Independent media are a crucial and indispensable foundation of the democratic rule of law. The public broadcaster plays an important role in this. They provide a diverse range of offerings, with a balanced mix of news, information, sports, arts, culture, education, and childrens programming.
For GroenLinks-PvdA, it is important that the public broadcaster continues to fulfill this role, innovatively and free of advertisements. Adhering to the journalistic code of the Dutch Public Broadcasting (NPO) and the rules arising from the Media Act.
Mohammed Mohandis – Member of Parliament and media spokesperson for GroenLinks-PvdA
Snack Messages
The media landscape, on the other hand, is changing rapidly. Young viewers are increasingly attracted to streaming services like Netflix, Disney+, and Videoland, as well as video platforms like TikTok, Instagram, and YouTube. Additionally, we see how the rise of artificial intelligence (AI technology) and how algorithms on social media channels cater to individual news needs. These unverified snack messages particularly confirm ones own opinions, rather than producing other voices. One of the major challenges of the Dutch media offering is to counterbalance these subjective news bubbles.
In addition to streaming services, the public broadcaster feels the competition from Big Tech.
In addition to streaming services, the public broadcaster feels the competition from Big Tech: not only do they absorb almost 80 percent of the digital advertising market. Moreover, companies like X, Meta, and Google oppose European and national legislation that addresses the spread of fake news. Not only the public broadcaster but also private media experience the negative consequences, both in terms of (journalistic) content and revenue models.
Reform of the Broadcasting System
The current broadcasting system, formed by the NPO together with broadcasters with diverse profiles, needs not only to be reformed but also strengthened in light of the public interest. This requires increasing effectiveness, so that findability and visibility in the platformization of the media landscape remain secured. And to protect creators who serve a broad audience and should not be a pawn of thoughtless political choices or unwanted interference.
The announced cuts of a total of 156 million euros demonstrate a lack of vision.
The announced cuts of a total of 156 million euros and the proposed solution to have the public broadcaster raise more advertising revenue from the market demonstrate a lack of vision and are rejected by GroenLinks-PvdA. Cutting bureaucracy is fine, but reducing the program offering and thereby narrowing the mandate is undesirable.
Our Main Proposals:
- Stable funding for the public broadcaster, with concessions of 8 instead of 5 years
- 4 broadcasting houses and 1 task broadcasting house (to be formed by NTR and NOS)
- Less bureaucracy, streamlining of the management layer
- Higher investment obligations for streaming services and Big Tech in Dutch content and productions
- Less advertising airtime, no advertising around childrens programs
- Restricting fake news through Big Tech
- Increasing the distance between media and politics by amending the Media Act
- Creating more room for public-private partnerships by law
- Abandoning the planned VAT increase from 9 to 21 percent on newspapers