World of television

The Nederlandse Publieke Omroep (NPO, the Dutch public broadcasting company) is the administrative organisation of the entire public broadcasting. The NPO has the important task of dividing the budgets among the various broadcasters. In addition, the NPO coordinates the programming of all networks, channels and platforms. These are the NPO's video channels:

• NPO 1
• NPO 2
• NPO 3
• NPO Zappelin and NPO Zapp
• NPO Start and NPO Plus
• NPO 1 extra
• NPO 2 extra
• NPO Politics and News
• BVN

Network manager
The network manager or network coordinator is responsible for the planning of broadcasts on the different television channels. The network manager determines what people see at home and at what times. The network manager therefore has a major influence on the viewing figures of a program or series, and therefore on the entire TV industry.

Through the NPO the state distributes air time to independent broadcasting networks and other broadcasters. The Concession Act provides that, after visitation, broadcasters can receive a license to broadcast every five years.

The NPO has a so-called 'open system'. You can join as a broadcaster if you meet a number of substantive requirements. Aspirant status requires 50,000 members. It is ultimately up to the Minister of Education, Culture and Science to decide on recognition.

There are currently eleven broadcasting associations, nine of which have a permanent position. These are: AVROTROS, BNNVARA, KRO-NCRV, Omroep MAX, EO, VPRO, HUMAN, WNL, PowNed. In addition, there are two task broadcasters. They have a specific task stated in the Media Act. The NOS provides a broad, independent news provision and the NTR provides information, education and culture, including youth, history, science and background journalism. Finally, there are two broadcasting associations with provisional recognition ('aspiring broadcasters'): Ongehoord Nederland and Omroep Zwart.

Besides the national public broadcasters there are also thirteen regional public broadcasters. Each province has its own broadcaster, except for South Holland, which has two (RTV Rijnmond for South Holland South and Omroep West for South Holland North). The thirteen broadcasters are united in the Regional Public Broadcasting Foundation (Stichting Regionale Publieke Omroep, RPO). RPO represents the interests of the broadcasters and elaborates policy, represents the branch to politicians, government bodies and others, concludes collective contracts and provides outreach.

These thirteen regional broadcasters are also public broadcasters and are thus bound by the programme regulations and other provisions of the Media Act. Regional broadcasters are active on radio, TV and internet.

Besides the large regional broadcasters there are also many local public broadcasters. These broadcast for one or more local authorities in the Netherlands and make programmes at local level to provide information or amusement. The interests of many local broadcasters are represented by the Organisation of Local Broadcasters in the Netherlands (Stichting Nederlandse Lokale Publieke Omroepen, NLPO).

There are three commercial TV broadcasters (SBS6, Net5 and Veronica) and one video on demand platform (KIJK) that fall under the Dutch Talpa Network.

RTL belongs to the international RTL group. Because the legal status of RTL is that of a commercial broadcasting company based in Luxembourg that targets the Dutch market, the channels RTL 4, RTL 5, RTL 7 and RTL 8 do not fall under the Dutch Media Act, giving RTL a different position within the Dutch broadcasting system.

The Viacom International Media Network provides networks such as MTV, Comedy Central, Nickelodeon and Paramount. Viacom has a total of 25 channels for the target groups children, families, teenagers and adults. Other well-known commercial broadcasters are Disney Channel, STAR Channel and Discovery Channel. In addition to the national commercial broadcasters, the Netherlands also has commercial, regional television channels.

The NPO is a state organisation with as its main task the providing of objective and independent programmes for all target groups. It also has the task of providing a large range of informative programmes with an emphasis on art and culture. 80% of NPO programmes are made in the Netherlands. STER organises advertising, which is not allowed to take up more than 10% of the air time. As a result, no programmes are interrupted for commercials.

The main objective of the commercial broadcasters is to make a profit. Because they do not receive state funding, their revenue comes from advertising. The commercial broadcasters do not have fixed tasks and mainly broadcast programmes to entertain (large) target groups. 20% of the air time per hour can be devoted to commercials. The broadcasters are thus able to interrupt programmes for commercials. At least 40% must also be a Frisian or Dutch production.