Regional broadcasters will receive additional resources in 2023

A multi-year cooperation agreement for the period 2018-2022 applied to the ten regional television broadcasters in Flanders. The Flemish government decided to extend the current cooperation agreement for 2023, but additional resources will be made available for the broadcasters and NORTV via an addendum to the existing cooperation agreement.

In 2024 there will be a new cooperation agreement for the period 2024-2029. For the pivotal year 2023, the Flemish government is now releasing 707,000 euros. EUR 507,000 is intended to help broadcasters with digital access and the development of a cross-media approach. For the ten broadcasters this amounts to an average increase of about 17 percent. 160,000 euros of the 507,000 euros will go to umbrella association NORTV.

Digital evolution

NORTV must act as a spokesperson and interlocutor for the broadcasters, for example in discussions with the VRT. There is also an additional, one-off energy compensation measure of 200,000 euros, which is evenly distributed among the regional television broadcasters. “With these additional resources, we are taking a step forward in the digital evolution of our regional television broadcasters,” says Media Minister Benjamin Dalle. “They are evolving into regional media organizations that make news that is spread across different channels, not just on television.”

“This digitization is important, because the media use of citizens is evolving at a rapid pace. Digital access is the ultimate goal of this exercise, which we have already started as part of the recovery plan, and which will be followed up in 2024 with the new cooperation agreement.”