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The Dutch government has created a temporary Advisory Committee on Cross Ownership Rules in the Mediasector. This nine member committee, chaired by the President of the national Cultural Council ( Raad voor Cultuur) Mr Jan Jesserun, has three tasks. First of all, it has to present a broad overview of the present situation concerning concentrations in the Dutch mediasector and possible developments in the near future in this respect. Secondly, the Government expects an advice on the effects of (future) concentrations on pluralism and the independence of information available. Thirdly, the Committee...

In summary proceedings before the Amsterdam Court, the Dutch Media Group ( Holland Media Groep - HMG) and others contested the decision of the Dutch Media Authority ( Commissariaat voor de Media) which held that on the basis of the revised Television without Frontiers Directive (Directive 97/36/EC, article 1 and 2, paragraph 2 and 3) programmes broadcast by commercial channels RTL 4 and RTL 5 should be regarded as programmes of a domestic broadcasting organisation. According to the Media Authority, decisions regarding programming on RTL 4 and RTL 5 are taken in the Netherlands. In accordance with...

The Dutch Competition Authority (Nma, Nederlandse mededingingsauthoriteit) will investigate the intended merger of United Pan-Europe Communications NV (UPC) and the cable activities of Energy company NV NUON in the newly established joint-venture United Telekabel Holding NV. The new Competition Act stipulates that mergers need to obtain approval when the total returns/sales/volume of trade world-wide exceed(s) 250 million Dutch guilders and at least two of the companies involved have a net annual volume of business within the Netherlands of at least 30 million guilders. The proposed merger will...

The Dutch Media Authority (Commissariaat voor de Media) issued guidelines on side-line activities of broadcasters operating in the public broadcasting system (i.e. on activities other than the provision of their programme). These guidelines introduce criteria for the monitoring of the activities of broadcasters broadcasting in the public broadcasting system and increase the possibility for those broadcasters to develop their side-line activities. The guidelines apply to new activities of broadcasting organisations such as pay-TV, Internet and other new services. For activities concerning the Internet...

In a letter to the Dutch Parliament, the Minister of Culture, Mr Aad Nuis, announced that a Bill is being prepared to amend the Media Act in order to replace the existing multiple licence system for the national public broadcasting sector with one single licence to be granted to the NOS (Dutch Broadcasting Foundation). At present the NOS has responsibilities in particular with regard to the common programming of all the broadcasting organisations operating in the public broadcasting system of The Netherlands, such as news and sports. However, individual broadcasting organisations, each of which...