Netherlands Public Broadcasting

Netherlands Public Broadcasting /
Nederlandse Publieke Omroep
Founded 1930
(Broadcast Hours Order)
Headquarters Hilversum, Netherlands
Key people Henk Hagoort
Products Television programmes
Radio programming
Internet
Website omroep.nl

The Netherlands Public Broadcasting, Dutch: Nederlandse Publieke Omroep (abbr. NPO), is the name used in the Netherlands to refer to the country's public-service broadcasting system as a whole; it is used, for instance, as the name of the joint web portal coordinated by the NPO on behalf of all the broadcasting associations.

Public-service broadcasting in the Netherlands is provided jointly by a number of broadcasting organizations under the tutelage of NPO.

Since September 2002, the Dutch membership of the European Broadcasting Union is held by Netherlands Public Broadcasting (since March 15, 2007 re-named Nederlandse Publieke Omroep) The Netherlands Radio Union (Nederlandse Radio Unie) was one of 23 founding organisations of the EBU.

Contents

Overview

Unlike most other countries' public broadcasting organizations – which are either national corporations (such as the BBC and France Télévisions / Radio France), federations of regional public-law bodies (for example, ARD, SRG SSR idée suisse), or governmental and member-based institutions with their own channels and facilities (such as PBS) – those in the Netherlands are member-based broadcasting associations that share common facilities. This arrangement has its origins in the system developed in the Netherlands early in the 20th century and known as pillarisation. Under this system the different confessional and political streams of Dutch society (Catholics, Protestants, socialists, etc.) all had their own separate associations, newspapers, sports clubs, educational institutions, and also broadcasting organizations.

The stated aim is to give a voice to each social group in the multicultural diversity that is Dutch society. The number of hours allocated to each broadcaster corresponds, roughly, to the number of members each organization is able to recruit (although this does not apply to NOS and NTR – see below). Since 2000, the system has been financed out of general taxation rather than from broadcast receiver licence fees. This is supplemented by a limited amount of on-air advertising, which has been allowed since 1967.

Nearly all viewers in the Netherlands receive most of their TV via cable or satellite systems. Regional public TV exists in parallel to the national system described below. Commercial television in the Netherlands began in 1989, with the Luxembourg-based RTL 4. In 1992, the government of the Netherlands officially legalised commercial TV, and many new commercial channels have become established since then.

Role

The role of Netherlands Public Broadcasting can be defined as such:

Through its own Management Board, Netherlands Public Broadcasting acts as a figurehead to current and aspiring broadcasting associations, the public broadcasters NOS and NTR and minority and religious associations.

Finance

Every year, the Dutch public broadcasting system is allocated funds from the Ministry of Education, Culture and Science. In 2008 the allocation was 738 million Euro [1] with revenues in 2009 from advertising totalling 196 million Euro.[2] The cost to each Dutch citizen is approximately 116 Euro per year, which is much less compared to the BBC in the United Kingdom (158 Euro, approx. 142 GBP), but more compared to SSR/SRG in Switzerland (103 Euro) and VRT in Flemish Belgium (49 Euro).

History

The closed system (1920 – 1960)

Public broadcasting in the Netherlands has been since the very beginning in the early 1920s split up into different broadcasting associations with its members composed of listeners and viewers. These associations were based on the different ideological sections of Dutch society, called "Verzuiling" (pillarisation). Catholics, Protestants and Socialists were the first groups to create their own sections of society, including their own schools, hospitals, unions and political parties. When radio in the Netherlands started in the 1920s the existing groups quickly created their own broadcasting associations, producing programmes for the primary radio network, Hilversum 1. The first to start was the liberal AVRO, followed by the Protestant NCRV, the Roman Catholic KRO, the Socialist VARA and the liberal Protestant VPRO. Each group was faithful to its broadcasting company, for a Protestant to listen to KRO programming was simply not done. The programmes were funded by the associations' members.

The radio licence fee was introduced by the Nazi occupation during World War II; the different broadcasting groups were urged by the Government for more co-operation between each other, and the Netherlands Radio Union (Dutch:Nederlandse Radio Unie) was formed, producing joint programmes. A second radio channel, Hilversum 2 launched in 1947.

