Netherlands

[NL] Proposal for Concession Act

IRIS 1999-8:1/19

Sjoerd van Geffen

Institute for Information Law (IViR), University of Amsterdam

On 2 July 1999 the government submitted a proposal to the Lower Chamber of Parliament to amend the Media Act ( Mediawet) in connection with the introduction of a new concession system for national public broadcasting. The central theme of the proposal is the reorganisation and integration of the public broadcasting system within the Dutch Broadcasting Foundation ( Nederlandse Omroep Stichting - NOS). In this context the concessions of the individual broadcasting associations, which are due to expire in the year 2000, will be abolished and replaced by a concession for a term of ten years for the NOS. Moreover, new rules will apply to the overall programming, the powers of the board of directors will be expanded and the position of the broadcasting associations will be restricted.

The Council of State criticised the proposal severely. The centralisation of control and management with the NOS could harm public debate. The Council also criticised the growing influence of the government.