Brussels, 26/01/2010 (Agence Europe) - On Tuesday 26 January, the European Commission approved the annual financing regime for the Dutch public service broadcasters in light of amendments made to the financing regime submitted by the Dutch authorities. The definition of the public service remit and the entrustment of new media services will be defined, and will limit the financing to what is necessary to fulfil the broadcasters' public service tasks.
Competition Commissioner Neelie Kroes comments in a press release that the Dutch public service broadcasters' regime will thus be brought into line with EU state aid rules, adding: “The new regime will provide more transparency, proportionality and accountability and will allow public service broadcasters to fulfil their public service mission while at the same time limiting public funding to what is necessary.” After receiving complaints against various aspects of the financing regime for the Dutch public service broadcasters from several commercial broadcasters, the Commission opened, in 2005, a preliminary investigation and requested the Netherlands to clarify the role and financing of the public service broadcasters. A number of changes were introduced in a new law on the media (which took effect in December 2008) and, after further discussion, the new financing regime was again amended in November 2009.
The Dutch authorities have undertaken to clarify in advance and in sufficient detail the scope of the public service task which will be entrusted to the public service broadcasters. In addition, the Dutch authorities have committed that new audiovisual services, including pay services, will be subject to a prior evaluation before being entrusted to public service broadcasters. The Dutch authorities have further undertaken to amend the financing mechanism, limiting the compensation of public service broadcasters to ensure that the public funding does not exceed what is necessary to fulfil the public service tasks, including the control of overcompensation. (A.B./transl.jl)