Bill on the reform of national public service broadcasting open for public consultation online

A strong public service broadcaster that is ready for the future. That is the aim of the bill to reform and modernise public service broadcasting, which Minister Letschert (Education, Culture and Science) is launching for public consultation online today. Now that big tech, with its enormous reach and financial clout, is increasingly determining what the Dutch see, hear and share, an independent, visible and accessible public service broadcaster is more important than ever.

That is why there is a change of direction. The current eleven broadcasting associations are to be replaced by four strong broadcasting organisations. The public service broadcasters NOS and NTR will be merged into a single organisation under the name NOS. The current membership model will also be abolished, and the size of the membership base will no longer determine which broadcasters join or leave. This will create a public service broadcaster that is less fragmented, collaborates more effectively and is better able to reach everyone in the Netherlands with a reliable, independent and diverse range of media content.

Minister Letschert: „Public service broadcasting is there to provide reliable information, independent journalism and programmes that showcase the diversity of the Netherlands. I want to safeguard that role for the future, and that requires much-needed change. With less administrative red tape and more shared responsibility, public service broadcasting can focus on producing high-quality programmes, strong journalism and digital innovation.’’

The media landscape has undergone radical change. Big Tech and artificial intelligence are increasingly determining what people see, hear and read. The use of algorithms means you are increasingly exposed to the same content, which reduces the visibility of different perspectives. A strong public service broadcaster is vital to the democratic rule of law. Access to reliable information and scope for different perspectives form an important foundation for this.

Key aspects of the reform of public service broadcasting

1. A permanent slot for broadcasters replaces the membership scheme

• The current system, which dates back to the last century, is in need of reform. The bill provides public service broadcasters with a new structure that includes a permanent role for broadcasting organisations and offers greater continuity and security for staff. The system of admission and withdrawal based on membership numbers will be abolished.
• This enables public service broadcasters to respond more quickly to developments in society. The four broadcasters are jointly responsible for providing a range of programmes that give a voice to new perspectives and viewpoints.

2. Four broadcasting organisations with a clear structure

• Four broadcasting organisations are to be established, into which the eleven broadcasting associations can be merged. The public service broadcasters NTR and NOS will continue to operate together under the name NOS. Each broadcasting organisation will be responsible for its media content, employ its own staff and function as a single entity.
• The four broadcasters and the NOS are jointly responsible for the media provision that serves the whole of society. They coordinate their activities so that they complement rather than overlap.
• Each broadcaster will have a single supervisory board and a single executive board. There will be cooling-off periods between roles, maximum terms of office and transparent appointment procedures. The joint code of conduct will also be tightened up.

3. Greater cooperation and clearer roles

• Broadcasters, the NOS and the coordinating organisation NPO agree, for several years in advance, which broadcaster will produce which programmes. This gives the broadcasters and the NOS greater freedom to make their own programming decisions.
• The Act sets out more clearly the roles of the NPO and the broadcasters in the field of digitisation. For example, the provision of an on-demand platform is enshrined in law. This ensures that the content on offer is better tailored to the public’s media consumption habits.

Online consultation
Anyone can submit comments on the bill via the online consultation. These comments may help to further improve the bill before it is submitted to the Council of State and Parliament.

Until the reform bill has been adopted and has come into force, the current Act remains the applicable legal framework. This also applies to the system whereby membership numbers determine eligibility for accession. This means that a new reference date for the membership count must be set at the end of 2026. As soon as it is clear that the bill for the new system can count on sufficient support, the membership count will be discontinued. The new system is due to come into force on 1 January 2029.