Belgian media company DPG is allowed to take over RTL Nederland, but under strict conditions

(NETHERLANDS / BELGIUM) The Flemish DPG is allowed to take over RTL Nederland after all. However, strict conditions are set for the takeover, as announced by the Netherlands Authority for Consumers and Markets (ACM).
For example, the websites and apps of RTL Nieuws and Nu.nl (from DPG) must remain free and continue to exist separately. Furthermore, DPG must stipulate in the editorial statutes of all individual newspapers, magazines and news websites that budgets cannot simply be cut and that all titles will continue to operate independently from an editorial perspective. A special foundation will monitor this.
Journalists' union NVJ says it will study the conditions further, "in order to be able to make a proper assessment of whether sufficient account has been taken of the objections raised by the NVJ".

After the takeover plans became known, the union said it was concerned about the size and dominance. This would make the negotiating position of freelancers and supplying media companies more vulnerable. A year and a half ago, DPG announced that it had reached an agreement with the RTL Group on the takeover of RTL Nederland. According to the Flemish publisher, "combining forces" was necessary. DPG is paying 1.1 billion euros to acquire RTL Nederland.
DPG is large with national newspapers such as AD and de Volkskrant, news website Nu.nl, magazines such as Libelle and Donald Duck, plus the radio stations Qmusic and Joe. For investments and in particular advertising revenue, DPG believes it is in a stronger position with the TV channels of RTL, streaming platform Videoland and the popular weather app Buienradar. In Belgium, DPG has a similar position as owner of RTL Belgium.
A supplier to the combined company is news agency ANP. According to critics such as the NVJ, they could be put under pressure to lower the prices for a contract with DPG. Other publishers, especially the smaller ones, would also be left behind in the battle for advertising money and subscribers.
For that reason, the ACM conducted additional research into the takeover. Earlier (2023), the watchdog put a stop to an attempt by Talpa Network to merge with RTL Nederland. This merger would leave consumers and advertisers with little choice.
The ACM no longer has the concerns about that merger with this takeover. With the requirements for journalistic independence for all titles, the ACM does not think that consumers will miss out on anything. "RTL will also not take over news content from other national news titles of DPG on a structural basis on its app and website. In this way, RTL's own identity will be preserved," according to the ACM.
Although the ACM acknowledges that advertisers will have less choice in the future, the supervisory authority does not expect this to lead to problems. "The investigation shows that the revenue model of other media companies will not be jeopardized as a result of the takeover." The watchdog also does not think that DPG can put pressure on the ANP to lower prices.

(Source: NOS.nl)