The Dutch domestic public broadcasters will only receive three quarters of the additional funding that had been promised in the Coalition Accord. Instead of an extra 100 million euros, that was designed as compensation for a shortfall in funding by the previous government, only 75 million euros extra will now be provided. That was announced in yesterday’s budget. The broadcasters have already received 50 million euros, and will now only get 25 million more for the remainder of the current government term.
The broadcasters are naturally disappointed, but the decision was hardly unexpected. Henk Hagoort, Chairman of the Management Board of Dutch Public Broadcasting (NPO), accepts that the broadcasters must bear their share of the financial burden as the government looks to make savings across the board. But he warned that the reduction means that the broadcasters will not be able to achieve all their ambitions, and will now be focusing on making efficiency savings.
(Source: ANP)
on Sep 16th, 2009 at 16:38
Easy solution; start advertising, why is that such a terrible thought ? the broadcaster can maintain the same level of programming for a couple minutes of inconvenience each hour. It’s time for these so called “old” business models to “think outside of the box” This could be applied to shortwave as well.
on Sep 16th, 2009 at 16:45
The public broadcasters already carry advertising, but ad revenue has been falling during the recession. Adding more advertising is not an option - we already have one of the most competitive radio & TV advertising markets in the world, and there’s not enough to go round as it is. Advertising on shortwave doesn’t work - I have in the past been involved with two organisations that tried it. The problem is that ad agencies want audience demographics, and it’s hard to provide when your audience is scattered across 24 time zones, 200 countries and five continents
on Sep 16th, 2009 at 16:51
I guess the only hope is to sell airtime to CRI or Radio 86 or whatever.
on Sep 17th, 2009 at 05:02
But there are already plenty of partner stations and relays via am fm shortwave/digital satellite and cable worldwide and europewide where you can receive CRI and they pay handsomely for it too,there is no need at all for dutch public broadcasters to extend this to get more money to help this situation.
on Sep 17th, 2009 at 08:56
In any case, such a thing wouldn’t be allowed under Dutch media law.
on Sep 17th, 2009 at 20:00
Actually they get 75 million more! There are no savings at all, they just get less more than they would have gotten before.
I think Dutch \’public\’ broadcasting gets away very easily, considering the economic situation.