the basis for cultural programmes, documentaries, fiction and other content that is not driven by the market.

The consequences for viewers and listeners are significant. And broader than that: the creative chain of creators, producers and institutions is being hit hard as a result. “Those who undermine the foundations now will soon lose the ability to pass on culture, language and stories to new generations,” the letter states.

The Taskforce does not advocate preserving the old, but rather targeted renewal. In order to keep the public media task in the field of culture future-proof, they believe four conditions are crucial:

> Guaranteed space for culture across the board
> A visible and recognisable public platform for cultural programming
> Structural budget for culture as part of the public media remit across the board and a transitional budget until 2029
> Fair pay for creators and artists

“A strong public broadcaster is essential for a resilient democracy and a cultural landscape that is accessible to everyone,” says Jeroen Bartelse, chair of the Task Force. “Protect what is vulnerable so that it can continue to grow.”

Letter from the Task Force to the House of Representatives