News item | 04-04-2025 | 18:00
In order to remain important for society in a dynamic media landscape, the national public broadcaster must be substantially reformed. Minister Eppo Bruins (OCW) wants to set up the public broadcaster more easily. For example, he wants the current broadcasters to merge in 4 or 5 broadcaster houses next to the NOS. These broadcasting houses are permanently in the order. The current system of recognition, accession and withdrawal of broadcasters expires. Having an association and a certain number of members is no longer mandatory. Bruins wants fewer directors, fixed directors and more permanent appointments for employees. Today the minister sends his proposal to the Lower House.
Minister Bruins: ,,A strong and independent public broadcaster is of great importance for our democracy. He acts as a connector, reliable source of information and place for creativity and imagination. The purpose of this reform is that the broadcaster will remain visible and findable in the future and is more open to sounds from society. We want to achieve that with fewer players, fewer drivers, less fragmentation of budgets and less government intervention. So that viewers and listeners with a diverse offer are also served well in the future and employees have more job security. ”
3 Outlines for reforming National Public Broadcasting:
1. More flexibility and stability
- The system in which broadcasters disappears and retire every five years on the basis of memberships.
- The amended Media Act stipulates that broadcasters jointly have to give the perspectives, sounds and needs of society in the offer a place.
- Broadcasters are independently assessed whether they translate new sounds into supply.
2. Fewer directors, more job security for employees
- The 11 current broadcasting associations are housed in four or five broadcaster houses, next to the NOS.
- Each Omroephuis receives a board and a supervisory board with maximum training periods. Omroephuizen take over the role of current broadcasting associations. Makers are employed by the Omroephuis that is responsible for the interpretation of the program offer.
- The budget is spread in a clear way between fewer broadcasting houses than there are broadcasters now. This allows more employees to get a permanent contract. Omroephuizen and their makers get more grip on which programs they can make. This ensures more job security and therefore social safety.
- The NTR will not go into one broadcaster. A careful follow -up process will take a good look at how the beautiful and valuable type of offer that is made by the employees of the NTR will be given a place in the order.
3. More cooperation and clearer roles
- Fewer drivers means faster and clear decision -making.
- The NPO no longer distributes budgets on the basis of individual program proposals. The NPO retains a coordinating role but can fill it in lighter because there are fewer players.
- Just like the broadcasters, Omroephuizen now determine the content of the programs themselves. So -called outdoor producers (commercial companies that do not belong to the system) must pitch their ideas directly with them, this is no longer possible via the NPO.
- The clear roles distribution ensures greater social safety for employees.
- The minister no longer determines which broadcasting associations will be given a place in the order. This reinforces the independence of the public broadcaster.
- The Commissariaat becomes the only external supervisor within the sector. The single supervisory tasks that lie at the NPO go to the Commissariat.
Bruins: ,,A number of measures fundamentally intervene on how the national public broadcaster is organized. This also has consequences for the people who work there, because many things are going to change. I realize that. But if we want the broadcaster to continue to matter, we must keep what is valuable and dare to change what is necessary. ”
Next steps
A number of themes still have to be further elaborated, for example the division of roles between broadcasters and the NPO and the clustering of the current memberships in the Omroephuizen. The minister will discuss this with the NPO, broadcasters, the Commissariat for the Media and the Council for Culture. He also consults commercial parties on the topics of the reform that affects them.
The minister will discuss the proposals with the House of Representatives on 14 April. In the spring of 2026, a bill will be adjusted to adjust the Media Act in internet consultation. The reform is expected to enter into force in 2029.