18 jul 2022 om 16:30
Streaming services such as Netflix, HBO and Videoland must invest at least 4.5 percent of their annual turnover in Dutch productions. Earlier there was talk of an investment percentage of 6 percent. But in the bill that Gunay Uslu (Culture and Media) sent to the House of Representatives on Monday, it is clear that this percentage has been reduced.
By: our entertainment editorsThe obligation must ensure that Dutch films, series and documentaries become more visible.
This applies to all streaming services with a turnover of 30 million euros or more. The law is expected to come into force on January 1, 2023. After this year, the annual turnover of the streaming service in the Netherlands will be examined and investments will have to be made from 2024. This can therefore apply to all major streaming services, such as Netflix, Videoland, HBO Max, Disney+, Amazon Prime and Viaplay.
“Streaming services are increasingly popular and the range of foreign films, series and documentaries is growing,” says Uslu. “That should not be at the expense of Dutch stories. With this bill we say: if you have success as a streaming service on the Dutch market, you must also contribute to the Dutch offer.”
The government is currently stimulating the production of Dutch films with a subsidy of 11.5 million euros for series that are relatively expensive to make. There are also some other subsidies available, for example for independent productions that do not receive support from the Film Fund.
NU.nl previously reported that this bill would be forthcoming. It is a follow-up to the plans that the previous culture minister Ingrid van Engelshoven announced in 2019. At that time, there was still talk of a mandatory investment rate of 6 percent.
Streaming services are already fully engaged in developing Dutch productions. Only HBO Max recently announced that it has no concrete plans (anymore) for this.