The Evangelische Omroep (EO) will be fined 164,500 euros for violating the Media Act during the youth program De Boomhut Battle, which took place in Drenthe in 2019. This has been announced by the supervisory authority for the Media Authority.
Treehouse Battle is a DIY competition for children, in which tree houses and holiday parks are built. Four teams were active on four campsites in Drenthe: Tolhek in Anderen, Drouwenerzand in Drouwen, d’Oldekamp in Ansen and Joytime Leisure Activities in Grolloo.
The province contributed 302,000 euros to the series, and the Drenthe campsite owners also supported the program by financing the tree houses, which were very well rated. The cabins were offered for rent by the entrepreneurs after the broadcast.
According to the Media Authority, the EO ‘has provided a platform through the program to draw attention to the rental of these tree houses and thus contributed to a (commercial) advantage for third parties’. The regulator finds it especially bad that this influence happened on ‘children’s channel’ NPO Zapp.
A spokesperson for the EO calls the fine ‘out of all proportion’. “We are disappointed in the amount of this fine. Of course we are looking at our own processes and how this can be improved. We are also in discussion with the producer about his responsibility in this.”
The broadcaster is considering lodging an objection to the decision of the Commissariat.