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There will be no legal obligation for broadcasters broadcasting in the Dutch public broadcasting system to allow the distribution of their television programmes by satellite. During the recent debate on several changes of the Media Act, Members of Parliament supported the idea that it should be possible for Dutch citizens staying outside the Netherlands to watch the programmes of the public broadcasting channels ( Nederland 1, 2 and 3 ). The programmes of the private commercial broadcasters broadcasting in the Dutch language (RTL4, RTL5, Veronica and SBS6) are already available to them via satellite....

In IRIS 1997-3: 10 we announced the approval, by the First Chamber of the Dutch Parliament, of a Bill amending the Law on Neighbouring Rights. We can now report that the Bill became Law and entered into force on 19 March 1997. As a consequence of this amendment no remuneration in any form is due for the broadcasting of radio and television programmes in cafés as well as in other places to which the public has access without payment.

The debate in the Dutch Parliament to authorise the auction of six new FM licences, planned for Monday 10 March 1997, was cancelled. A new committee is being set up to look at alternative methods of licensing ( i.e., as an alternative to highest bidder auctions). Also a new technical study of FM band will take place which will divide up the FM band into public and private sectors, with space for many more stations.

The Dutch Minister of Transport, Public Works and Water Management, Ms Annemarie Jorritsma, who is responsible for telecommunications, has written a letter to Mr Van Miert, member of the European Commission, on cross-ownership rules for cable television networks (in the USA referred to as `cable systems'). In her letter, the minister requests the Commissioner to look into the possibility to restrict the ownership of cable television networks/systems (`alternative telecommunications infrastructures') by dominant telecommunications operators (read: PTT's). In several countries of Europe the public...

In IRIS 1997-2: 13 we reported on the proposal of the Dutch Government to reorganize the national public broadcasting system. At the time of publication, the exact text of the proposal was still confidential, anticipating on the evaluation of the proposal by the State Council (Raad van State) . This evaluation has now been published. Consequently, the text of the proposal - also containing the Government's response to the remarks of the State Council - was sent to Parliament on 3 February 1997. The proposal aims at what is called the `professionalization' of the national public broadcasting system...