1951 saw the introduction of television and a similar joint union was founded: the Netherlands Television Foundation (Nederlandse Televisie Stichting), supplying studios and facilities for the associations. These broadcasts would air on a channel, called Nederland 1 with a second channel, Nederland 2 launching in 1964.

The closed system opens up (1960 – 1990)

With the arrival of illegal offshore commercial radio stations, such as Radio Veronica in 1960 and Radio Nordzee in 1964, Hilversum 3 launched in 1965 to provide a legal alternative and to steer audiences towards the public service channels. Hilversum 3 was renamed, along with the other two networks to Radio 1, Radio 2 and Radio 3 towards the late 1980s.

In 1967 a Broadcasting Act was passed into law, providing an official framework to supply the public with information, entertainment, culture and education, with time allocated to appointed broadcasting associations based on the number of members each association had. It also allowed:

A new Media Act in 1988 meant that broadcasters no longer were obligated to use production facilities supplied by the NOS. These facilities were spun-off into a new private company. Programme quotas were introduced for the first time, which meant associations must produce:

A new media regulator (Commissariaat voor de Media) was created to regulate the public and private networks with the ability to impose fines, with a programming fund designed to encourage cultural broadcasts. New rules for the cable industry were also stipulated which meant the public networks were designated must-carry status.[3]

The appearance of private media (1990 – 2000)

A third television network, Nederland 3 launched in April 1988, in anticipation of the launch of new commercial channels broadcast by satellite. Luxembourg-based RTL-Véronique began broadcasting in October 1989. In 1992, the government of the Netherlands officially legalised commercial TV, and many new commercial channels have become established since then with the result of market share for public television falling from 85% to 50% by 1994. Veronica, after 20 years, decided to leave the public system to become a commercial broadcaster. Further private channels from RTL and SBS reduced market shares for the public networks further 40% in 1996.[3]

With the change in the television landscape, changes were made to strengthen the public sector. Its financial revenues were improved with an increase in advertising minutage and the licence fee indexed to the cost of living. In 1995 the programming duties of the Netherlands Broadcasting Foundation (NOS) were split in two, with the creation of the NPS (Netherlands Programming Foundation).[4] NOS were now charged with providing news, sport and coverage of important live events while the NPS provided cultural and children's programming.

The previous NOS management was replaced with a three-man board, now charged with developing strategies and responsibility for all public output. Programming co-ordinators were appointed for each television and radio network and channel identities were created, largely replacing the varying on-air presentation of the pillar broadcasters. The broadcasting associations also have a degree of input through a Supervisory Board.

Market share for the public networks stabilized in 1999 at 38%,[3] with the entry of a new broadcasting association, the first in 25 years. BNN (Bart's News Network, later Bart's Neverending Network) replaced Veronica as programme supplier to teenagers and young adults.

Diversification and expansion (2000 - 2010)

Since the open system any company can become a broadcasting company and get radio and TV airtime. The only thing required is to request an official status from the government and to have enough members. Broadcast companies in the Netherlands still have to make sure every year they have enough members to keep their official status, and most of them sell TV-guides or other magazines and make every subscriber a member of their organization.

Many people question if the current system is still applicable in this age of digital broadcasting. There were plans leading up to the 2002 general election to change the way broadcast companies are selected, and completely abolish the member-based system. Vocal critics included Pim Fortuyn, the assassinated leader of his own right-wing party. However, currently the system is still the way it always has been, and a new system will probably only make its appearance in several years.

From September 2010, new broadcasting associations PowNed and Wakker Nederland (WNL) were approved to enter the public broadcasting system by the Minister of Culture and Education Ronald Plasterk. Another association, MAX was given full recognition and can increase its broadcasting hours, conversely, LLiNK was withdrawn and no longer has access. Meanwhile, the NPS, Teleac and the RVU institutions merged into one public broadcaster, the NTR, delivering cultural, educational, current affairs and children's programmes to the public system.[5]

Cuts to the public system (2010 - present)

On January 18 2010, Henk Hagoort, chairman of the NPO Management Board, announced a scaling back of the amount of broadcasting associations using the public airwaves to 15 by 2015.[6] He also warned of the threat of political parties which could influence programming in the public broadcasting system.

