The broadcasters KRO-NCRV, MAX and WNL want to form a broadcasting house together. That the broadcasters announced on Wednesday. The broadcasters state that “a series of administrative discussions” have been positive and constructive.
The three broadcasters say they are “consciously taking a step forward” and taking “responsibility within the reform of the public system”. However, they only speak of an “intention” to form a broadcasting house. The precise conditions still have to be worked out and the member councils and supervisory boards of the three broadcasters must then consider them.
The establishment of broadcasting houses is the result of reform plans by the Schoof cabinet. A year ago, then Minister of Education, Culture and Science Eppo Bruins (NSC) presented the plan to bring together the thirteen public broadcasters in a limited number of broadcasting houses. This was supposed to result in cost savings and greater efficiency. The same month, AVROTROS and PowNed announced that they would continue together. The EO, Human and VPRO followed in September.
KRO-NCRV, MAX and WNL appear to be aiming to maintain the distinct identities of all three broadcasters. They say they agree “in their conviction that a strong and pluralistic broadcasting system must provide space for distinctive and profiled offerings, in which the own mission and identity of each broadcaster is expressed.” They talk about a potential broadcasting house “in which differences do not fade, but rather reinforce each other.”
