Keijzer nevertheless extends commercial radios – RadioVisie

The Dutch State Secretary Mona Keijzer will nevertheless decide not to redistribute the DAB + and FM frequencies of the national and regional commercial radio stations. DPG Media (Qmusic), Talpa Network (Radio 538, Sky Radio, Radio Veronica and Radio 10), RadioCorp (Slam! And 100% NL), FD Mediagroep (BNR Nieuwsradio), Mediahuis / NRC Media (Sublime), as well as the regional commercial radio stations can continue to broadcast on their airwaves until at least 1 September 2024. The radio stations have had their current frequencies since 2003. That message Dutch Media News.

The State Secretary said this in response to a motion submitted by Joba van den Berg (CDA), also on behalf of the VVD, D66, Christenunie, PvdA and PVV, which means that it has a large majority. On Tuesday, the House of Representatives will vote on the motion, which incidentally refers to an extension of 3 years until September 1, 2025.

The State Secretary wants to assume an extension of at least 2 years. If the substantiation allows it, this could also be 3 years, the State Secretary indicated.

Mona Keijzer (CDA) said earlier that the SEO Economic Research concluded that an extension is not appropriate. In the debate she indicated that there is no prospect of economic recovery and that it is further away than ever. She is reconsidering her position because of the vast majority of the chamber.

She also recalled that the frequency decision states that a distribution must be “unless general, social, cultural, economic interests exist”. The State Secretary wants to determine what those interests are and that a price must be set for the extension.

The Association for Commercial Radio, the umbrella organization of the existing national commercial radios, has been calling for an emergency extension of its frequencies since the spring. Especially Kink, which in its current form only started on February 1, 2019, is a fierce opponent. The majority of the House of Representatives also wants consultation with the sector to make DAB + -only radio stations more possible.