In September 2010 cuts to the public system took effect, with the existing eleven full-time broadcasting associations facing decisions about its future. Part-time Islamic broadcasters NMO, NIO and the merged SMON were all withdrawn from the public system.

Merger talks have taken place between the following associations:

From 2016, there will be as few as eight broadcaters within the public system. Mergers have been confirmed between existing broadcasting associations:

EO, MAX and VPRO are to remain as separate entities. The NOS and NTR as public broadcasters are unaffected (NTR, specifically was created as a result of a merger in 2010).

List of broadcasters

Member based

There are currently twelve member-based broadcasting associations:[3]

Task based

In addition, there are now two official "public service broadcasters" created under the Media Act of 1988:[3]

Other

Apart from the member and task based broadcasters, a small amount of airtime is given to smaller organizations, which represent religions, have educational programs, or received airtime for other reasons. None of these organizations have any members.

Former broadcasters

Television

The broadcasting organisations produce programmes for the three main television channels and the twelve digital channels, available through Nederland 24. As of 4 July 2009 the three main channels are simulcasted in 1080i high-definition. Most programming in the early stages is upscaled as in time more programs will become available in native HD. From June 2 until August 24, 2008 a temporary high-definition version of the Nederland 1 channel was made available to broadcast Euro 2008, the 2008 Tour de France, and the 2008 Summer Olympics in HD before launch of the permanent HD service.

National

Digital

Nederland 24 is the portal for the twelve digital channels, available via digital cable, satellite, and internet.

You are able to watch these channels at this page: [1]

International

Radio

National

A Radio 7 was planned to broadcast, featuring Radio 5's current specialist and religious programming [15], however it was announced in 2009 that the network was to be postponed. [16]

Digital and web channels

The following digital and web channels are available via Netherlands Public Broadcasting's own Radioplayer. Channels are themed according to its parent network and/or the broadcasting association. Some of these channels appear on digital cable, on cable FM as well as the national DAB multiplex.[17]

Radio 1

Radio 2

3FM

Radio 4

Radio 5

Radio 6

FunX

Member-based

International

Regional broadcasters

In addition to the national system, each Dutch province also has a broadcasting corporation supplying its own programming to its television and radio stations.

Internet

See also

References

  1. ^ Dutch Wikipedia article
  2. ^ "Met een nettoresultaat van 190 miljoen euro in 2009 levert Ster een belangrijke bijdrage aan de mediabegroting van het ministerie van OC&W."
  3. ^ a b c d e f History - Publieke Omroep, 9 August, 2010
  4. ^ About NPS
  5. ^ "NPS, Teleac en RVU gaan vanaf 1 september samen verder als NTR, publieke omroep voor informatie, educatie en cultuur." Retrieved 31 August 2010
  6. ^ Article in English
  7. ^ Nu, 2011-05-06
  8. ^ De Volkskrant, 2011-01-17
  9. ^ NOS, 2010-08-28
  10. ^ LLink wants assurances (Dutch)
  11. ^ NOS article (Dutch)
  12. ^ History of Teleac (English)
  13. ^ Dat was tevens de eerste uitzending van Veronica in het publieke bestel. English: This was the first broadcast from Veronica in the public system
  14. ^ Sky Radio sister stations (Dutch)
  15. ^ RNW Media Network, Feb 6th, 2010
  16. ^ RNW Blog - Dutch Public Broadcasting suspends plans for Radio 7, 2010-11-29
  17. ^ Wohnort.org.uk: Netherlands National Ensembles (as of September 9 2010)

External links

Netherlands Public Broadcasting
Broadcasters

Membership associations: AVRO · BNN · EO · KRO · MAX · NCRV · PowNed  · TROS · VARA · VPRO · WNL

State broadcasters: NOS · NTR  Special broadcasters: BOS · HUMAN · IKON · JO · OF · OHM · PP · RKK  · Socutera  · STER · ZvK
Television
Radio

Radio 1 · Radio 2 (Top 2000) · 3FM · Radio 4 · Radio 5 · FunX  Digital: Radio 6 · Radiocast

International: RNW
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